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Issue 00442 |
October 21 - 27, 2006 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Features |
| Learning as a Community As a parent I want the very best for my child and as a teacher I know that finding a good school is one of the most important things I or any parent can do for their children. Over the years I have had many conversations with parents and with teachers about education and I know that parents can spend a long time looking for a good school for their children. I also know that there is so much known about what makes a good school and what makes a difference in the classroom. A brief look at the journals on the shelves of most libraries and on web sites would indicate that the state of knowledge in the discipline of education is healthy. The question we therefore need to ask is how do we know what makes a good school? There are a lot of factors that go into making up a school. The term ‘good’ school can mean a number of things to different people but I believe a good school is successful and its students achieve success. The research seems to tell us that there are several qualities of a good school that set it apart. A good school has Strong and professional administrators and teachers A broad curriculum available to all students. A philosophy that says all children can learn if taught, coupled with high expectations for all students. A school climate that is conducive to learning. It is safe, clean, caring, and well organized. An ongoing assessment system that supports good instruction. A high level of parent and community involvement and support. (CRESST, UCLA) One of the most prevailing findings in the research on schools is that parent involvement makes a difference. Positive parent involvement has a significant impact on student achievement, student school attendance, and the central role of the school in students’ lives. In good schools parents visit with teachers and the administration on regular basis. They inquire as to what happened at school on any given day and help children clarify concerns. They inquire about homework assignments, provide a place and time for students to complete their work and offer assistance to students as needed. They speak well of the school and take stock periodically to determine if they, their children, and the school are together in their plans for their child’s future. They join a school organization if at all possible and above all they listen to their children and recognize that children spend only a portion of the day at school and that much more of their time is spent at home; therefore much can and should be done at home to increase their child’s learning. There is so much the administrators, the teachers and the parents can do to make a school an effective learning environment. Finding a good school is the first step but requires a commitment on the part of both you and your child. The education of your child is a collaborative effort that involves the school, teachers, parents and the community. Adrian Moody is Head of Arusha Campus at International School Moshi.
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