Tinkering with schedules or other organizational tools such as longer school days or increased curriculum offerings can certainly give students the opportunity to use better their time in school. Of course, regardless of schedule or subject, students must still be prepared for the rigors of academics in any organizational setting. And a student's home remains the most efficient and powerful tool of preparation. Parental involvement in schools seems the purview of only a core of committed mothers and fathers, but too often that equation means that many children grow up in homes where little or no interest is paid to their academic success. Schools have a responsibility to find new and creative ways to engage parents in real and meaningful ways, so mom and dad are involved in every aspect of their child's experience.
Information being available and accessible for parents is a crucial starting point.
But the community also plays a role. We hope schools will continue to find ways to give students creative schedules and interesting courses, but a big challenge today is to get all mothers and fathers involved. Post your thoughts in The Public Forum. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.