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The late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis famously said, "If we fail as parents, nothing else we do really matters."
If the controversial efforts of Florida State Rep. Kelli Stargel are successful, not only will nothing else matter, parents will receive a report card documenting their ineptitude. Stargel introduced a bill that requires public school teachers to grade the parents of students in kindergarten through the third grade as either "satisfactory," "unsatisfactory" or "needs improvement." The grade will be documented on the student's report card.
"We have student accountability, we have teacher accountability and we have administration accountability, the GOP legislator said. "This was the missing link, which was, look at the parent and making sure the parents are held accountable."
In the late 1990s, the implementation of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) stirred discontent throughout communities across the state as it ushered in an era of renewed accountability.
However, critics didn't see it that way, voicing their valid concerns that teachers were being distracted from vital lessons to ensure that students were passing standardized tests.
While many parents are seething over the bill, it is apparent that teachers constantly under attack for the low performance of their students are feeling a sense of vindication.
"This is the real world," says kindergarten teacher Theresa Hill. "You don't always get a superior rating if you're not doing a superior job. That's life. We grade our children based on their performance. Why should the parents be any different?"
While there are many educators who agree with Stargel's bill, there are others who find it frivolous and without merit.
Steve Perry, a CNN education contributor and founder of Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Conn., believes the proposed legislation is an exercise in futility:
"There is nothing in any teacher's training that would put them in a position to be able to effectively judge the parenting of one of their student's parents," Perry argued. "If getting a bad grade was the impetus for people doing things right, then I would have an entire school of kids getting As."
Stargel sits on several education legislative committees, and as the mother of five, believes she understands the importance of parental involvement and that some parents are just not aware of the necessity of their influence:
"I think a lot of parents understand that is something that is critical," she said. "On the other hand, you have some parents that don't realize they are not providing the needs."
The grading system is based on three criteria written into the legislation:
• A child should be at school on time, prepared to learn after a good night's sleep and have eaten a meal.
• A child should have the homework done and prepared for examinations.
• There should be regular communication between the parent and teacher.
"Those three things are key to a quality education," Stargel said.
While I completely agree that parents need to be held accountable for their children's education, Stargel is minimizing extenuating circumstances that may affect the parents' lives as well.
There are many parents who are negligent and deserve to be evaluated for their lack of concern. Education has lost its importance in many of our communities and in our nation as a whole. Parents must clearly take control of their children's future and stop shifting blame to those who could never be as vested in their success.
The abhorrent state of our public school systems, however, must also be taken into account.
The Republican Party has historically slashed funds for various education programs, job training, as well as encouraged the use of private-school vouchers, instead of utilizing those funds for the improvement of public schools.
It has voted against health care reform, in favor of cutting social services and mental health programs, and is doing its best to control the reproductive organs of women while voting against sex education in schools.
Rep. Stargel rightfully agrees that a child should be well-fed, yet belongs to a party that wants to cut SNAP benefits.
Stargel rightfully believes that children should have a good night's sleep, yet he belongs to a party that wants Section 8 defunded.
Stargel rightfully believes that our children's education is a collaborative effort, yet belongs to a party that would rather see education spending cut and military spending increased.
There is a well-accepted axiom that states, "If you're not a part of the solution, you're a part of the problem." The fact that the sponsor of the bill is a member of the Good Ole Party makes her lose credibility in my eyes.
Before Stargel attempts to chastise parents for their lack of involvement, she should look in the mirror and re-evaluate why she is a member of a party that is anti-government on all things financial or altruistic but strives to be omnipresent when legislating family responsibility and morality.
It may seem far-fetched, but maybe, just maybe, a fair tax system, quality health care, integrated job creation, and affordable housing and education would go a long way to ensuring that parents are healthy enough -- mentally, physically, and emotionally -- to better care for their children. To think for one moment that there will be an overwhelming shift in parental involvement just because they receive an "unsatisfactory" grade on a report card is extremely narrow-minded.
As a mother of two young sons, I would never blame my child's teacher for his lack of progress. If a parent knows that their child's school is inadequate or that the teacher is unqualified, then those hurdles must definitely be faced. Ultimately, though, our children's success or failure rests on our shoulders, exactly where it should be. So while I completely agree with Stargel's stance, I am vehemently opposed to her methods.
There has to be a triangular approach as it pertains to education: Government, educators and parents must communicate, strategize and implement innovative ideas to ensure the success of our children; we are only as strong as our weakest link. When neither parents nor teachers are equipped to excel in a challenging environment, a "needs improvement" grade on either part will potentially generate nothing but hostility and resentment.
At the heart of the matter, sadly getting lost in the heated rhetoric, are our children.
Our children, who depend on us for shelter, for comfort and for the chance to succeed in a rapidly growing global society, have many chips stacked against them. There are thousands of children who are homeless, starving, abused and abandoned. As a country, we are failing them, so, we are all accountable. Even you, Rep. Stargel.
And it's past time we started acting like it.
Comments: (12)
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By: MW on 2/01/2011 6:55AM
@ BillSchrier I don't understand why bitter WHITE people come on BLACK VOICES and to discuss their anger about black people. YOU DON'T SEE ME ON FOX!!! Please keep your ignorance to yourself...
To the real issue at hand...
