As a kid I thought my teachers knew everything. My teachers carried the same level of respect as a mother and father. My parents never worried about my teachers, because they knew that they were going to teach me whatever I needed to know. My mother would say at the beginning of every school year, “Shut your mouth and listen to your teacher.” If I were to bring home a bad conduct grade, no questions were asked, it was a spanking for sure. Boy, how times have changed. When I became a teacher I was shocked to find out that many of my colleges didn’t have the same passion as I had for teaching. I wanted to change every child’s heart and show them the way to make all their dreams come true. In fact when I first started many of my colleagues laughed at my passion. They told me I am just wasting my time if I think I am going to change any of these children. Their parents are a “nobody” and so are they. That was a big blow to what I thought about teachers. I was disappointed. I thought all teachers cared. I found out that many children failed not because they were incapable, but failed because the lack of support from teachers, schools and parents. Parents, don’t leave it up to the school to educate your child, get involved. Times have changed. It is a minority of teachers that will shoulder all the responsibility of your child becoming successful. Many teachers are not going to push your child to their full potential especially if you are not involved. You may say, “ I am too busy, I work long hours and I am tired.” We should want better for our children. We want our children to do better than we did in our lives. Parents educate yourself. Go to the state and district website and pull up the curriculum. Know what are the expectations for your child. Know what is expected of them before they graduate to the next grade. Schedule conferences with their teacher several times during the school year. Write a list of questions and concerns and bring that with you to the parent/teacher conference. Make sure you walk away from that conference with clear answers. If your child struggles in school, don’t accept it, ask questions. Ask for help from your child’s teacher and school. I hear so many parent accept their children failing. Don’t accept, react. React by finding out the resources available to your child, so that he or she can be successful. Don’t accept until you see progression in your child. I once asked a colleague of mine, who attended private schools all of his life, what is the difference between private and public. He said, “in private schools parents don’t accept anything less from the school and teachers must rise to the highest level of expectations.” RISE PARENTS! and make sure your child’s teacher and school rise to the highest level of expectation.

Author: Miriam Flowers