Parental involvement key to student success
10/2/2015, 9:55 p.m.
Re Letter to the Editor “Invest in our children, our schools,” Sept. 24-26 edition:
As a semi-retired educator, I read David Baugh’s letter with interest. While I also wish for better success for Richmond students, I realize the component needed for student improvement and academic excellence is increased parental involvement with student learning.
While this factor is often not mentioned, any teacher will proclaim that if parents would be involved in encouraging students to work hard, complete homework and support the goals of the school, test scores would rise. Richmond schools would show the results and families would perhaps not leave the city for other schools.
Teachers are exhorted to attend graduate classes, seminars, workshops and meetings throughout the year in an effort to improve student performance. Lesson plans are turned in in duplicate, goals assessed and educational blueprints charted. But these efforts are in vain if parents do not provide a space and time for students to buckle down and study or just read.
For years, I asked my students if they got a book for Christmas and the answer was usually no.
Richmond schools provide lunch and breakfast at no cost. Hungry students are not good learners. But is it too much to ask our parents to step up and take an active part in their child’s academic success?
ROSEMARY G. MORTON
Midlothian
