Parents need an education

While reporting education, one thing I've noticed is that the general community doesn't get it.

By that I mean the public does not understand what's being taught in school, nor why it is being taught.

Now I'm not belittling the public. To be honest as academic standards change and teachers switch gears to comply I don't believe the professionals entirely get it either. At least they don't always think it makes sense.

But unless they look over their children's or grandchildren's work or get into the schools to see what's going on, most people do not have up-to-date knowledge of what getting an education means today.

Chalk boards out, white boards in. Journals out, blogging in. Technology has not only rewritten the playing field, it's multiplied it to numerous playing fields based upon a school district's resources and know-how. STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs and pre-college coursework and more are all changing how education is viewed as even career centers are being asked to prepare their students for post-high school work.

I have enjoyed covering education because it's given me a new view of what it means to be a teacher or school administrator today. While helping my son with his schoolwork has also done this, covering education offers me a variety of views and from a variety of biases.

How does this boil down to the parent? Parents who do not research what education their children are getting likely do not know what's lacking and what isn't. They cannot truly act like their child's education advocate unless they take the time to figure out what their child should be learning and how well they are meeting the task.

This takes research, takes reading and calling people. But while not everyone has the time to do so, a simple visit to the school or conversations with the teacher can be the best starting spot.

Maybe they will learn something.