Kandise Lucas, Ph.D.
Guest Columnist EdNews.org

Recently, I published an article addressing the need for a higher level of responsibility and accountability for parents in our efforts to educate our children.

The federal mandate does not say "No Student Left Behind". It is purposeful in its choice of words when it states, "No Child Left Behind". The use of the word "child" as opposed to "student" expands the focus, accountability, and responsibility to include every one that interacts with the "child", including our parents.

I was completely surprised by the response that I received from our parents. While most of them felt as though teachers, schools, and parents need to be held accountable and responsible for the education of all children, other parents felt that it was not their job to support the education of their students when teachers are "paid" to do so.

The responses that were received from those that feel that it is not their responsibility to support the education of children or feel that once a child begins school, their responsibility and accountability end were shocking to say the least.

Some responses were even hostile, stating that schools and teachers are failing children. While I definitely agree with this assessment, I also know that schools and teachers would not be permitted to fail our children if parents did their part in actively supporting them.

It is not the blame game, it is the reality game. Teachers can no more educate a child alone no more than a doctor can make a child healthy alone. I might add that doctors are paid a great deal more for what they do.

At the same time, their responses also explain the one of the major reasons that we are failing our children. These parents do not view the academic success of their children as their success, nor do they view the failure of their children as their failure. As a result, they are not compelled to influence their children either way.

The effort to educate our children academically, socially, culturally and otherwise; is a formidable task that requires the attention, focus, and support of every individual that interacts with our children on every level at all times.

What happen to the "it takes a village" mentality? Has it changed to "it takes a school" and no one told us?

Education is defined as "the activities of educating or instructing or teaching; activities that impart knowledge or skill" (onelook.com).

Based on that definition, it would stand to reason that we all contribute to the education of our children, whether we contribute positively or negatively...we all "impart knowledge or skill" in some form throughout the life of our children, especially our parents.

As a parent, I understood, prior to giving birth, that my primary job, for which I am not paid for, is to teach my child. My responsibility to be the ultimate teacher for my child begins in the womb and does not end until one of us leave this world.

If I have done a good job, even after I am gone, my child and those that I touched will continue to love learning and grow.

My responsibility and accountability does not end when my child enters school, nor does it end when they leave my home.

In fact, as my child grows, there is so much more to teach, reinforce, practice, explore, etc.

How could I possibly think that individuals that spend less than thirty hours each week with my child for less than nine months out of the year would be totally accountable and responsible for the academic and social development of my child?

As a parent and educator, I now understand why schools fail. I understand why communities fail. I understand the reason that the government was compelled to legislate efforts to make our children successful in our schools.

The reason? There are parents that feel as though it is someone else's job to educate their children because they are "paid" to do so.

Once again, as a parent and educator, I know that it is my primary job to educate my child and every other child formally and informally.

Whether we like it or not, whether we properly accept the responsibility or not, we all have a significant role in educating our children.

Many other societies in the world believe and practice this, that is the primary reason that these countries are further along educationally than our children...all because they understand that the education of our children is a group effort.

Parents, we need to increase our support for our schools and students so that the government does not have to.

Published June 13, 2007