THE EDITOR, Sir:
THIS IS in response to the recent demand of some parents for teachers to do more. In today's Jamaica, teachers also require parents to do more. The following is a list of some of the basic responsibilities Jamaican teachers, especially at the secondary level, demand that parents take care of:
1. Ensure that your child completes homework each afternoon, this will aid greatly in the learning process.
2. Ensure that your child has a meal before heading out for school, so the child will not be tempted to eat on the streets, in classrooms and before recess or lunch time.
3. Ensure that your child leaves your home for school and not somewhere else.
4. Ensure that your child leaves for school wearing the proper uniform, this will greatly aid teachers who can spend more time teaching instead of disciplining students.
5. Ensure that your child leaves for school with the appropriate textbooks and proper school bag in which to carry these books, again this will greatly help the teacher to teach.
6. Ensure that your child arrives early at school, this will aid the learning process.
7. Ensure that your child wears a hairstyle that the school approves of.
8. Ensure that you know the adult 'friends' of your child, this is especially applicable for students at the secondary level.
9. Ensure that your child is polite, courteous and knowledgeable of the social graces.
10. Ensure that your child attends school regularly and if and when the child is absent, you provide the school with a written explanation.
Some Jamaican parents are parents only in name. They are NOT available for parent-teacher consultations, they are NOT available to collect reports and they are NOT available for even the Parent Teachers' Association meetings.
Let's face it, learning begins in the home. So, in Jamaican parlance 'Wha gaan bad a morning, caan come good a evening'. Some Jamaican parents need to shape up, wake up and start parenting.
I am, etc.,
C.M. REYNOLDS
18 Noble Way
Kingston 10
