Achievement Gap

[Anonymous]

Great. So stop blaming teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great. So stop blaming teachers.

My, my... aren't we touchy. Wasn't talking about teachers, this was about the achievement gap.

[Anonymous]

Hi white mom of AA child. Keep the faith. I anticipate that you will need at some point to push a boulder uphill to get what is needed for your child- if you haven't already. But that is part of parenting at some point for most everyone. And it doesn't hurt but makes children stronger. Look at Obama and Clinton and what their moms did for them- while single moms no less.

In spite of the posturing that is taking place on this blog, I want to say that I firmly believe that the achievement gap will lesson as we evolve as a society that has the highest regard for all. Part of that regard may be to embrace our past in order to move through our present reality toward a brighter future. I embrace a future of fulfilled dreams and possibilities.
Peace.

[Anonymous]

15:24, are you serious? If you are, peace be still.

[Anonymous]

I've read this entire thread with great interest.

There are a couple of areas where I too would like to add two cents.

One, I have a personally witnessed and known parents of all SES levels who are lax in their parenting. It is really a balance between allowing your children unstructured time to allow their imaginations to flourish and thoughtful exposure to the bigger world. I personally thank God for the adults in my life who exposed me to books, music, theater, travel (mostly by car), swim lessons, museums, etc. Many of those adults were not my parents, but my parents, even with their limited education, were striving to some extent. I only wish they had, as they became more prosperous through their jobs in the public sector, done a better job of inspiring my siblings and I to higher achievement in our own educations. Moving your children to the suburbs is not enough.

Number two, parents, regardless of class, race or any other social status, are stigmatized in schools. I have a lot of insider knowledge related to this. Teachers and administrators talk out of both sides of the mouths when it relates to parent involvement in schools. We really need a stronger movement to empower all parents as consumers of education services.

Finally, I would encourage any parent to really be the first and primary teacher in their child's life. It really is a huge part of the job. The school and the teachers are your partners, but you are the captain of the ship. You chart the course and the decide the destination, beginning at birth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've read this entire thread with great interest.

There are a couple of areas where I too would like to add two cents.

One, I have a personally witnessed and known parents of all SES levels who are lax in their parenting. It is really a balance between allowing your children unstructured time to allow their imaginations to flourish and thoughtful exposure to the bigger world. I personally thank God for the adults in my life who exposed me to books, music, theater, travel (mostly by car), swim lessons, museums, etc. Many of those adults were not my parents, but my parents, even with their limited education, were striving to some extent. I only wish they had, as they became more prosperous through their jobs in the public sector, done a better job of inspiring my siblings and I to higher achievement in our own educations. Moving your children to the suburbs is not enough.

Number two, parents, regardless of class, race or any other social status, are stigmatized in schools. I have a lot of insider knowledge related to this. Teachers and administrators talk out of both sides of the mouths when it relates to parent involvement in schools. We really need a stronger movement to empower all parents as consumers of education services.

Finally, I would encourage any parent to really be the first and primary teacher in their child's life. It really is a huge part of the job. The school and the teachers are your partners, but you are the captain of the ship. You chart the course and the decide the destination, beginning at birth.

first intelligent post I've read on this thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've read this entire thread with great interest.

There are a couple of areas where I too would like to add two cents.

One, I have a personally witnessed and known parents of all SES levels who are lax in their parenting. It is really a balance between allowing your children unstructured time to allow their imaginations to flourish and thoughtful exposure to the bigger world. I personally thank God for the adults in my life who exposed me to books, music, theater, travel (mostly by car), swim lessons, museums, etc. Many of those adults were not my parents, but my parents, even with their limited education, were striving to some extent. I only wish they had, as they became more prosperous through their jobs in the public sector, done a better job of inspiring my siblings and I to higher achievement in our own educations. Moving your children to the suburbs is not enough.

Number two, parents, regardless of class, race or any other social status, are stigmatized in schools. I have a lot of insider knowledge related to this. Teachers and administrators talk out of both sides of the mouths when it relates to parent involvement in schools. We really need a stronger movement to empower all parents as consumers of education services.

Finally, I would encourage any parent to really be the first and primary teacher in their child's life. It really is a huge part of the job. The school and the teachers are your partners, but you are the captain of the ship. You chart the course and the decide the destination, beginning at birth.

This. After coming back to this thread often to see what suggestions and recommendations are offered, this is what really matters and makes a marked difference.

[Anonymous]

Right, except DCPS does not believe it and puts all the responsibility for children's education on the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Whatever regarding DCPS, Fairfax or any other system. A child can flourish or fail in any jurisdiction. You and the people closest to you can influence what your child becomes. It does require constant vigilance and high expectations starting at birth.

I do agree that we need to lay off the teachers. They are not parents. That's my job. We can all help our teachers do their jobs by ensuring that our students sleep well, eat healthfully, exercise, are exposed to the written word, have limited screen time and understand how their behaviors can yield positive or negative consequences. There are many well-heeled families who aren't doing these things. It's not just the poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever regarding DCPS, Fairfax or any other system. A child can flourish or fail in any jurisdiction. You and the people closest to you can influence what your child becomes. It does require constant vigilance and high expectations starting at birth.

I do agree that we need to lay off the teachers. They are not parents. That's my job. We can all help our teachers do their jobs by ensuring that our students sleep well, eat healthfully, exercise, are exposed to the written word, have limited screen time and understand how their behaviors can yield positive or negative consequences. There are many well-heeled families who aren't doing these things. It's not just the poor.

Please tell that to the chancellor -- not that it will make any difference

[Anonymous]

Picking up this thread about the achievement gap. My child was slipping and sliding even with my full attention and my husband's to helping him/motivating him to get his homework done. But we could not help! Assignments on the website didn't match the datebook or the grade database (waaay too complicated to get the simple answer to the question, do you have any homework). Handouts were misplaced, homework done was not turned in, simple assignments took hours, and on and on. We tried backing off completely. We tried a reward system. We tried teacher feedback once a week. We tried motivational talks. What's needed: a homework system that's crystal clear, all teachers follow it to the letter, and both kids and parents understand it.

What I think people miss in this debate over whether it's the teachers' or the parents' fault is this: Schools need to find a simple way to get the teachers efforts and parents efforts to sync up. Design a system that makes success possible, and inform teachers and parents how to implement it.

[Anonymous]

pp, no one could have sad it better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Picking up this thread about the achievement gap. My child was slipping and sliding even with my full attention and my husband's to helping him/motivating him to get his homework done. But we could not help! Assignments on the website didn't match the datebook or the grade database (waaay too complicated to get the simple answer to the question, do you have any homework). Handouts were misplaced, homework done was not turned in, simple assignments took hours, and on and on. We tried backing off completely. We tried a reward system. We tried teacher feedback once a week. We tried motivational talks. What's needed: a homework system that's crystal clear, all teachers follow it to the letter, and both kids and parents understand it.

What I think people miss in this debate over whether it's the teachers' or the parents' fault is this: Schools need to find a simple way to get the teachers efforts and parents efforts to sync up. Design a system that makes success possible, and inform teachers and parents how to implement it.

Sounds like your child may have ADHD.