Dear Editor,
As the return-to-school bell looms on the horizon, there remains an issue that if continued to run unchecked would ultimately serve as the educational death knell of our children. I am not talking about
size of classrooms, inadequate student–teacher ratio, or poor school funding. Nor is this article to be viewed as a Name, Blame or Shame game. Out the gate, and straight to the point, I am putting a fierce and unrepentant spotlight on the issue of responsibility for the negative classroom behaviours being displayed by children. Ill-discipline or a bad attitude not only hurts the outcomes of the student who brings such an approach to school, but additionally can infect an entire classroom. As indiscipline continues to blight our educational system, parents must be made aware that they cannot simply renounce their responsibilities at the school gate.
Children are arriving at school not really ready to learn. In actuality, they are not being sent in with the right attitude to learn. It is every individual parent’s responsibility to ensure their child is fulfilling their potential at school – and is not holding others back. Kids who want to learn should not suffer.
Far too many children are arriving at school armed to the teeth with the wrong equipment—electronic devices such as cell phones, I Pads and MP3 players, when in reality the teacher would much prefer the child to come to school, ready for learning, armed with the basic equipment– a pen or pencil. At a recent summer school session a Grade 1 student had a cell phone which he used every moment, with blatant disregard for who or what was going on around him. Child behaviour is a shared responsibility and parents play a crucial role in setting the scene in what they believe should be the expectations of their child coming into school and behaving in a classroom. Parents should check and ensure that what the child is carrying to school is what supports their learning, thereby supporting teachers in maintaining all that they require on a day-to-day basis to ensure that pupils can learn in a safe and ordered environment.
If parents instruct their children that school is important, that they must go ready to learn, that they need to arrive at school on time, they must not engage in back chat to the teacher, and focus on whatever they are doing, then this is a great help to the teacher who in turn will carry out their responsibility when the child gets into the classroom.
However, before beginning to speak about quality, we must start with the basics. Before they can learn, children must know how to listen. What chance does a teacher have of being listened to, if at home the child is not being taught respect? If they are allowed to have their own way, not given clear boundaries and not expected to communicate in a courteous manner, then that is exactly how he/she will behave in school. Do not expect a child to suddenly transform into being receptive and respectful at the school gate, if they are not listening to their parents at home.
Home is also where children learn manners, especially not talking with their mouths full. At school on the other hand, teachers teach writing, language arts, mathematics, geography, history and other subjects. They only reinforce the education that a child receives at home from their parents.
Together, parents and teachers can be far more effective in grooming children and ensuring that they have no behavioral issues. So parents ensure that when your child is packing his school bag, the basic equipment is not lacking. Bringing electronic devices to school is certainly not cool, it just shows disregard for rules.
Yours faithfully,
Yvonne Sam
