There
is a quote I really like that says: “Either we teach our children, or we
abandon the future to chance and nonsense.”
You
don’t have to tell that to parents or educators. Both groups are well aware of
the responsibilities they shoulder.
A
Gallup Poll on Americans’ attitudes toward public schools reconfirmed a
perception that has held steady for more than two decades: the public gives
only average marks to the nation’s public schools, but predominantly As or Bs
to the schools their own children attend.
We
hear reports about the demise of public education, but what parents see for their
own children — for whom they are the world’s harshest critics — they rate above
average or excellent. Think about that.
Educators
recognize that challenges remain, and that until all students reach their
potential, work remains to bedone.
The
one irrefutable truth we have learned from educational research over the years
is that every child learns differently. Some must read information to “get” it.
Others must hear it, and others need hands-on approaches.
Still
others do much better in small groups, while some require the one-to-one
attention of a teacher or tutor. Most need a mix of techniques.
The
trick for educators lies in identifying the needs for each student and
providing strategies to meet those various needs. Not an easy task.
Reform
efforts continue. I’ve always considered teachers our unsung heroes and
heroines for the work they do, every day, to reach and teach our children. They
deserve our support.
