Parents are just as Important as Teachers..

We have been talking a great deal in class about how important teachers are to a students and their learning. While I 100 percent support this idea I think it is important to take a step back and look at other people who are just as important in influencing a student, their parents. This idea was brought to my attention when we watched Won't Back Down in class today. The little girl's mother in the movie is determined to get her daughter into a better class at school that can help her with her reading. One of the teachers at the same inner city school is looking to help her son get into a better school too that can help him. I think this shows how important it is to have parents that are involved in their child's school. While a teacher might be the one to first teach a child something it is the parents job to help reinforce it so the child continues learning. It is also important for the child to see that their parent cares about them and how they are doing in school. Studies even show students that have involved parents in their education tend to do better because they have someone that is there to help reinforce what they learn. I am not saying that the parents has to sit there and do every homework problem with their child, but when a child is young it is important for the parent to be involved in the child's learning. At the very least know what is going on at school. This could be through reading with their child each night or helping them study their spelling words. When a child gets older it is important for the parent to keep that connection and ask them how their day was just to show they care. Most importantly though it is important for parents to keep an open communication line with teachers so they can help further their child's learning outside the classroom. Learning should never stop after a child leaves school it should be continued even at home!   Here is a link that I found that supports these claims.
http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/PFIE/families.html