Fulfilling Obama's Call to Educational Responsibility

Brandi Brown
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Obama said the following in his address to Congress last week:

These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children. But it is up to us to ensure they walk through them. In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a parent -- for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, read to their child. I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father, when I say that responsibility for our children's education must begin at home. That is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. That's an American issue.


Amen, President Obama!

I wish more people had the gumption to say that. Parents need to take responsibility for their children, and as a nation, we owe it to our children to call on the carpet parents who do not care for their children. We also owe it to those parents to demonstrate ways they can be involved. Let’s start that conversation now. Here are a few ways you can get involved in your child’s educational life.

- Read. Don’t just read to your children (though that’s certainly wonderful). You read, too, whether it’s the newspaper or a magazine or a book. Seeing you modeling how reading matters in “real life” will encourage your child’s learning.

- Volunteer in your child’s classroom. Even if you can’t be in the classroom physically, you can volunteer to organize parents for the holiday fundraiser. You can send in items for the end-of-the-year party. Your children need to see you injecting yourself into their lives from an early age.

- Make it a point to ask each day about school. When I pick my son up, he can’t wait to give me a rundown of the day. That comes from having been asked that every single day after school. Now, not only do I get the story on what craft they did, but he talks about interpersonal relationships. I know who had an argument, who got praise for being really nice, and I’m usually up to date on the weekly line leader as well. And Dad usually gets a version of this story when he gets home.

Knowing these things from a really early age helps make you a partner in your child’s educational life from your child’s perspective. The idea that my mother wouldn’t know what was going on with me at school never entered my mind because from as young as I recall, education was a family affair. Make it that way for your children, too.

- Go through your child’s book bag daily. You will keep up with notes from teachers as well as your child’s progress at school. You’re also modeling responsibility for your children.

- Expose your children to adults in various professions. If your 12-year-old is expressing interest in being a doctor, call local offices to set up a time to meet with a doctor. Many people are happy to talk to children who are thinking of a career in their field. If your child will be the first in your family to attend college, this step is especially important. Your child needs to be able to put a face to the profession’s title.

- Reward good grades. I’m a firm believer in not paying for grades, but that is a family decision you have to make. I do believe in offering other rewards, however. Perhaps you can take your child out for a special dinner or for ice cream if he improves his grades or does really well. Be sure to praise your child for good grades verbally. Children need to know that someone is aware of their accomplishments.

- Make yourself known to your child’s teachers. You should contact your child’s teachers at the beginning of the year to make sure she knows she has your support. Many schools now have email, and you and your child’s teacher can discuss anything related to your child pretty easily. Being in touch with teachers helps your child know you’re taking an extra interest in her education.

- According to Dorothy Rich, an education writer, the best way to help your children’s education is to show the connection between learning and everyday life. Involving your children in household projects or decision-making issues, for example, are excellent ways to apply the concepts from the classroom.

What other ideas do you have for how parents can be more involved with their children’s education?