Letter: Parents have essential role in education

Friday, Sept. 10, 2004 | 8:58 a.m.

The new school term has resumed and many students entered the classroom for the first time. Young first-timers are excited and eager to learn and the opportunity to teach them important lessons is unlimited at this stage in their educational careers. How parents prepare them for success in school is of major importance.

Some parents will merely send their youngsters off to school, as if it were a babysitting service; there will be little encouragement, reinforcement of instruction, interest, motivation or participation in the learning process at home. Parents who are directly involved in their child's education will provide support and participate in their child's entire education.

Parental enthusiasm, emphasis, interest and example are vital at this point. For uninvolved parents, the trend of hands-off parenting will continue through the middle grades and junior and senior high school. Behavior problems that develop at home will surface in the school environment, contributing to the lack of success and eventual failure.

Teachers have a major responsibility. They must demonstrate enthusiasm for the subjects they teach and possess knowledge, competence and organizational skills. They alone, however, are not responsible for student success. Parents must emphasize education and assist in a positive manner with completion of assignments, daily study, mastery of the subjects, etc. Students who have not developed a strong appreciation for a good academic education from their parents are doomed to failure.

VIRGIL A. SESTINI

Editor's note: Virgil A. Sestini is a retired biology teacher.