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Why is it important to support parents?
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Passages like Deut. 6 and Eph. 6 make it abundantly clear that the primary role of discipleship in a child’s life belongs to the parent. Ministries like Christian schools can often usurp this role with good intentions. We must be vigilant not to do this.
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I have always viewed myself as a servant of the parents of students that I teach. In my emails, my closing in “Your servant”. This is to remind the parent and myself of my role. I work hard to be flexible with parents and make myself accessible to them at all times.
I have taught in public school, a small Christian school, and an international Oasis school. In all three, I have seen that many parents really do look to the school and teacher to teach them how to parent. They do not feel they have the knowledge, skills, or confidence to parent well. I love what the presenter said about building the capacity of the parents. I have been an advocate in my schools for parent education such as keeping a lending library with good Christian books and videos on parenting, holding workshops on technology and kids, and I send out links to short helpful videos/podcasts when I come across them. In the end, if we help build up the parents, we also build up our students, and the Kingdom of God in our communities is strengthened.
I have found Course Dojo to be a wonderful tool. I post assignments, pictures of the kids doing activities in course, and make positive comments regularly. I really agree that when you have multiple positive communications, parents are more receptive and supportive when you have to communicate something not so positive.
I am challenged to find ways to use the parents’ talents in creative and meaningful ways in my classroom.
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It is important because just as much as we require their support we need to meet parents in the middle as they experience challenges as well. It takes a village and sometimes as educators we have to fill in the gap.
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They were designed and equipped by God to be the primary nurturers, trainers, providers, authority, and support system for their children.
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In my opinion, it is important to support parents, especially, when you are teaching at a Christian school. I think it is important to become a team with parents in education to show you support their children, love them, and want them to be as successful as they are capable of being. It is also important to support parents because their may be situations in their lives that they need the support of a Christian to show them God’s love and speak God’s truths into them.