The Vagabond

A2Z Blogging is a Herculean task. With letter R, we finished 3 weeks into the challenge and our 4th week starts with letter “S”. I had been contemplating many issues with S, S could have been the strength you are for your child but it would be a repetition, or stress in children which is quite common these days and somehow not acknowledged. However, I am choosing a controversial topic today and I’m ready to face criticism for my thoughts here, but someone has to say this especially to parents who have no confidence in schools/ hospitals and think schools/ hospitals are just money earning shops. To those parents My sincere advise – please home school your kid and after trying multiple road side hawkers, if the situation worsens, please do not bring your near and dear ones or yourself to a hospital.

My son just moved a ladder up, and is now in grade 6. Ever since the school started I’m fed up with the parental discussion on pricing of books, school mismanagement, criticizing teachers and so on. There is a very thin line between parental involvement and parental interference.

When you regularly check your Ward’s performance through his notebooks, diaries, emails, attend the PTMs as and when applicable, and take a keen interest in your child, this is a parental involvement. When you discuss with your child what was done in school and help him in a difficult topic it is ok, but when you do his homework for him or when you interfere in a teachers effort to discipline her class it is definitely interference.

However, when you repeatedly barge on the class unannounced disrupting the teachers schedule, when they constantly criticize the school or teacher over the teaching methods, they are not only hampering the child’s belief in his teachers, but also leaving a legacy of distrust.

My son’s Grade 3 teacher was a disciplinarian. I am proud to say that she actually made him much more responsible during that year. However, the entire year we had one or another parent complaining about how she was rude and strict she was and so on.

Every year they have a night out in the school, when they would stay back in the school after regular school hours. So in addition to the school bag, that day they have to carry a small suitcase and a sleeping bag.

My son was adamant that he could go by himself in the school bus with all the 3 bags. Many parents did drop over the suitcase and sleeping bag at the schools closing time. Now this teacher gave black stars to all the students who were helped by parents in bringing the stuff. My son was on a high as he got a red star. Lesson learned – Next year every child took responsibility of their own stuff. If you get to enjoy, shouldn’t you be responsible as well.

If your child regularly forgets his notebook, or does not do his work, shouldn’t the teacher take an action. Yes, I strongly believe. However, I have seen many parents fighting on behalf of their child.

I have seen parents fighting over 1/2 – 1 mark in PTMs. Come on, do you even remember your class 10/12 marks? Did anyone ever ask you during your interview how many marks did you get in grade 8?

We as parents just have one or two kids to manage, however the teachers have to take care of the entire class. May be she was not able to pay attention to your kid on a particular day, does not mean you should charge on her. If at times, she has to punish your child, she has the full right to do so. A school is the second home for the child.

As parents, be involved in your child’s schooling, choose your school wisely, do monitor your child’s progress but please do not interfere.

Parents and teachers both have best interests of the child in their minds. So, better have a healthy positive partnership beneficial to the child.

I am participating in A2Z Blogging Challenge this April and this post is my entry for letter S.