Parents, go back to school

[SendMeYourNews]

Each day of the year has a designation that represents a special activity or the celebration of a particular event. I am thankful for those who include me on e-mails and correspondence as they share events or stories from which they believe people will gain some value, understanding or education. Among my recent correspondence was a call for the National Unification of Black Parents to visit and participate with their children at school on Dec. 14. While this is an admirable thing to do, it is not an event that should be designated only for black parents. It is one from which all parents and children can benefit. As grandparents, we have a tendency to feel that our grandchildren's education is our children's responsibilities, for we have raised our own. However, given today's trend of having a network of friends and relatives to help support our children, it is essential that grandparents continue to be a vital part of the development of a child, particularly with respect to his or her education and health. Parents are faced with so many challenges that have a tendency to pull them away from the time spent with their children. Thus, it becomes even more important for grandparents who can offer stable environments to be actively involved in their grandchildren's educational development. The days of independence and keeping isolated matters regarding our youth are passe. In fact, this goes to show that many things of the past should be just that, left in the past. The national celebration of Black Parents Day encourages parents to visit their child's classroom or schedule a conference with their child's teacher for a progress report. Perhaps this day is timely as it allows parents during the holiday season to give their child the gift that will keep on giving for the rest of their lives: a visit to their school and an observation of the child in class. This day was selected to address a need for black parents to take control of their children's education to assure them a future in this competitive global world. Parents can be more effective in a child's life when they are informed of what's going on in his or her world. To help parents understand how to create and control their children's educational future, a copy of the Individual Educational Plan for Black Students is provided by the Black Star Project. To further encourage progressive educational opportunities, parents can join the League of Black Parents to organize and advocate for their children's educations. It is very important for parents pursuing additional time and influence in their children's education to partner effectively with teachers and administrators. They can start by notifying their child's school before Dec. 14 that they will be visiting or sitting in on class that day and will make an appointment to meet with the child's teachers. By Glenda Overstreet cjonline.com December 5, 2009 - 9:02pm