This stems from something that happened at work today: My boss was doing an orientation with a family that might want to sign up for the program. I had to walk in and get extra work for a student. As I was in there, I heard the dad say, "Well, the biggest thing is that...we don't like to spend time doing their homework with them...I'm busy..."
Now, I've heard the "busy" excuse probably -not exaggerating- five hundred times. I've been working this job, teaching little kids to read, write, and do basic math (as well as helping older students with more advanced stuff when I have time), for two years now. This might be the first time I've heard a parent flat-out say that they do not like to sit down and work on homework with their kids.
And it really makes me angry. I am not saying people don't have their own circumstances. There are many, many people out there who literally don't have the time to sit down and help their kids with stuff -because they're working several jobs just to put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads, have utilities, etc. It's unfortunate, but a kid's not going to be able to do homework without those things anyway. And, I understand being super busy some of the time.
But most of the parents who enroll their kids in expensive after-school programs (although Kumon is probably one of the best deals, frankly speaking) are, from what I've seen, well-off. Not all of them, but most of the parents make good money to be able to shill out 100 or 200 bucks a month for supplemental education. They probably do work a lot, and work hard, for what they have.
You know what else they have? Children. Children who want, more than they want toys or fancy things, their parents' love, affection, and attention. I understand being busy, but for crying out loud -spend fifteen minutes a day to help your kids with their homework! Show them that you care about what they're learning, that you want them to understand it, that you value them. Life's not about grades -don't spend zero time with them, and then get angry when they aren't perfect.
I helped the student who wrote this learn to write -how cool!
Speaking of grades, in my direct experience, children whose parents are actively involved in their education learn better, and tend to subsequently get better grades. I can usually tell which students' parents actually give a damn, because those students turn in all their work completed, with mistakes marked and corrected, and they improve over time. This is especially true for reading, and especially for the little ones I work with.
Teachers only see kids for so much of the time. Parents, it's your job to raise your child, it's your job to teach them when the teacher is not there. Children learn constantly, not just from 8-3 when they are in school. If they are not having trouble in school, still talk with them about their homework, and get involved so that they can excel, and know that you care. If a child is not learning well in school, take the time to go over stuff at home.
I don't like hearing excuses like "I'm always busy." I never, ever ask a parent to hover -in fact, I find that just as detrimental. Hovering tells a child that you don't think they are capable of doing it on their own, that they have to be absolutely perfect all the time, and that they can never make a mistake or take the time to think about things. Children do best when their parents are gentle guides.
In summation, you're paying good money (my paychecks!) to send your kids to get an education. Take a few minutes out of the TV time, or morning make-up time, or even during dinner, to get involved and get your moneys' worth. But do it mostly because you love your children, believe in them, and want to nurture them. If you aren't going to make them your top priority, why did you bother having children in the first place (is how I feel)?
No comments:
Post a Comment