I wasn't the one making that argument, although I think it is probably true that kids who pick up the material quickly, whether its because they are bright or because they have help at home, free up the teachers to give more time to the kids who need it. I also agree that more affluent, educated parents tend to be the ones who give more homework help. I just don't think that means we shouldn't be trying to encourage these other families to help more. Parental involvement is a good thing for these kids too, and homework help can be part of that. It would be great if everybody got what they needed at school, and parent help was just the icing on the cake, but that isn't reality in my school district.
Both of my children's school have heavy parental involvement in the school and you are correct, it is part of what makes the schools good, the abundance of parents being involved in not only the school, but taking an active role in their children's education....what I don't agree with is where the parents are volunteering.
Since you responded, I'm guessing the topic is open again?
<<The curriculum is what the teachers are required to cover. Science fair is not part of the curriculum, so the school doesn't have to do it. It's more in the nature of academic enrichment. Teachers don't have time to help 30 kids do science fair projects *and* teach the required curriculum, so that's why it's a homework project. I can't explain it any more clearly than this. >>
Yes, I understand what curriculum is, but that wasn't what I said was my confusion on the matter.
But I never said anything about a guarantee. I said it was an advantage for the kids in *my* dd's school, which is 90% middle class. The parents there are mostly educated and relatively affluent.
I still don't see any difference between what I quoted you as saying and what you're saying now. You're surprised that there aren't more low-income students in the private schools around here. That's what I said. I never suggested that I thought you didn't believe me.
I don't find it surprising at all that non-Catholic private schools here don't have much socioeconomic diversity. I just checked websites at three of these schools, and tuition is $14K, $17k, and $18K. Scholarships make up 10% to 17% of that, but of course, some of those include teachers' kids. To be able to afford that kind of tuition, you have to be pretty well off.
It's science enrichment, not something they're required to do by the district as part of the required curriculum. That's the point I'm trying to make. The teachers don't have time to help kids with projects during school hours. I don't understand why that's confusing to you, and I really can't clarify it any better.
Exactly and I think that was what Obama was speaking about the other night that parents are the first ones that are involved with their child's education and they should continue throughout the years.
I know, that's why it's an assumption, that's my point and what I was responding to was the more general comment that you made about moving to a more middle class school where everybody has the same advantages.
"I believe the parent volunteers are there to free up the teachers from busy work (copies, lunch duty, recess duty, cutting shapes, putting together packets, book orders, all kinds of things) so that they can focus on teaching."
IME these things are done by the assistant teachers and not parents. Is the budget in your district too low to allow to have assistants?
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Both of my children's school have heavy parental involvement in the school and you are correct, it is part of what makes the schools good, the abundance of parents being involved in not only the school, but taking an active role in their children's education....what I don't agree with is where the parents are volunteering.
PumpkinAngel
Since you responded, I'm guessing the topic is open again?
<<The curriculum is what the teachers are required to cover. Science fair is not part of the curriculum, so the school doesn't have to do it. It's more in the nature of academic enrichment. Teachers don't have time to help 30 kids do science fair projects *and* teach the required curriculum, so that's why it's a homework project. I can't explain it any more clearly than this. >>
Yes, I understand what curriculum is, but that wasn't what I said was my confusion on the matter.
PumpkinAngel
But I never said anything about a guarantee. I said it was an advantage for the kids in *my* dd's school, which is 90% middle class. The parents there are mostly educated and relatively affluent.
I still don't see any difference between what I quoted you as saying and what you're saying now. You're surprised that there aren't more low-income students in the private schools around here. That's what I said. I never suggested that I thought you didn't believe me.
I don't find it surprising at all that non-Catholic private schools here don't have much socioeconomic diversity. I just checked websites at three of these schools, and tuition is $14K, $17k, and $18K. Scholarships make up 10% to 17% of that, but of course, some of those include teachers' kids. To be able to afford that kind of tuition, you have to be pretty well off.
I don't know, but I think that even trying to help could be helpful in terms of demonstrating that the parents value schoolwork.
Caveat: I am not saying that helping with homework is the only way for parents, ELL or otherwise, to show that they value schoolwork.
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I know, that's why it's an assumption, that's my point and what I was responding to was the more general comment that you made about moving to a more middle class school where everybody has the same advantages.
PumpkinAngel
"I believe the parent volunteers are there to free up the teachers from busy work (copies, lunch duty, recess duty, cutting shapes, putting together packets, book orders, all kinds of things) so that they can focus on teaching."
IME these things are done by the assistant teachers and not parents. Is the budget in your district too low to allow to have assistants?
Pages