6 Steps You Must Take to Make Your Child's School Better

Entrenched bureaucracies sometimes change out of enlightened self-interest.  

In other words, they see the light and reform themselves before it's too late, before a more compelling alternative becomes widely available. 

Other times, it takes concerted external pressure to force bureaucracies to change for the sake of their "customers" - the children - as well as themselves.

For far too long, public educators and politicians have kept their heads in the sand, like ostriches, in the face of an urgent need to improve urban and rural schools. 

Therefore, I urge you and other community leaders to keep up the relentless pressure to create straight "A" schools for your children and for every American child.

So regardless of where you live and what your family circumstances are, here's what you must do in order to make sure that your children are well served by their school and placed squarely on the path to academic success:

1. Be vigilant. Make it your business to ask your children what's going on at school. Look for possible trouble spots such as teachers' negative attitudes, tracking, discipline problems, safety issues, and so on. Stay in touch with your kids and pay attention to what they are telling you—and keeping from you.

2. Be informed. Educate yourself about what your children are learning in school and what the school offers. Find out if the work they're doing is grade level or better and whether it meets the academic standards imposed by the states. Familiarize yourself with the standardized tests your children are expected to take, when they must take them, and how they should prepare properly to do well on them. Read up on national and state educational policies and regulations, with an eye to how they will directly affect your children.

3. Be involved. Attend parent-teacher conferences and "meet-the-teacher" nights. Vote in the school board elections and maybe even run for a seat on the board yourself. No one can fight harder than you for your children's right to a good education.

4. Be vocal. Speak up if you see a problem with your child's schooling even if you think there may be repercussions because of your activism. Go to your child's teacher or principal if you detect unfairness in the way your child is being treated. If you feel you, or your child, are being punished for your outspokenness, contact your pastor, the local Urban League, or another community-based organization.

5. Be visible. Make sure the school know that you are actively involved in your child's education. Become involved in the governing process of your local school system. Attend school board meetings and get to know your local elected representatives.

6. Organize. Meet with others to discuss how you can work as a group to help your children. Start on a grassroots level—with neighbors, relatives, friends. Many voices are stronger than one, and work in unison to ensure that achievement matters as much to your children's school as it does to you.

You must be an advocate for your children in school, in the community, and sometimes even within the family. It is your role both to stand up for your and to hold your child accountable.

You must also coach your children through their development. An effective coach teaches concrete skills, pushes an individual to achieve full potential, and is consistently supportive, win or lose."

Children want to do well. When large numbers of them fail, it's because adults—school administrators, teachers, you, and your larger community—have failed them. We all know

it doesn't have to be this way. Bad public schools can be turned around if the adults mobilize to do so; if adults will say: no more excuses for school failure.

I'm not downplaying the problems that many schools and the families they serve face. Just the opposite. While these problems may not go away, they needn't defeat the efforts of you and dedicated educators to close the Preparation Gap and ensure that your children achieve, regardless of your family circumstances.


What steps have you been taking to make your child's school better? 
Leave your comments below. 

How to Prevent your Child from Becoming a Dropout

To end Black dropouts, parents must value education and take it seriously. As a parent you just can’t leave the education of your child to the teachers and administrators no matter what type of school your child attends.

Even if you dropped out of high school or didn’t complete college, it is still important for you to be :

• aware of the school’s curriculum,
• what expectations the school, especially your child's teachers, have for your child,
• the school’s standards,
• the teachers' and the administrators’ qualifications,
• the school’s rankings,
• your child’s safety in the schools,
• whether giving homework is a part of the school’s policy,
• and whether the school welcome and encourage your involvement.

As a parent, you have responsibility to provide for your child’s food, shelter, and his overall development in becoming a functioning adult in society. Your child’s education is an essential piece of the puzzle. Set the right environment in the home.

Organize your home and your child to make sure that he can balance doing chores, completing homework, associating with his friends, having special times with you, and having fun. Set a good example. Let your child see you reading. Watch educational programs with your child. Have conversations about current events and what's being taught in your child’s classrooms.

Again, take the education of your child seriously. You don’t want your child to get discouraged and drop out of high school. Let them know that not only is this unacceptable.

Tell your child that what is acceptable is for him to apply himself, make the required effort, graduate, and go on to realize his full potential. And, most of all encouragement him and give him your full support.

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