by Jay Snyder

Created on: December 23, 2008

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

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