Parents—Here’s YOUR Back-To-School Syllabus!
If you’re lucky enough to be here in Arizona this week enjoying the ‘dry heat’, you know it’s classic August. You’ve also probably noticed those poor kids back in school, walking along sidewalks at 3pm. (I have no idea why we don’t start after Labor Day, like when I was a kid!)
Teachers have been prepping to welcome classrooms full of eager (and not-so-eager) students. Kids have gotten their backpacks, and maybe some new shoes…. What can we parents and citizens do now? (Even if you have no kids at the schools in your area, just remember those are your future leaders. Those are the future friends and colleagues surrounding your kids and grandkids.)
What can WE DO now to give this year’s kids and teachers an A+ experience when they leave in May? Here’s a syllabus to make it happen:
Know the reality of your school’s educational philosophy. Children, families and teachers are up against a lot more stress today than ever before, even as recent as five years ago. The ‘educational industry’ has shifted decisively to a social-activist, politically Marxist model. Read James Lindsay’s books, especially The Marxification of Education: Paulo Freire's Critical Marxism and the Theft of Education. Knowing what’s behind the buzzwords and curriculum models will help you protect and prepare your kids to think clearly and critically. Find lots of answers and resources at our AZWOA Education page.
Become a trusted ally with your kids’ teachers. Most teachers teach because they love kids and enjoy helping them learn. Start off the year on the same team. Ask what they need from parents to do their job more effectively. Many teachers lack funding and end up buying classroom supplies with their own money. They also lack time. Find out their story and check in with them often.
Find your network of Pro-Education Families. Meet parents at back-to-school night, exchange cell numbers, offer to carpool, meet for coffee after drop-off. These relationships will make a huge difference to your kids, your teachers and your sanity! Arizona Women of Action has started the Pro-Ed Families initiative to help connect parents and bring back real education at school. Find or start your pro-education family network so you can support good teachers and staff, and help all students and families have a great school year! Email us here to learn more. Examples of fun and effective parent groups are Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity (see below for the event we’re partnering in this Thursday night). West Valley Parents Uniting, and Save CFSD.
Show up to your School Board meetings. You’ll learn what’s being taught and what policies effect your child every day at school—and you’ll have the ability to influence it. Your presence alone is effective, but you may even decide to make a public comment! Click this link to locate your school district, which will link you to their website with meeting details. See below action item for more.
Pray for your school. Last week one mom (Robin Snyder, former AZWOA Executive Team member, and mom of two former and one current SUSD student) decided to text some moms and invite them to meet outside schools in her district to pray. Groups of 5-7 parents and grandparents met at each of the schools (Chaparral, Cocopah and Cherokee), and they prayed for the students, administrators, safety, protection, curriculum, and all that was to be taught in the shaping of those kids’ minds this year. “It was a powerful time, and as a group, we decided that we will carry it on throughout the year. God shows up when we call on Him, and we felt His presence at each campus,” said Robin. Prayer is powerful! “The power of prayer is in the One to whom we pray. God holds the power. Praying to Him is one conduit to His power. It's like a lamp. The lamp doesn't have power, though it shows light. The cord doesn't have power—it's just the conduit. Prayer is a conduit to the Power. God is all powerful: "For nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37): from the resource CompellingTruth.Org, Email us if you’d like to understand more about the power of prayer, or to organize your own prayer gathering.
Let’s all stand up with and for our kids and teachers this school year. If we all stick to the 5-step syllabus above, we’ll make this year one for the yearbook!