A teacher, who was retired, didn’t have any filter to an open letter she wrote to all the parents. Now everyone is agreeing with it, especially with the last line. But the thing is, will you agree with it too?
The retired teacher , Lisa Roberson, went viral when she decided write openly about her feelings, about the atmosphere in today’s public school classroom. Even though different people, have different opinions about public school system, childcare, and education, Lisa R. was talking from her own experience.
While many ponder over the reasons for the perceived decline of American students compared to their global counterparts, the former educator penned her letter and delivered it to her community newspaper, which published her viewpoint in stark contrast.
Lisa candidly laid bare her perspective, addressing what she perceives as the fundamental issue behind student underachievement
“As a retired teacher, I am sick of people who know nothing about public schools or have not been in a classroom recently deciding how to fix our education system,” she wrote. Then, she got to what she believes is the actual root of the phenomenon. “The teachers are not the problem! Parents are the problem! They are not teaching their children manners, respect or even general knowledge of how to get along with others,” she boldly declared.
“The children come to school in shoes that cost more than the teacher’s entire outfit, but [the kids] have no pencil or paper. Who provides them? The teachers often provide them out of their own pockets,” added frustrated Lisa . Then, she went on to ask numerous questions that some of these parents might not like the answers to.
“Do they have working telephone numbers? Do the students take notes in class? Do they do their homework? Do the students listen in class, or are they the sources of class disruptions?” Lisa continued before concluding, “When you look at these factors, you will see that it is not schools that are failing but the parents. Teachers cannot do their jobs and the parents’ job. Until parents step up and do their job, nothing is going to get better!”
“When you look at schools that are ‘failing,’ look at the parents and students. Do parents come to parent nights? Do they talk with teachers regularly? Do they make sure their children are prepared by having the necessary supplies? Do they make sure their children do their homework?” she asked rhetorically.
Of course, the truth hurts, so for some, these words might sting a lot more than they do others. But, Lisa Roberson is right — at least to a point. A child’s success cannot be left up to the teacher alone, because the parent must be present too, and most importantly, they must parent as they should.
Those basic principles should be learned at home, taught by the parents before the child ever steps foot into a school classroom. Teachers are there to educate the children on things like reading, writing, and math. That simply can’t be done if the child doesn’t know how to behave. It might be hard to hear, but if a child is failing, before a parent points the finger anywhere else, they should do some self-reflection to make sure they are living up to their own expectations and responsibilities. Parents are a child’s first teachers, after all, and although a teacher can help reinforce it, some things must first be taught at home. For starters, it is not the school’s job to teach our children fundamental manners and respect or be the first to introduce them to the concept of responsibility.