Educating our children

Wed, Sep 3rd 2014, 11:20 AM

Proud parents could be seen taking their children to campuses on Monday, as schools opened across the country. Many flooded social media with pictures of their youngsters in their uniforms on the way to classes.
It is admirable that so many ensured their children were properly dressed and equipped with the hardware necessary for learning. Bags, pens and pencils, and shirts and pants, however, are not enough to ensure children leave school prepared for the job market and to be reasonable citizens in our society.
Our students have performed poorly in national exams for years. Sadly, the poor results are no longer even surprising to us. On average, students continue to earn Ds and Es in English language and mathematics in the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations, respectively, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Education last month.
For children to succeed, parents, guardians and family members must take active roles in their education. Parents must set standards of acceptable behavior so their children know there is an aspiration for them greater than mediocrity and failure.
Too many parents send their children to school and hope the school teaches them something. These parents don't know the names of the people teaching their children; they don't know what their children are studying; they don't know the names of their children's friends.
There is a consequence to such indifference. We see it when young men are arraigned before our courts. We see it when young women are waiting on bus stops frustrated with five children for five different men.
We hope those parents who have not spent the time with their children will make the effort from this school year on to get involved. Along with setting high standards for achievement and behavior, ask questions about what your child is learning; encourage him or her to study; go to Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meetings; meet your child's teachers; help with homework.
When children know parents care and have standards that they ensure are met, those children do better. Neglectful parents help create the next generation of deviants.
The center of education is the home. School exists to help us in this effort, but parents must be of the mindset that they are the head teachers of their offspring. You, the parent, must lead the way to ensure that your child becomes a self-motivated and productive member of our society.

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