“Parents as teachers” pretty well describes life as we know it now and for the past month and a half. In thinking about this topic, I asked my husband for some of his professional opinion about the subject from a mental health provider. He reminded me of his analogy used over the years.
About the time a man realizes his father is pretty wise, he has a son who thinks he is dumb or “without a clue.” At the same time that children think their parents aren’t very smart, the parents think their kids are all gifted and can do no wrong. These unrealistic expectations are likened to a cold front and a warm front meeting in Oklahoma during the spring. A thunderstorm is a certainty!
I also remember my husband telling couples that from the day of their marriage, the parents try to make the home safe and keep it together. From the time a child is born, its one driving force is to break the tightly-knit home apart to allow its escape into freedom. Thus, the dichotomy continues generation after generation.
This past month and a half of distance learning in the corona virus crisis has been an eye opener for everyone. Many families have learned the truth of the above analogies and the difficulty of parents trying to teach and work with their offspring. Oh yes, there are always the exceptions to the rule. Some parents are finding a new bond with their children. Some children whose parents have both worked outside the home are suddenly finding the joy of family life as a unit. Many families are eating meals together at a table for the first time ever. Dinner conversations are actually taking place. Positive effects of the quarantine are a welcome benefit.
However, the comments we are receiving almost daily from parents include the thanks and appreciation they feel for teachers and the work we do. Many have become flustered as they recognize the difficulty trying to get the cooperation of their children in doing the school assignments. Many have said teachers are worth their weight in gold for choosing the profession. It does help us to feel good about our contribution to the world.
We are receiving scores of virtual educational programs and packages in our spam…each claiming it has the “perfect virtual learning program” for America’s children. Yet, everything I believe as an educator tells me no one program can “do it all.” Each child is an individual, and as parents are discovering at home teaching their children, no two are alike. It is this very dynamic that makes the classroom alive and exciting! Teachers who analyze, experiment, plan and carry out teaching methods that bring student success are the key to a great education for a child.
My first agenda item at the close of this school year and the distance learning is to take a parent survey to get feedback about their children in this experience. Parents know their children better than anyone else. We can gain important insights into each child and how he or she prefers to learn. Parents can also provide us with information about the learner that no nationally normed test can provide. I will trust this information because this is a unique experience that we have all had in a crisis. It will add to our curriculum models, self-esteem profiles, and achievement benchmarks. I’m excited about getting started on this project. But first, I must help our staff bring this school year to a successful completion.
- Kay