April 4, 2008Parents hold key to child's educationDon't even think about piling onto city school officials because Roanoke has the region's worst dropout rate. They didn't earn the dubious distinction by themselves. When a child arrives at school unprepared, unable or unwilling to learn, don't blame the teacher, the principal or the school board. It's the parents' fault. It's the parents' fault when a child lives in such a chaotic household that he or she can't focus on schoolwork. The sad reality for too many children -- white and black -- is that school takes a back seat to survival. It's the parents' fault when a child receives free breakfast at school but gets there too late to eat it. The child ends up in class too hungry to concentrate. It's the parents' fault when they don't value education and can't or won't see it as a gift that can put their children on the road to a better life. With such lack of support at home, no wonder too many of our children hate school, give up and drop out at the first opportunity. According to the state Department of Education, Roanoke has a graduation rate of 57 percent. That means nearly half of the system's students are falling through the cracks. For three years, I've emphasized that saving Roanoke's schools is a communitywide effort. And it is. But it starts at home. School exists to educate students. Students will do only as much as parents expect of them. If parents don't care, students won't, either. Poverty is not an excuse. It makes things a lot tougher, but too many adults grew up in disadvantaged homes and made something out of themselves. I'm not talking dollars and degrees, but the ability to make a respectable place in the world after high school. Now don't get me wrong. Roanoke has some teachers who, to put it politely, picked the wrong profession. But if parents send their children to school ready to learn, sorry teachers can't claim inattentive and uninterested kids as a cover for their own incompetence. Parents have to start taking responsibility for the educational outcomes of their sons and daughters. Parents, your child's educational success begins with you. You set the tone at home. If your life hasn't been what you envisioned, that's even more reason to encourage your child in school. The Roanoke school system is offering a workshop April 12 at Patrick Henry High School called Parent University. Registration is over, but I'm betting Superintendent Rita Bishop -- a strong advocate of parental involvement -- wouldn't be upset if she had some last-minute participants. Consider it a step toward lowering the dropout rate. Shanna Flowers' column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. |
About this blog In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
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Comments
[April 4, 2008 8:13 AM]
BacklashShanna
Your statement rings true "Students will do only as much as parents expect of them. If parents don't care, students won't, either".
The school system is only an extension of the educated minds that resides in the homes across America. The barrier between them is television, drugs, and violence that is garnered by the lure of instant wealth of the streets.
I feel that in some part schools system is failing and for the Teachers association to blame "home schooling" for it's decline is pure rubbish.
Teens are learning those things that is more interesting to them sex and drugs from more involved teens. These teens teach other teens, in this example teens are now the teachers and parents of our youthful society.
Who should get the failing grade, parents and if the parent is a teen what will that child provide for the future.
[April 4, 2008 12:22 PM]
RandyYou hit this on the head. It all starts at home and we want the schools to do it for us. There are many reasons for failure, but in the end it is all adults responsibility to assist these kids. They did not ask to come into this world.
[April 4, 2008 12:48 PM]
Tami Anderson-AmosSuper article!!!!!!
[April 4, 2008 2:42 PM]
K. McConnellYou're absolutely right. I know there are a couple of parents of IB students at Ruffner Middle School who do care about their children's education.
Who is to blame for an gifted program for middle school students when the district can't keep a qualified teacher for Algebra or Geometry? These students are taking Algebra and Geometry for high school credit, so we thought. The real surprise is that even though they may have a B in the class they can't pass the SOL simulation exam. The school personnel have admitted that the reason is because they have not been taught what they should have been or what is need to pass the SOL. These are bright students, all above average students. They have been given an option to opt of receiving credit for the class if they grade is below what would be desirable for their high school GPA. Regardless of whether or not they choose to opt out, they will most likely have to retake the class to learn the basics that weren't taught the first time they took it. These students are bright young individuals who can only learn what is taught to them in the classroom. It's a shame that they will most likely have to retake a class that they received a passing grade in because the district failed to up hold their part of the educational standards for their IB program.
You're right. Your example validates the point I make about how incompetent teachers can't be allowed to hide behind excuses. In no way does my column let schools off the hook.
[April 4, 2008 3:05 PM]
AlSuper? Falls short in my view. While I do tend to agree with most of what you say, it stopped far short of addressing the problem, or at least the part that we can do something about. In fact, the opening line tends to excuse the system for failure. I have not researched the details recently but it was and probably still is true that Roanoke City is among the worst systems in the state by any common measure. Certainly there is no data available to suggest that parents in Roanoke City are less interested in or capable of addressing the educational needs of their children than those of other systems who are showing far better results. Think about it. So how can you account for the failure? Like it or not, this is the ladder to the answer.
TEACHERS: While first on my list, in my view they are the least likely reponsible for the failure. Just as there are some journalist which should have selected another profesion, there are some poorly trained, poorly motivated, poorly driven and poorly supervised teachers. What percentage? Probably no more that what you will find as incompetent in any profession and not in an adequate enough number to account for the failure. (With a footnote to follow.)
ADMINISTRATION: Step up the ladder one level to the school administration. A line of the most incompetent top level administrators imaginable has plagued this system. The jury is still out on Bishop but I do wish her well. There is no excusing Roanoke City School administration, specifically the top guy and his top associates. I cannot understand liberal mentality. Blame the CEO of a nation of 300 million with three branches of government for every current problem but excuse this school administration from glaring failure on matters which are under its immediate, direct and singular charge in a community of 94,911 with 12,941 students. Now let me go back to techer competency. In time, an administration which shows it is incompetent to the staff will see two things materialize. First, good people will leave. Secondly, good people will not seek employment in the system. This cycle expands in time and eventually you may have a disproportionate number of "good" over "bad" staff at all levels including teachers. So if there is a serious teacher competency issue it remains a consequence of poor administration. And now up one level to those who put these administrators in place.
