by G E Barr

Created on: December 17, 2008

THE EQUATION OF ERUDITION

Engaging parents in their children's education is not a major factor in turning around low performing schools. Reducing the student to teacher ratio, maximizing class time value and reduction of take home work as well as parental involvement are major factors in turning around low performing schools.

If it were true that the only missing ingredient to a great school is the parents, we wouldn't have lousy teachers, bullies and other distasteful elements going on. We'd just have a big perfect academic world.

Consider reducing student to teacher ratio. I know that teachers are educated to teach many people in a classroom environment and I just imagine that it has been whittled to some sort of science. That's fine. But one person can only do so much. It might even be a good idea to offer evening highschool. Say from 4 pm to 10 pm. Stupid idea? So is packing dozens of kids into one classroom with one teacher who ends up paying special attention to a few.

To maximize class time, I'd suggest uniforms. Uniforms would lower the distraction element. I would also suggest an academically democratic atmosphere. Classrooms are for all students. During class time, who gives a flying flip who is cool and who is jock of the year. Also, I don't think it creates a healthy learning environment to pit teachers against each other. Instead of personal wars and other brouhaha, why not give bonuses? Children should be able to voice what they know. I understand shyness and the introvert, but requiring academic conversation and presentation, I think is underestimated. A person who not only can pass a test but converse about what they've learned is going to have confidence. To you and I, the adult world, it may not be a big deal that Robert E. Lee loved his mother very much and took care of her in her last days. It may not be a big deal that Frederick Douglas' real name was Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey and that he assumed the alias when he gained his freedom from slavery. It may not be a big deal that Malcolm X wanted to be a lawyer and that his white teachers informed him that he couldn't because of his color. Or what about the big riot in L.A. where a truck driver who just happened to be passing through was dragged from his diesel and beaten so badly that he now has a plate in his head.

All of these things are a big deal now. Because all of these things, these men, these issues touch the present. One simply cannot seperate politics from history. You know, anybody can read a book and take a test. But to be expected to rationally and verbally assert what one has learned is different. It brings the education alive. It actually makes one feel as if they own it. They didn't just borrow it. Never mind the opinion in the beginning. Let's hear about what you read and what sunk in.

Try working math equations verbally. Try 4 2/5 plus 3 1/3. The teacher is expected to do it. So is my son.

As for getting parents involved, what if the parents work blue collar and come in stinking. Is that okay with you? What if the parent just got out of prison and has a bad attitude? What if the parent is a known drug dealer? What if the parent is a depressed fool?

Well, if you can get past all of that, schedule every parent of every child to come in for one hour a day. Rotate through out the year or semester. Forget social politics and think education. Who gives a flying flip that Mrs. Brown showed up with a clump of grass on top of her head. At least she showed up.

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