Are parents or schools to blame for low high school graduation rates?

Parents

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by Jay Snyder

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The graduation rate in American high schools is appalling. The minute this makes news, there are people pointing fingers at teachers and administrators. Politicians impose standardized tests that are based on standards, but have little relevance to what is really learned and to what is transferrable to the marketplace or college. If teachers are doing their job, which the majority are, and school administrators are doing their job (again, the majority are), then the situation of having falling graduation rates falls upon the parents for a number of reasons.

First, children are supposed to learn proper behavior from their first teachers, which are their parents. If parents do not instill a sense of discipline and respect in their children, then it follows that the children will not exercise any self-discipline or respect when they get into the classroom. I have witnessed plenty of children who argue with their parents and basically have control over their parents. When these children enter a classroom, they believe they can do the same to the teacher who is, in essence, their surrogate parent for the school day. The teacher then must attempt to teach while also having to discipline the children. More time is spent having to enforce school and classroom rules making less time for the subject matter. Students who already have self-discipline suffer the consequences as they must wait for the teacher to get the unruly students under control before learning can continue.

The next area where parents are to blame comes from the value they place on education. Many parents do not instill in their children a sense of value toward education. If the children do not feel school is worth their time, then they will not put forth the effort required to learn and graduate. A case in point is that of parents who allow their children to skip school or pull their children out of school for a vacation in the middle of the grading period. This sends the message that school does not matter over more pleasurable pursuits. Along with this is the issue of homework. Too many parents do not make their children do their homework, especially at the high school level. Perhaps they feel that their child is responsible enough to do their work without being told. But this is not the case. Teenagers, especially in this day and age, are bombarded by other things to occupy their time and beleive they are more important than their education. When a parent does not emphasize doing homework over, lets say playing a video game, then the student will not focus on their work, but instead play the game. Parents need to enforce rules stating there are no video games played or television watched until the homework is finished.

If one looks at the value placed on education in Europe and Asia in particular, one sees that education is placed right after family and religion in importance. The students who are regarded as successful are those who earn good grades. If you look at the American educational system, and in particular, the parental values in education, many times you see athletic abilities or having good social skills being more important than grades. It is no wonder that our graduation rates are so low. Many Americans want their child to be a professional athlete or have many friends, yet will complain when their child does not graduate and place the blame on the schools, when in reality the student is simply meeting the parental expectations of athletic or social success over academic success.

Another problem area is that parents are too busy, or act too busy, to be involved in their child's education once they reach the high school level. Many parents stop being involved in their child's education thinking the student can handle it themself. What they do not realize is that high school today is not like high school when they attended. The curriculum in high school now is more rigorous than ever. Our students face challenges that are inherent in a global economy that did not exist when they were in school. Students need their parents to help them stay focused. They need their parents to work with their teachers to provide them with an education that helps them to meet the challenges they face whether they are challenges to finding a job after graduation or getting into a good college and attaining the degree that will make them competitive in a global marketplace.

Parental involvement includes being actively involved in the political decisions made with regard to education. Too many parents do not see the need to hold elected officials, from the local school board to the President of the United States, responsible for ensuring the public educational system is well-funded. If budgeted monies are always cut from education, then students suffer. Parents must be advocates for educational policy and funding. They need to look beyond their pocket books and wallets to see that tax money spent on education will help their students and the country as a whole. When they ignore political decisions made about education and educational funding, they indirectly impact the chances of their student graduating. One only needs to look at No Child Left Behind and its emphasis on how students perform on standardized tests rather than on how the students can use the knowledge they have acquired to see how this has affected graduation rates. There are intelligent students who earn high grades, can use the information they have learned, but do not perform well on standardized tests. These students, in many states, cannot graduate simply based on a test score rather than their abilities.

To conclude, if parents do not teach their children self-discipline and respect for others, do not place a high value on education, and do not stay involved in their child's education at the school level through the national level, then they are to blame when the high school graduation rate falls. It takes parents, teachers and students to ensure every child graduates with the knowledge they need to succeed in today's world.

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