When I was teaching at a public high school in 2006, I filled out a form expressing interest in Parents for Choice in Education. The executive director contacted me and expressed his surprise that a public-school teacher would be supporting school choice. He invited me to become actively involved with his organization by speaking at some of their rallies, being interviewed by a local television station, and addressing a committee of the state legislature. For me the key component of school choice is the focus on who is ultimately responsible for a child’s education, the state or the parents? The answer clearly must be the parents. Parents must have the right to choose and be actively involved in their children’s education and they have the responsibility to do so.
I have been in both roles, the parent and the teacher. I have witnessed how difficult it is to support my child when I didn’t feel I had the teacher’s cooperation as well as the challenges of helping a student when I didn’t have the parent’s involvement. These are your children. You know them better than anyone else and have the greatest commitment to their well-being. Be actively involved in their education. Please don’t view school as a just another form of child care. The grade school years are some of the most critical to a child’s development. They are forming their attitude about themselves, society, and how they fit in. They begin to set life patterns, either actively or by default.
You are best qualified to understand what activities motivate them and the best way to approach them to gain their cooperation. Research your options to find the best fit for your child. Do they need the flexibility and creativity of student centered learning? Or do they need greater structure and support? Are there charter schools in the area that focus on a favorite interest of your child?
In most cases your local public school will be the most convenient and logical choice. However, please do not settle for convenience alone. It is only the best option if it meets your family’s needs, matches your values, allows you the level of involvement you choose, and meets your child’s academic needs. You will be insuring the best education possible for your children if it engages and motivates them to learn about themselves, their talents and abilities, the world around them, and how they can contribute.
Take time to meet the administrators and teachers. Visit the school, get a feel for the atmosphere, learn about the policies, facilities, and curriculum. Ask about teaching methods used. Do they sound effective for your child? What about the class size? Is it small enough to provide the individualized attention your child needs? Class size alone, however, is not the predictor of a great school. Are the students in the classes engaged and actively participating? What approaches are used for challenging students who are advanced in one or more areas? Are they required to stay with the group and just given extra assignments? Are advanced students allowed to continue to advance?
What supports are provided for students who need additional time? Are they left behind if they can’t keep up? Are they separated from their peers for individualized instruction and specialized training to allow them to catch up and then returned to join the rest? Or are they separated for the rest of their academic career? And are they separated for just a few classes or for all of them? Are they included in some way even when they have a severe disability? Are they taught to identify their strengths and build on them?
The most heartbreaking story I heard was of the store clerk of average intelligence who, when asked a question about a product, replied that he didn’t know because he had been in special education when he was in high school. Be cautious about allowing a school system to place a label on your child that will remain with them for the rest of their life.
When the local public school is not the best choice, rely on your commitment to your child’s welfare to find the best option. It will take some sacrifice on your part to research, identify and implement a better plan for your child. You will need to consider the time and resources available to you, but please don’t let this prevent you from acting on the best option for your child. If there is a charter school in your area that meets the requirements for your child, set aside the time or create a network of support needed for transportation and volunteer responsibilities. If a private school is the best option, you may need to find a way to reduce expenses in another area in your budget to make it happen. If you determine that you will need to provide the education yourself, reach out to a support group and commercial resources to get the encouragement and materials you need to supply your child’s education. It is always appropriate to put your child’s needs first.
