23rd April, 2013 Reflection It seems appropriate to write about our new Pope this week for two reasons: Firstly our Italian Trip students attended Pope Francis’ weekly audience just two weeks ago at the Vatican, and secondly our Kenya Immersion team returned recently after working with the abject poor, yet hope-filled community of Brother Beausang’s school. Pope Francis has spoken eloquently about the need to treat poor people as “subjects” and not mere “objects” of the state or the economy. In a presentation in September 2009 titled Las Deudas Sociales (Social Debts / Obligations), as Cardinal Bergoglio he said: “We cannot truly respond to the challenge of eradicating exclusion and poverty if the poor continue to be objects, targets of action by the state and other organizations in a paternalistic and aid-based sense, instead of subjects, in an environment, where the state and society create social conditions that promote and safeguard their rights and allow them to build their own destiny.” Here he identifies a core insight in how we should engage with the poor — as partners always remembering that they are the protagonists of their own development.
Parent Teacher Communication With Parent/Teacher interviews on this week, it may be timely to consider how best to communicate with your child’s teacher during the school year. We know that parents who are involved in their child’s education is a positive factor, but just how often should you contact the teacher, and what questions should you ask? And when do a parent’s questions or behavior tip from appropriate to meddlesome? Jerry L. Park is a teacher and the author of Help! My Child Is Starting Middle School! A Survival Handbook for Parents. What differences do you notice in students with involved parents? “Parents who take an active interest in their child’s work and school well-being are one of the biggest contributors to my students’ success,” Parks says. Children of involved parents typically have higher self-esteem and have fewer behavior problems in school. And students’ grades usually improve when their parents become involved. How can parents stay informed about their child’s school performance? If your school posts grades online, be sure to check them often. Emailing the teacher is also a good way to get a quick status report. “Email has been a godsend,” he says, because it is “less intrusive for the teacher and less threatening for the parent.”
What are some questions parents should ask about their children? Ask the teacher whether she thinks your child is giving his best effort in class and whether she has noticed any significant changes in your child’s behavior or grades, Parks suggests. It’s also a good idea to find out whether the teacher has concerns about the friends your child has chosen. Make sure you understand the teacher’s policy for making up missed work, and don’t forget to ask about the best way to keep in touch throughout the year. What should parents do if they feel the teacher assigns an excessive amount of homework? First, try to find out whether the amount of work really is excessive. If the level of homework does seem like too much, think about whether it happens often or only once in a while: “Some units and projects simply require more homework,” he says. How should a parent approach the teacher about this? Don’t go in with the attitude that the teacher is wrong. Instead, ask for advice on how you can help your child deal with the excessive homework. “Allowing the teacher to suggest solutions is far more effective than challenging their wisdom,” says Parks.