Education reflections
After reading another blog about education, it got me fired up thinking about our educational system and the problems with it and the utter lack of control to do much about it. Maybe it's just my field, but I have seen a trend in schools to move more and more towards being a parent to the child to make up for the lack of parenting at home. Kids are fed breakfast and lunch at school, given medications(in the morning because their parents aren't responsible enough to remember to give it to them), taken to doctor's appointments, ushered out of the classroom at the slightest movement towards a non-compliant behavior.
I was floored last week when a co-worker told me she had to take a kindergartener to a doctor's appointment to get assessed for ADHD. I questioned her about why she was the one taking her instead of her mother and she told me that the school had asked her too because she was so hyper. The teacher was also going to attend the meeting, while mother was not. My co-worker also took her for a follow up appointment this week, at the request of the school. I understand that the girl may need medication but if the parent is too incompetent, irresponsible, or lazy, is it our responsibility as school personnel, caseworkers, mentors, doctors, etc. to pick up their slack?
I know that it is difficult because no one likes to see a child suffer and wants them to have all of their needs met, but at what point do we stop doing everything for the parent. I feel harsh and uncaring sometimes when i think that sometimes the children have to suffer for the sins of the parent, but I do think that is true. I don't think it's the responsibility of a school to take a child to the doctor. I don't think that the school should call social services because they feel the child needs ADHD medication. I don't think it's the responsibility of the school to administer medications to a child SIMPLY because the parent can't get up or remember to give the child the medications. I DO think ti's the responsibility of the school to teach the children, to provide a safe place for them to learn, to show them that someone cares about them, to open new worlds to the children. I don't think it's the school's responsibility to be a parent to the children in their classroom.
I was floored last week when a co-worker told me she had to take a kindergartener to a doctor's appointment to get assessed for ADHD. I questioned her about why she was the one taking her instead of her mother and she told me that the school had asked her too because she was so hyper. The teacher was also going to attend the meeting, while mother was not. My co-worker also took her for a follow up appointment this week, at the request of the school. I understand that the girl may need medication but if the parent is too incompetent, irresponsible, or lazy, is it our responsibility as school personnel, caseworkers, mentors, doctors, etc. to pick up their slack?
I know that it is difficult because no one likes to see a child suffer and wants them to have all of their needs met, but at what point do we stop doing everything for the parent. I feel harsh and uncaring sometimes when i think that sometimes the children have to suffer for the sins of the parent, but I do think that is true. I don't think it's the responsibility of a school to take a child to the doctor. I don't think that the school should call social services because they feel the child needs ADHD medication. I don't think it's the responsibility of the school to administer medications to a child SIMPLY because the parent can't get up or remember to give the child the medications. I DO think ti's the responsibility of the school to teach the children, to provide a safe place for them to learn, to show them that someone cares about them, to open new worlds to the children. I don't think it's the school's responsibility to be a parent to the children in their classroom.
posted by Sam at 1:22 PM
5 Comments:
I totally agree. I feel so frustrated in my "Exceptional Child" class, because we're learning all this crap about what the state (via the school) is required to provide not only for the student, but also for the parent of the student, and any other people affected by the student's problems! It's so aggravating. I honestly feel like I may have to teach in the private sector, just because I'm so non-compliant with government mandates.
Yeah, i didn't think about working in the private sector...hmm that might be tons better. i don't know anyone who has taught in a private school.
These days it seems every kid has a "disorder". Kids with behavior problems get thrown into special ed, which results in them falling further and further behind for their grade level. grr it's so overwhelming to even think about all the problems.
the school in general has become a parent-pleasing entity. i saw that in my own suburbia school district and i see that here in waco's urban district. districts don't want to get sued and so any sign of conflict is avoided.
it is by no means the job of the school to teach half the things they are teaching which, in waco, is why everyone is behind on test scores because the teachers are too busy dealing with leftover home issues to teach the kid to read.
but.....if the parents could care less....who will do it? will we let children starve? what is the solution if the school doesn't? how do we get parents to realize it is their job? i think the school should be more disciplinary with the parents. (even in the court systems, the judges are too sympathetic with the parents who are NOT taking care of their children)if a parent is not making the child go to school, eat their meals and so on....there should be consequences.
i hate this "everyone should stay out of MY family's business" stuff. anyways, i could go on and on. good question.
I agree and disagree..there has to be some line where the state/gov't stops and the family begins, EVEN if the family isn't doing things the way we think it should be done. I agree, kids need their basic needs met and if they are not, there should be consequences for those actions. However, we cannot remove all the kids from their homes and place them in foster care because their parents aren't helping them at home or disciplining them. it's just not possible. Also, it worries me because when we become too dependent on the gov't or allow the gov't to have too much power/influence, it swings back the other way as well and takes away some of our rights as good parents. For example, the case in Utah of the little girl who had cancer and had gone through chemo nad the doctor's were recommending radiation to follow up. The cancer was gone and the radiation was more of a precautionary measure. The parents wanted more infor about the radiation and thought there seemed to be more negative affects than positive ones so they chose not to have her participate in the radiation treatment. What happened? The state came in and removed the girl from their custody, along with their other children, stating they were neglecting them. It's getting scary out there and I worry about whether I will have the "legal right" to discipline my children some day...
Here's a thought...maybe the church should help pick up the slack and making sure needs are met, rather than our gov't. granted, they have no legal authority, but they can help provide meals, babysitting services, job training, transportation, etc. to famillies in needs, all while showing God's love to these families...
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