Does your child attend an excellent school?

Despite what many parents may think, a child’s education is the primary responsibility of his/her parents. Parents can and do enlist the help of teachers, but too often, parents assume that their child’s school is doing a good job. Parents must be at the front of educational reform; both advocating for their children and supporting teachers in the process. However, this is much easier said than done. Since our education system lacks nationalized standards, how are parents to know whether or not their child’s school is really doing a good job?

School Atmosphere

Your child’s school makes an impression on everyone who enters, including your child. Is it in disrepair, dirty or visibly lacking in some other way? Or does it invite you in, and seem to set a tone to prepare children for learning?

The best schools set their atmosphere in such a way that make children want to learn. This includes not only displays of excellent student work, and interesting bulletin boards but also the cleanliness of the facilities and the professionalism of the staff.

An excellent school atmosphere should make your child proud to attend that particular school.

Parental Involvement

You, as a parent, not only have the right but the responsibility to know what your child is learning. Parental involvement should be encouraged as much as possible. It is a clear warning if it is difficult in any way to schedule a visit with your child’s teacher or with the principal.

Also, parents should be encouraged to participate in the classroom. Excellent schools will make every effort to communicate in what ways you as a parent can be helpful and involved. If for some reason, your child’s teacher has not asked you to take part in the classroom, volunteer some time. Maybe you can make cupcakes for a holiday party, offer to work on bulletin boards, grade papers or even come to read aloud to the class.

It is not appropriate to make a “surprise visit” unless you have been invited to do so. You should expect to make an appointment both to visit your child’s classroom or to speak with the principal. Your child’s teacher should be generally available for quick questions daily, however a conference will also require an appointment. If a school is not ready or not willing to accommodate your request within a reasonable time frame, this is a warning sign that things don’t run smoothly.