Who’s Responsible When a Student Falls Behind? Parents or Teachers?
When I started tutoring two young brothers early this year, I quickly realized they were far behind in basic skills. The older one, transitioning from Primary 2 to 3, couldn't spell three-letter words like rat or sun. Shocked, I asked him about his school and teacher. He mentioned one under-resourced school where his teacher was a young girl who'd just finished secondary school. The younger brother, who was transitioning to Kg 2 also struggled with basic concepts, like identifying alphabet letters.
In contrast, I also teach a boy of the same age as the first boy who is now in Primary 3 at a reputable private school. This boy is confident with his multiplication tables up to 12, spelling and reading skills.
Just comparing these children's abilities reveals how much a school's resources and teaching quality can impact a child's education. I couldn't help but feel for the first two boys, who are struggling academically and can be traced down to their schooling and possibly their family circumstances.
Seeing how a child struggles with his or her academics often poses the question of blame. Teachers are central to a child's learning, so should they be held responsible if students don't perform well? In my teaching experience for a few years, an inexperienced teacher can struggle to give students the support they need in their studies, especially if teaching is only viewed as a temporary job or one where there is no other option elsewhere than to teach.
Schools that hire inexperienced or underqualified teachers without a thorough screening compromise the quality of education they offer. Unfortunately, budget constraints in some schools mean they are more likely to take in less experienced teachers who might find it difficult to guide students successfully.
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However, teachers alone aren't the only influence on a child's academic performance. Parents are their first teachers, setting the foundation of the child's learning even before school begins. Yet, many parents struggle to create or balance time for their children's education due to work or other responsibilities. In my experience with these two boys, I've noticed that their mother is often disconnected from their learning while focusing on her business and responsibilities as a wife.
She sometimes forgets to send them over for lessons or doesn't follow up on their progress. The younger boy frequently loses his lesson book, making him change to a new one, which goes unchecked at home. Every time, he comes up with excuses, making it harder for him to retain what we cover in sessions.
When parents enrol their children in a school or lesson, they are responsible for tracking their progress, ensuring their attendance and fostering a good learning environment for them. But for some parents, economic pressures overshadow these responsibilities. Although this is understandable, when a child's education is neglected, it often leaves them struggling in the long run.
What's the solution to this issue?
While both parents and teachers bear responsibility, it is important to find ways to bridge the gap. It is more on the school to strive to hire qualified and experienced teachers and also to provide ongoing training to enhance teaching skills. For parents, even a little engagement - like checking their assignments when they are back from school, asking what they were taught and learned can make a big difference.
Aside from that, the community also has a part in this - by ensuring programmes or creating parents workshops where parents are enlightened on how to support their children academically, even with limited resources.
To wrap this post up, when young students struggle in their education, both parents and teachers play critical roles in ensuring they succeed. For teachers, they need to learn more by going for professional courses to enhance their growth and skills - this is a key to giving students a strong foundation. Parents, on the other hand, should be mindful of their role in making sure a favourable environment is provided for their children, one that encourages learning.
When children grow and become more independent, they will take on more responsibility for their learning. But for now and in their early stage, both parents and teachers would be blamed and for that not to happen, they should work together to set students up for success.
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Children's academic performance depends on multitude of factors. Nevertheless, the importance of parent's attention and the teachers's skills are on the top of the list.
Years back, I tutored a boy of grade 8. He was really weak in his studies and was not interested in learning. I taught him with dedication. He started showing progress. But what often happens, they would go for visiting their grandparents every week or every other week for three to days of the week. So whatever lift was came in his studies would go down to zero again. In the case, the parents are responsible, aren't they?
Yes, I would say the parents are responsible because they need to prioritise their son's education to going on a visit every week. This could be done, perhaps once in a month to allow him focus on his education. You are definitely trying your best on him but they aren't helping matters.
Not all the parents are ready to sacrifice their desires for the betterment of their children
A child's learning performance is not dependent on the teachers alone nor is it also the faults of the parents alone. I think both parties need to work hand in hand in order to ensure that the students Excel.
Most parents don't give a hoot about the affairs of their children in school simply because they have paid the tuition fee. They leave all the work for the teachers and trust me teachers are humans who can only do so much. They have their lives to live and other things to take care of as well.
Parents should work closely with teachers to ensure academic excellence of their children in
Yes. The work is on both the parents and teachers coming together to help a child excel academically.
Exactly
Both parents, schools, and teachers have a huge role to play in creating an effective learning environment for kids so they can strive academically.
Due to the economic situation, some parents sometimes can't afford schools with adequate learning materials and striving environments, so they just settle for what they can afford.
Regardless of this, parents need to pay great attention to their children's school activities; they should get involved and not just leave it all to the teachers.
You are right, ma. Parents are hugely responsible, so are the teachers and schools to ensuring the best for the students. Thank you for your input ❤️
You are welcome Princess ❣️ have a lovely 😍 night.
wow princess thanks for sharing the solution I have never though about this.
It's my pleasure. Thank you for reading too.
I like the holistic approach you took to this. I completely agree
I often tell people it is a miracle I am the person I am today, because like the first two kids you mentioned, I too went to a heavily under-resourced school. We were taught by High School graduates, some of whom were teaching to save some money to go to university. I think that for me, how I turned out okay was because of my curiosity. I read everything I could get my hands on outside school. I even made friends with a bookshop owner in my town. I would go to him every weekend, read some books, and return them back to the shelves. The lack of resources and qualified personnel can affect their learning for sure, but if they like learning enough, that won't stop them:)
What were you covering with the emoji, Princess?😂
You are so right. When a child also has passion for learning, he will do all it takes. Sometimes, kids can be wise in this regards being curious about learning and laying their hands on whatever they can just to improve and do well in class. Thank you for your amazing input.
Hahaha 😀 I can't even remember again. Perhaps, I used the emoji to block the big bowls that were visible there. Lol
I agree. I think your solutions is logical and we can follow it for the betterment of students. Unfortunately, most of the parents directly blame teachers for the failure rather than focusing where the real problem is.
!PIZZA
Yes. Most parents don't want to take the blame because they are paying much fees, that's what they will say. But it doesn't help matters unless they do their parts too.
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@intishar(5/5) tipped @princessbusayo
Parents and teachers need to join hands together for the growth of any student
Exactly. They are both responsible. Thank you
Uwc
Children are very complicated set of people it takes skill, knowledge and wisdom to handle each of them respectively, I can still remember when I was a kid, I loved playing so much but still I was also smarter than the people I go out to play with, this was because my parents and siblings were there to help me learn..
Couped with my mates that always competes with me😎
Exactly. Parents also have a lot to do on a child's education and not putting all the work on teachers. Thanks for sharing your experience.
The problem for a child’s poor performance in class doesn't just fall on the teachers only. It involves other factors such as the child themselves, they have to be willing to read,learn and attend classes regularly. The parents also have a hand in their child's performances as well. So the only the teachers shouldn’t be blamed because teaching is actually not an easy job.
Yes, you are right. Both parents and teachers need to work together to make it work in a child's life. Thank you, Juwon.
A child always need dircetion so both of them play an important role when it comes to that. You are welcome.