Schools need proper funding, no question.  They need well-established minimum requirements to determine teacher qualifications.  Teachers need better pay and teachers who excel should be rewarded monetarily.  Those teachers willing to take on difficult students or work in dangerous neighborhoods should receive hazard pay.  Schools should be safe places for children, teachers, and families.  Is there anyone who disagrees with these basic ideas?  No, probably not.

       My opinion may not be welcome and will certainly be criticized, but if parents want good schools for their children, they must first become better parents.

       Teachers aren't baby sitters.  They shouldn't be asked to discipline their students.  They certainly should not have to fear for their safety while on school property.  Their time should be spent teaching arithmetic, reading skills, logic, writing, sciences, and all the other curricula that arise from these basic lessons.  It should not be the teacher's responsibility to spend even ten minutes of class time demanding student attention and general class room order.

       Parents, if you want your children to do well in school and graduate with a good future ahead of them, you must accept your role and responsibilities.  Good manners and etiquette should be taught at home.  Your son or daughter should, from Day One, behave well in the classroom.  Misbehavior should be noted and dealt with AT HOME, in addition to anything the school does.  It isn't the schools' responsibility to monitor what your child wears, says, does, or brings to school under their jacket!  It is yours and yours alone.  You must acknowledge that you are a parent, not a friend or disinterested third party.  Don't complain about the school or the lack of education your child receives if you aren't willing to stand up and work to improve the situation.

       Kids are born neither good nor bad.  They learn behaviors from watching the people around them.  If you, as a parent, fail to set a good example, why do you expect your child to follow rules or act kindly towards others?    Do you know where your children are all of the time?  If not, why not?  Aren't you worried enough about their safety to require them to tell you where they are going, who they will be with, when they will return, and how they are getting to wherever they are going?  Don't want to be a nag?  Sorry, that is your job.  That is what good parents do.

       If you want to improve the school your child attends, go the the PTA meetings.  Volunteer at the school, even if it is to do nothing more than pick up garbage from the playground.  Offer what little free time you have at home to help your little ones learn to read on their own.  Demand good manners at all times and be ready to enforce the household rules you establish.  Set fair limits for your kids and offer praise when they live up to your expectations.  Be there for your children and show them you care by providing them with discipline and love.

       By setting high standards and providing good examples, you are taking the most important step towards improving your child's school experience.  Even more so, you are actively demonstrating your love.