THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS A young teacher with just over six years teaching experience, I have come to face the grim reality that unless parents become actively involved in their children's education, then our social problems will continue to grow and eventually destroy us. We have to face the reality that we are ultimately responsible for what happens to us as a people.
As teachers, we can only try our best to guide our young minds in the desired levels of social behaviours for the few hours we have them each day. But parents, where are they after they leave school? Do you know? What do you teach them at home? What consequences do they have for displaying unacceptable behaviour? Do you set rules? How much support are you giving to the teachers and the school?
The family is the rock on which a solid education can be built. I have seen examples where two-parent families, single parents, step-parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles provide strong families support for their children to learn. If families teach the love of learning, it can make all the difference in the world to their children.
Yet parental involvement is one of the most overlooked aspects of education in Jamaica today. The fact is, many parents don't realise how important it is to get involved in their children's learning. All parents and family members should try to find the time and make the effort because research shows that when families get involved, their children get better grades and test scores; graduate from high school at higher rates; are more likely to go on to higher education; are better behaved and have more positive attitudes.
It doesn't matter how much money you have. It doesn't matter how much formal education you've had yourself or how well you did in school, the best thing you can do for your child is to become actively involved in his/her education!
I am, etc.,
KEVIN ROBERTS
peter_kar@yahoo.com
Grand Cayman
Via Go-Jamaica
