Private Schools and the Parents Who Fund ThemOk, this is something that irks me to no end. It has irked me for years but it usually stays under the surface and doesn't bother anyone.
New Orleans, and in fact, the entire state of Louisiana is rather fortunate in that our educational system was founded by Catholic schools. In fact, Ursuline Academy may be the oldest school within the state of Louisiana. What this means is that the average family within the state has had within its means the ability to send their children to private schools rather than public schools.
The private schools are not cheap, even for the church supported schools, and some families do have to sacrifice to afford the tuition. But not every family sees it as a sacrifice nor do they see it as a means to provide their children with a faith-based education, which in St. Bernard Parish, should be the number one reason for sending a child to a parochial school.
What happens is these parents treat the teachers and staff of the schools like menial servants instead of like the professionals they are. These parents seem to always know what's best when they haven't been in a classroom since they last went to school themselves. They are always first to criticize the slightest little change they notice at the school.
And, heaven forbid, if the teachers actually want their precious little angels to do some real work, something that will prepare them for their future, these parents have to save them from such toil.
To make matters worse is that these parents always believe their precious devils before consulting the teachers, after all, everyone knows the teachers have it in for their little Johnny, and him alone. None of the other students are made to turn in the same work.
But what really puts the icing on the cake is when these parents feel they can dictate how the school is run, which teachers should be hired, which should be fired. Again, listening to their precious devils, these parents are going to hold secret meetings to try and force their will upon the schools they have their kids enrolled in.
Let me lay it out on the line if you are one of these parents, don't kid yourself and try to think you're not when you really are.
By sending your child to a private school you have given yourself an option which a lot of other families do not have, you can make a choice and the options are plenty. One, you can decide to pocket that $3,000 you spend every year and send your kid to a public school. In St. Bernard Parish, that is not a bad option. Two, you can pick a different private school to send your child to. The cost is not going to vary much.
Regardless of which option you choose, you still have to do one important thing that is not being done right now.
TRUST THE TEACHERS! Especially if you are paying for it.
Louisiana based school teachers do not teach for the money, Catholic school teachers even less. Catholic school teachers do it because they want to teach the children and help them grow. Give the teachers a chance to do their jobs, they know what they are doing.
You don't tell a doctor how to operate on you or a lawyer how to plead your case, why? Because they've been trained on how to do their professions. Teachers have been trained to teach, let them teach.
Parents need to reinforce the lessons that teachers give in the classrooms. If you've got a question about it, bring it up with the teacher in private. Second-guessing the teacher in front of the student leads the student to start second-guessing the teacher also and, next thing you know, the student is no longer learning because he is second-guessing everything.
If you want to have more involvement with the school, run for school board or PTA board. But, don't expect your added level of involvement to mean less work for your kid.
Be good to yourself,
Westley Annis
westley@da-parish.com
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posted by Westley at 5/04/2005 12:59:00 AM
