Dave Shlakman
Howard Beach
Lately, there has been an explosion of anti-teacher rhetoric in the media. What has not been addressed is the following:
The education a youngster gets in school depends to a great extent not only on the teacher, but on the student, his/her parents, or other caregivers. Students must live up to their part of the educational equation!
Learning is a two-way street. The pupil has the responsibility to not only pay attention in class, but to interact with the teacher by asking questions when he or she does not understand the material. The pupil has to come back to school having done his homework, so that he or she can participate in class.
If the youngster or his parents are not an adequate part of the educational equation, learning will not occur. Teachers are not miracle workers!
The Kaiser Foundation has reported that American elementary school children and teens spend about seven plus hours a day watching TV, surfing the Internet, playing video games, etc. That is over 50 hours a week plugged in and turned off from schoolwork!
Parents must step up and step into the equation.
Dave Shlakman
Howard Beach