People always make excuses for parents, especially our parents. HOWEVER, children needs do not go away because you lack the ability to parent correctly due to economical stress. I am a single parent and I understand the issue, but I'm also an educator and see too many of our kids lacking basic social and emotional skills. I work with kids who parents refuse to pick them up when they have a fever or refuse to attend IEP meetings for their special ed kids or refuse to attend teacher meetings.
We has parents, black parents, have to realize that our kids needs don't disappear because we are struggling has parents financially. We have to be willing to accept that parenting the way our parents did may not be in the best interest of our kids and seek new skills to help our kids become successful in the education system. We also have to stop this blame game that "the system" doesn't work for our kids because THAT IS A LIE, we have to many examples of kids who were successful BECAUSE their parents advocated for them and taught them how to navigate through the system. The sad truth is that this law is a great option to a sad problem. I think ALL states should confront parents on lack of educational support for their kids and provide resources to help them learn how to help their kids inspite of their personal issues.
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By: Adannaya on 2/01/2011 9:15AM
(In Response to Mr. Shier)
I am a parent of a child that attends school in Florida. I am black, I was raised by my mother and father (they are still married) and my husband and I are adamant about our child receiving a quality education. Our role as educators is just as important as that of his teacher.
Racism is a form of ignorance. This ignorance affects individuals that are too lazy to educate themselves about the race they obviously know nothing about. This laziness is sometimes passed down by the individuals' family members who are basically just as ignorant as the seed they produced and watered with tainted ideologies. I read this article in its entirety and not once did I see any mention of one race in particular that this bill is targeting. If passed, a grade will be given to all parents of all races.
I can say one thing about some black single parents, they knew when to call it quits. When you have done all you can sometimes the only solution is to be apart. They end it before their actions begin to have a negative impact on their children. I've seen white parents resort to drinking, drugs, extramarital affairs, long "business trips", etc. all in an effort to avoid their spousal and parental duties. They may have family and friends fooled, but not the children. In the end their children come out just as messed up as those of any other race that are apart of a dysfunctional family.
Bill you might want to watch MTV's Teen Moms. I encourage you to watch when there is a marathon. Count how many of these young ladies are white; these are only a small number of white young ladies having children out of wedlock. Statistically speaking, how many of these teens do you think will end up producing children from another male? Many of them will go on to have children by different fathers. I would encourage you to keep in mind, single parenthood and animal-like characteristics are prevalent in individuals of all races ("all" meaning yours as well).
Sorry to have written an article, but sometimes it's important to keep your ignorance to yourself.
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By: bob on 2/01/2011 9:54AM
adannaya the problem is that the teachers, Most of them cannot be fired because of bad performance. I have three kids, one in college (living at home). The kids from early grades came home with tons of homework and not a clue how to do it. My wife and I became the teachers and all complaints fell on deaf ears. I am sure that the teachers union lobbyed for this law to make their jobs even easier. We as parents need a bill so we can grade the teachers. If the reach the low 70s they need to go tenure and all. My point is that the parents of today are the ones that teach their kid. They teach them everything. The teachers need to step it up and teach the reading,writing,math,and science,and american history and stay out of our houses.
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By: rudy on 2/07/2011 12:04PM
The problem between the parents and the school across the board are not the same page because many working parents worked 60 hours compared teachers worked avg is 6 hrs from monday to friday and off the whole 3 entire summers...I think we parents have to stand up and tell how we can help the school to succeed the children before they graduated from high school...I noticed many black parents came from low income to middle class are extremely struggling because of job losses everywhere and put the kids back to public school system all over again and find the schools are not doing well..Thats why we have to be responsible and keep in touch with teachers and the principal once a week to see if the kids 's progress improved..I heard President Obama gave a lot of money to charter school to allow low income kids to enter the k to 12 everywhere but not all of them agree to set up charter school around the country..
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By: HoneyKone on 2/01/2011 6:51PM
Violent? Can you say "COLUMBINE?"
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By: Esq on 2/02/2011 8:07AM
I suppose you believe everything you read on the internet sir. I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.
If that's the case what's the fascination with white kids sleeping with ones sister and having intimate relationships with household pets?
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By: Vicki on 2/02/2011 8:47AM
Teachers are parent and not neccesarily good parents. Most parents got bad report cards when they were in school. What to do? What to do?
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By: Marvice on 2/03/2011 12:09AM
I see Bill is back harassing us again. Ignore him, he just wishes he could be black!
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By: Marvice on 2/04/2011 11:36AM
I wish we could go back to the day when children went to school to learn and they did everything they were supposed to do in school. When they came home they had a paper or two that consisted of the work they learned that day and was merely for review. I believe that family time should be for the family and school time should be for school. If they would have a normal day of school that consisted of enough hours for them to go over whatever they needed to go over that would be enough. Life is too short, when I go to work, I don't want to have to bring my work home so why should kids go to school 6 hours a day and have to come home and then the parents have to spend 4 more hours going over the stuff the teacher should have done in class. If you don't have enough time then extend the damn class time to 8 hours a day. When school is over it's just like the end of an 8 hour day OVER! Hello people we have the internet now, school is almost obsolete. There is nothing you can't learn or teach yourself. Before long school will only be important for Doctors, Nurses, and scientist.
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By: Sue on 2/03/2011 6:55AM
You sound just as ignorant as the "Underachieving black kids" Now you take that to school and learn something, or maybe you're just and "Underachieving White Guy. If you didn't know this I'll tell ya there are many "Underachieving White Kids too" Get your facts straight before you go pointing fingers at any one particular race..
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