Principal's Porch
For those of us in education, theories, philosophies, and ideas are more than chitchat. They shape our work world. We help to form the concepts and they hold us in place. Your site administrator and I enjoy deep dialogs about education on my back porch. Some of my thoughts will be featured in this column. As an elementary school principal, I am aware that parents need some direct answers to their many questions.
My first word to every parent is to remember! Remember that no matter how many emotions you are feeling or how strong your beliefs may be, a school’s main business is to provide schooling. I remind our parents that school is not a country club, nor a mall, nor an amusement park. Even if the school is under the direction of a church or synagogue, it is different in its purpose and must be different in its emphasis.
A church school, a neighborhood school, or a home school may have formed to keep some influences out, but if it is weak in its implementation of its academics, it is robbing a child of a valuable commodity…schooling!
There is never a reason to settle for a weak academic school. Children are sponges for learning. To waste their days, days that could be spent expanding their knowledge base, is to insure that they will fall behind in their ability to follow their dreams.
Christians must be especially mindful of their focus. Children who cannot read and comprehend, cannot study the Bible. Educated individuals are better equipped to assume positions of responsibility. Leadership flows from a solid education. Taking your child’s education seriously does not dilute faith, it enriches faith.
The following guidelines will help you select a school for your child. Click on the appropriate category:
Selecting a Preschool
The curriculum should include a beginning phonics program. Activities and experiences are super, but without a defined introduction of phonics, you are losing precious learning time.
Look for a blend of children choosing some activities and children being given directed activities to follow. (Self-discipline and attention spans grow with practice.) A program that enlists the child to be his/her own teacher delays the academic process.
Pay attention to the leadership of the school. A principal without a sense of purpose and direction for the school hinders the good intentions of a classroom teacher.
Don’t substitute bells and whistles for the real McCoy. Your child will only be in school for a certain number of hours a week. If every minute is spent on a field trip, playing with fancy equipment, making art projects, and attending special classes, WHEN are the children receiving what they need academically?
Early Childhood
Ask about every teacher at grade level. The main task is learning to increase comprehension, and mastering number facts. Don’t fall for too many cutesy things at this level. Too many cooking projects or art projects are eating away at instruction time.
Make sure your child is being taught reading in homogenous grouping. Don’t fall for the “Parent Trap” of thinking Johnny will have his feelings hurt if he isn’t in the top group. He is going to feel discouraged and overwhelmed if he is receiving instruction far above his ability level. The parents should explain to their child that reading is like building a house. What happens if you try to put the roof on without the foundation and the walls?
Do not think these young years aren’t important. Wasted early childhood years result in struggling for years to come.
Upper Elementary
Product becomes very important at this stage. The process of study skills and writing skills should be established. Your child needs to memorize a wealth of material. Do not feel sorry for your child when he/she has to memorize the multiplication facts or the names of the states. The base of knowledge learned during these years sets the stage for middle and high school years.
Beware of the Technology trick! A computer is not a magic wand. If a child can not read or write adequately, how can a computer help? The presence or use of a computer is helpful, but it is not a substitute for memorizing the basics.
These are the years when the education and intellect of the teacher are paramount. Students will ask questions that are not in the book. They will immulate a teacher’s grammar and writing skills. Don’t be afraid to have the bar high. Encourage your child to persevere.
Meet the Principal
Charlotte Laughlin is a certified principal with a B.S. in Elementary Education and M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education. She has taught preschool through the fourth grade. Currently she serves as the principal of the elementary division (preschool throough fifth grade) of a college preparatory school. In addition, she has taught a college course on creativity in the classroom and has written curricula for several early childhood programs.
Charlotte lives with her husband, Bill, and has three grown children and four beautiful grandchildren (just ask her for pictures!)