public school

     This past week, we had our last Parent Teacher Conference for (Emma's) kindergarten experience.  She has really enjoyed her experience at school.  And we are really pleased with her progress.  I am so glad that we ultimately decided to send her to public school.  
     In the Mommy (Daddy) wars, there are many battles. 
     The Battle of Staying Home vs. Working.  
     The Battle of Day Care
     The Battle of Homeschool vs. Outside Education
     There are many smaller battles or skirmishes along the way - To Nurse or Not to Nurse, Clothe Diapers, When to start Solids.  The enemy is  never the same either.  Most of the time, the enemy is ourselves, public opinion/ friends or sometimes it is the grandmothers.  Sometimes it is our spouse.  Other times, it is a civil war as in the Battle of the Potty or Clean Hands Skirmish or the Eat Veggies Debacle.
     I think that Jarrad and I have won most of our battles.  At least, we feel victorious.  And we really feel victorious in the battle of education.  The proof is in the parent teacher conferences.  Her teachers say she is a delight.  A joy.  She has "lovely manners" (via her British teachers aid).  She has also mastered Kindergarten.  I asked her teacher about the last few days and her response was that Emma could stop coming now and be ready for 1st grade.  I am really proud of my daughter.  I know her class was pretty wild this year and yet she remained focused and listened to her teachers. 
    At the end, Jarrad asked what we could do over the summer.  The response was read and have her read.  He also asked what we could do for the classroom.  The ironic response was parent other children. 
    I get it. 
    And this is not a slam against homeschooling.  I know quite a few who homeschool.  Most of whom are excellent teachers.  A few are not.  But that is just my opinion.
    Still there is a debate amongst those that want to give the best to their children - is public school the right choice?  I can't afford private school but should I really send my kids out into the big bad world? 
    Public school gets a bad rap. 
    Too often in the media, the attention is on the teachers.  They aren't doing enough.  They need to be innovative. They aren't smart enough; I mean, those that can't, teach, right?  Or there isn't enough money in schools.  We need to pour more money into the system and THAT is the reason why schools are failing kids. 
     Again, in my opinion, the system that has worked for over a 100 years isn't broken.  It is the parents. 
    You know the saying, a few bad apples spoil the bunch?  It is true. 
     Money won't fix the problem.  Parents who care will.  You want proof?  Look at the Black schools of the south.  They had crap.  Nothing. And yet, they "still" turned out educated professionals who dramatically added to our quality of life today.  Why?  Parents who had a passion for their children. 
    Teachers are the problem.  Yes.  Yes. They are.  When you have to teach and parent, you can't do a good job teaching, if at all. 
    And yes, this is my soap box. 
    When you send your child to school, you aren't really sending.  You are adding a person to your arsenal of guiding your child.  Don't just wipe your hands off and say, "This is your job" because if you don't do your job, they can't do theirs. 
   Don't "send" your kids to school.  Be a part of it.  That does not mean you have to "be involved" in the school, it means you are INVOLVED IN YOUR CHILD.  That also means that you don't take an aggressive stance against the teacher  - remember, they are your PARTNER; not your adversary so don't treat them as such.
     There are a lot of battles in life.  Imagine feeling like you are losing more battles than winning and you can imagine what a teacher feels like.  Oh, and by the way, if the teacher feels like he/she is losing the battle with your kid, you just might be losing the battle with your kid too.