THE SCHOOL BOARD: Roanoke City School Board IS a social organization and a stop along the path of local politics. Jump on some lower board or commission. Spend an evening a month on some obscure task. Align yourself with some pet project. Don't ask much and don't rock the boat and be "promoted" to the school board. Repeat the proces and see the door open to city council and maybe beyond. Members are not selected for what they know or can contribute but rather for WHO they are and WHO they know. Elected school boards are the standard today and not simply by accident. It is a consequence of governing bodies not willing to play politics with the task of education as they contribute to it locally. But the City Council majority like it being "political" and are intent on having it remain unchanged. And that brings us to the top of the ladder.
CITY COUNCIL: Yet few on council feel they have a reponsibility in the success of the school system. In a day to day operational manner, they should not be involved. But when things go as wrong as they have for as long as they have, why is Council not raising questions? Why is someone from Council not attending EVERY school board meeting? Forget those periodic goodie goodie meetings where they stroke each other about accomplishments and progress. Why do things like falsification of state reports, leaking roofs, and rats in the rafters (and other places) not come to the surface sooner? Why are they not working with the school board as opposed to feeling like their job is done once the appointment is made? The answer is simple and rooted in the appointment process. They (Council) never expected the school board to do anything other that stand as the administrative authority for the system. A "figure head" so to speak. School board members are the pals and chums of those on Council and Council member do not want to be critical of their chums. Additionally, recognizing shortcomings would be a reflection on the judgment of those who appointed the board. We sure don't expect Council to admit they made any bad appointments. If there were ever any doubt about the way City Council expects the school board to perform just review the facts of the stadium debate and the manner that Council used the school board at the expense of an opportunity to actually improve the school system.
As I think was once even stated by the Roanoke Times, Roanoke city is not going to re-engineer societal views on education. What must be done is to organize the city school system to take full advantage of every "angle" within their control to gain improvement. Parents will do what they will with children when not in school. But once that child enters the domain of the Roanoke City School system, the system should take control. What's the first order of business?
There is one word which come to mind. One underlying initiative, which will have the greatest and most far reaching consequences and contribute to success more than anything else. The system must undertake the initiative to instill disipline in the classroom. The teacher must be in charge. Principals must back their teachers. Central administration must stand behind the principals and they must all be supported by the superintendent. AND the school board must support them all as the City Council must support the board. This task, while easy to state, is anything but easy to accomplish and ultimately must have the support of the public. Elected school boards can secure public endorsement of school policy. Appointed ones cannot.
Roanoke City cannot ensure that children get enough sleep or that they are properly fed or groomed. They cannot get them out of bed in time to arrive and eat their free breakfast or see that the child returns to a caring home or parent. But when the child becomes the custodian of the school system, the system must be in charge and not the child or parent who refuses to participate in the eucational needs of their children.
Is there more? You bet. But, for now, this is where improvement begins.
"They didn't earn the dubious distinction by themselves."--s
[April 6, 2008 12:25 PM]
JackieI agree with K. McConnell about the situation at Ruffner Middle School concerning the IB Math program. I was one of the two parents that showed up for a meeting to discuss the issue with eight grade IB students that were taking Algebra I in which the school system wants to offer the opportunity to "opt out" of the class due to not having a qualified teacher during the school year. As disappointed as I was that only two parents showed up for this meeting, I have to wonder if the school system is not covering themselves by allowing our students to back out of the class now without penalty.
In the beginning of the school year, Ruffner did not have a certified math teacher and the students had to be escorted to William Fleming to attend class. After hiring a "teacher" and subsequently losing them a short period afterwards, why didn't the school administrators send those students back to William Fleming instead of allowing substitute and uncertified teachers to remain in the classroom for most of the school year? The school system knew that our students were not learning what they needed in order to be successful. That is why they have been offering parents the option to "opt out" of the IB course since the beginning of 2008. I would like to know if Breckenridge Middle School IB had any similar issues with their math program. If so, what did the school system do to address it? Is the lack of interest in the students at Ruffner really due to the parents or the school system?
[April 6, 2008 9:32 PM]
AlSounds like a system problem to me. But how sad is it that so few show up and have interest as did you. At the risk of contridicting myself, if it was a big problem you would think that hoards of angry parents would storm the school administration AND the School Board AND City Council. But it won't happen I suppose. Too bad. And with such shallow interest on the part of parents maybe people in the administration feel "what difference does it make?"
I hope you just don't "let it go". Press the issue for the sake of your own child as well as others who apparently have parents that care too little.
[April 7, 2008 1:05 PM]
Bev Bishopin total agreement with Al!!!!!
[April 16, 2008 9:56 AM]
Terry BParents Fight Over Which Gang Toddler Should Join
WHAT?
When I first read this headline I couldn't believe it. A Hispanic man attacked his Black girlfriend because she wanted their 4 YEAR OLD to join her gang the Crips and he wanted the child to join his gang the Westside Ballers. Does anyone else see something wrong here? What really surprised me is that the story did not mention anything about child services checking in on this child. What is wrong with these people?
This story comes from Memphis Tn. This is what going to happen here if the Education System isn't fixed.