Grading Parents?

Florida state Rep. Kelli Stargel, a mother of five and a Republican who sits on several education committees, came up with the idea of grading parents on their involvement in their children's education. These are the three criteria:

»A child should be at school on time, should be prepared to learn after a good night's sleep and should have eaten a meal.

»A child should have the homework done and be prepared for tests.

»There should be regular communication between the parent and teacher.

I have no issue with the third one, except it should be the teacher who initiates most of the contact. Unfortunately teachers are short on time, especially these days with the focus on numerous assessments they do on students.

I totally disagree with the second one. Studies show that homework in elementary grades have no noticeable positive effect on learning, so why make a child's life miserable with forcing him/her to do homework?

Alfie Kohn says:

"More homework is being piled on children despite the absence of its value. Over the last quarter-century the burden has increased most for the youngest children, for whom the evidence of positive effects isn’t just dubious; it’s nonexistent." - See Rethinking Homework

Worse is to prepare him/her in or out of school for the tests! At a CSAP presentation at a local school a teacher advised parents to time their children when they do their homework or chores, so as to prepare them for the timed standardized tests. Why is there a time limit at all on tests for such young children? Do they know less if they take a bit more time to show what they know?

And what about the first one? How can that be demanded of parents who are under the stress of living in poverty, who perhaps are dealing with domestic violence, and substance addiction?

Most parents who have the capability (read: financial security, and savviness about optimum child development and how to nurture that) to care about their children's education, are already involved in their children's education.

And, being an involved parent is still no guarantee that the child will be successful in school as the legislator believes. School has to be willing to make adaptations for a child's learning needs and that is not happening under the demands of No Child Left Behind, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act which will soon get another catchy, sound good name when it is reauthorized sometime this spring or summer.

Let's put a stop to its focus on standardized testing and common, national standards. Let's help stretch students' minds and talents instead.

Take a stand. Stay informed. Join Uniting 4 Kids, the national organization founded in Denver and which will officially launch on February 19.


And remember:

"Activism doesn't give up, activism doesn't fall silent. Activism doesn't rely on the opiate of hope" ~ John Pilger