In the opinion of Michael Wilshaw, a chief inspector of the English Schools, fathers and mothers who are not involved in certain tasks related to the academic formation of the children, they should be fined. And I believe that this man has overreached his duties, because thus, without having any idea of the family situation of each one, it seems a little daring to make such statements.
Wilshaw makes recommendations to the Ministry of Education, collected in an interview with The Times, whose content has transcended quickly to other media. Specific refers to the fact that families do not read to childrenDon't go to parent meetings, or don't make sure they do their homework ...
I can agree that more involvement is lacking on the part of families, and that there is tremendous confusion of roles, because sometimes we intend to demand a lot from the school and very little from ourselves; On the other hand, for parents who want to interact with the educational system in a critical but constructive way, it is not easy either. But proposing a system of sanctions seems to me an extreme measure.
Wilshaw has not hesitated to call off bad parents who are less aware of the evolution of their children, but this situation is not always caused by disinterest: employment situation, social difficulties arising from the lack of extended family, ... can also cause a mother not remember to review school assignments, or that a father does not find a place in his agenda to go to tutorials.
What I said above, is a little talk by talking, because I do not know to what extent schools can make tutoring more flexible, nor do I know how suitable family and work reconciliation is there
The responsibility of the parents
I do not doubt that there are parents who give them a little the same as their children are doing in school, but surely they are such a minority sector that it is not worth recreating in it, yes, not everyone has the same conditions to get more actively involved.
But it seems that Wilshaw's concern (or so he says) is that according to the data, many children from immigrant families are doing 'very well' and they are the ones that boost the country's position in the international rankings. This also sounds like an exaggeration, not because I think that parents who come to England and enroll their children there are not able to motivate them and do a good job with them; but because surely the English people who are accused of 'bad parents' are few, and sure too that there are many parents who aim precisely at school success of their children.
The Secretary of Education (Michael Gove) says that the Ministry is developing plans to improve the involvement of families who refuse to "impose discipline on their children." I know it makes a little laugh (even if it's not for crying), and I hope that Mr. Gove is not thinking of punishing parents to write 100 times 'I will remember to open my children's agenda every day'.
Because if workers in the education sector are complaining about the number of functions they end up assuming, in addition to the merely academic ones, lwe parents are often overwhelmed (Although we still have the same firmness and see ourselves still capable) because our educational functions are endless ... and you can extend the list if you wish.
We care about the emotions and social relationships of children, we must ensure their safety and move through the unstable limits imposed by the maturation of children, we try to establish community relations, and at the same time we keep the family together. In addition to this, we learn to force marches on nutrition, and we unfold to take the little ones to extracurriculars, and at the same time seek their rest ...
The experts who evaluate the international tests agree that encourage reading from home, and also talk with children about current affairs (for example) are bases to lay down to guarantee good academic results. Now, that all parents can do it is something else, at least in Spain, or do you not know any father or mother who due to their work returns at 8:30 at night home?
If families (as the book “Family and School” by Óscar González) are called to start a cooperative relationship with the school (from equal opportunities, it is understood); Governments and companies should be facilitating better working conditions that would allow for a real conciliation (not like the one we have now).
Although the truth is that the only conditions we have are not those, since we are surrounded by messages (television series, movies) based on empty family relationships and with more tendency to show characters worried about consuming, than building strong relationships.
I hope that nobody here comes up with the idea of punishing parents for having come home one day late, and not having read to children who were already asleep. Y let's see if we also start focusing on people (children, fathers, and mothers), in addition to the results of the international tests.
Images | USAG- Humphreys, Pierre Vignau, Chewonki Semester School
Via | Daily Mail
In Peques and More | School failure is still a social tragedy, but no measures are taken to the bottom of the problem.
