Should instruction in values be left to parents

A stimulating home learning environment in which the value of education is reinforced by parents, and in which educational resources that support learning are available, is integral to the intellectual and social development of children.

While parents may be responsible for establishing a knowledge base in these and other areas, and encouraging related behaviours, teachers are influential in reinforcing and extending these behaviours within the school context.

With children spending six hours each day at school, teachers in the classroom actively encourage many behaviours that have been prompted within the home, such as expectations of fair play and respect for others. However, the expertise of teachers goes well beyond simply knowing which information to present to students. Good teachers understand how to pace their teaching to match the learning trajectory of their students and how to encourage their students to go beyond their current capacity and to fulfil their potential.

We learn in many different locations in addition to the home and school and our teachers encompass a wide variety of people. Teaching and learning not only involve more players than we may typically imagine but, as individuals, we also contribute to what others learn.

Accordingly, teachers are no longer looked up to because of their education. Which leads to the next reason—parents do not truly understand what teachers do in the classroom. You show up five days a week for six hours a day, talk for a while, and go home early. It looks, from the outside, as if teachers have a cushy gig. Of course, if most parents were to try teaching for a couple of weeks, their perspectives might change—but the chances of that happening are pretty slim.

Politics can also be a reason why teachers receive less respect. Before the boomers, education was a political backwater. Politicians at more senior levels of government had little interest in education, and little reason to pay attention to it. Once the boomers had kids in the system, all of that changed. Unfortunately, this attention did not prove to be benign. This has led to curricula and even daily lessons being dictated by bureaucrats in provincial ministries and as a result, the unique needs of the students has been disregarded.

Most of these bureaucrats are long on ideas and theory, but very short on actual experience. Too frequently they follow the foolish direction of ignorant people. Worse, when things are perceived to be wrong with the education system, scapegoats have to be found to deflect the blame from the elected officials who were so eager to grab the reins.

Indeed, one of the six goals of the Department of Education is to "promote strong character and citizenship among our nation's youth" Strategic Plan To reach this goal, the Department of Education joins with state education agencies and school districts across our country to provide vital leadership and support to implement character education.

Throughout history, character education has been the shared responsibility of parents, teachers and members of the community, who come together to support positive character development. Character education teaches the habits of thought and deed that help people live and work together as families, friends, neighbors, communities and nations.

Character education is a learning process that enables students and adults in a school community to understand, care about and act on core ethical values such as respect, justice, civic virtue and citizenship, and responsibility for self and others.

Upon such core values, we form the attitudes and actions that are the hallmark of safe, healthy and informed communities that serve as the foundation of our society. Students spend much of their young lives in classrooms. This time in school is an opportunity to explain and reinforce the core values upon which character is formed.

In school, character education must be approached comprehensively to include the emotional, intellectual and moral qualities of a person or group.

She has been a presenter and consultant, and with Magna Publications she developed videos on demand highlighting successful strategies for classroom teachers. She is a strong believer that all kids can learn and that teaching requires art, skill, and a good sense of humor.

Beyond the Classroom. Professional Development. Teaching Moments. Classroom Innovation. Powered by your friends at. Subscribe Now! By submitting you will receive emails from Hey Teach! Beyond the classroom parent teacher communication and engagement , building relationships. If difficult parents are adding to your teaching stress, keep your cool and use these tips. No Surprises This is probably the most important thing to keep in mind throughout the year: Make sure you keep parents apprised of any issues.

Meet Face-to-Face with Parents Invite them in to meet with you rather than trying to resolve a problem over the phone or email. Further reading: Mastering the Parent-Teacher Meeting 3. Alert Your Principal or Department Chair to the Situation If the parents have already called to complain, the principal may want to sit in on the meeting. Listen and Ask Questions Shake hands with the parents who come to meet with you and ask them to explain what they're unhappy about.