Parents Not Welcome In Children's Education
As I detailed in my latest column, WEAC is suing to close down WIVA. In response to the suit, Elizabeth Burmaster, the Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction, filed a brief in support of WEAC's position. I thought that you might be interested in how involved Burmaster thinks that parents should be in their children's education. The following is from her brief:
According to Burmaster, I am not permitted to actually help my kids do their homework, except to provide them "adequate lighting." If they have a problem with an assignment, I should contact the teacher. And it is absolutely verboten to give my children some "additional curricular materials" like a math worksheet or spelling quiz.
This position by Burmaster is downright offensive. It rests on the preposterous assumption that parents are unworthy of participating in the education of their own children. As far as Burmaster is concerned, parents shouldn't be allowed to show their kids a documentary or teach them about wildflowers in the park. After all, parent's aren't certified by the DPI.
The next time that you hear Burmaster talking about parent involvement, just remember that the only involvement she really wants is for parents to sharpen pencils and replace light bulbs.
(Cross Posted @ Boots & Sabers)
Lastly, NOSD/K12 argue that WIVA’s responsible adults do nothing more than what many parents have done for years in helping their students with homework. DPI publishes a “Checklist for Helping Your Child With Homework.” DPI Exhibit 112 (available online at http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/bbfcsp/fcspchck.html). These hints include common sense advice such as making sure the child has a well-lighted place to work, a regular time for homework and adequate supplies. Parents are encouraged to inquire about the child’s assignment. Other assistance suggested includes reviewing the homework, reviewing teacher comments on homework, trying to understand the child’s learning style and contacting the teacher if a homework problem cannot be resolved. Id.
Nowhere, however, is the parent directed to deliver the lesson in the first instance, review concepts, oversee testing, evaluate test answers and make judgments about their sufficiency, incorporate additional curricular materials or any of the myriad other tasks that WIVA’s responsible adults perform daily.
According to Burmaster, I am not permitted to actually help my kids do their homework, except to provide them "adequate lighting." If they have a problem with an assignment, I should contact the teacher. And it is absolutely verboten to give my children some "additional curricular materials" like a math worksheet or spelling quiz.
This position by Burmaster is downright offensive. It rests on the preposterous assumption that parents are unworthy of participating in the education of their own children. As far as Burmaster is concerned, parents shouldn't be allowed to show their kids a documentary or teach them about wildflowers in the park. After all, parent's aren't certified by the DPI.
The next time that you hear Burmaster talking about parent involvement, just remember that the only involvement she really wants is for parents to sharpen pencils and replace light bulbs.
(Cross Posted @ Boots & Sabers)
posted by Owen @ 8:43 PM
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