Millions of parents and guardians across the country have officially become “substitute teachers” as school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) have left them with the primary responsibility for continuing the education of their children. They are coordinating with teachers, getting lesson plans and assembling materials from online resources to support their academics. Parents are seeing just how difficult it can be to steer young minds during a learning episode, experiencing the joys of working with different learning styles and differentiating lessons (the process of breaking down a lesson using tailored instruction to account for the learning needs of diverse children). I hope this experience has given them a greater perspective on the overall teaching profession.
Since COVID-19, we live in a society where the grocery store and gas station attendants, garbage men, healthcare and EMS workers and teachers are being “valued” more than any celebrity or professional athlete.
It is under these circumstances that real systemic changes might take place within our modern educational indoctrination system. After all, since everyone professes a concern for the education of children, the interests of teachers should be the interests of parents. There is a common objective (educated children). Parents have been a teacher’s greatest ally but perhaps, going forward, it will not just be teachers in the front lines protesting and advocating for increased teacher salaries and an improved, safe work environment. Our “substitute teacher parents” will now be out there as well. There is a common objective!
Teachers + Parents = Educated Children
By now, I’m sure some parents are experiencing the real challenges of education. They may have one, two, or even three different students to lead during a learning episode understanding now that they don’t necessarily learn in the same way. Children are amazing little humans, with a wide range of gifts, talents, mental abilities and challenges. Teachers have been trained academically for this incredible opportunity but the realty of the profession (rubber meets the road) is not without real hardship and adversity too. Our “substitute teacher parents” will most likely see this first hand. For example, teachers may often have anywhere between 20-30 students depending on the school district (sometimes without additional classroom support). Substitute teacher parents, can you imagine this after your recent experience? Master teachers acquire the vital skills, assuming they survive the initiation process, to do it everyday, flawlessly, sacrificing both health and time to get the job done.
“Dang, this homeschooling is kicking my …”
Anonymous Parent
Homeschooling one child during coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19)
So, the next time we hear about teachers protesting for basic work conditions and salaries, we hope the crowds across this country will be a lot BIGGER and LOUDER as “substitute teacher parents” join in support. Let’s prove the mantra, in both words and deeds, that children are our future.
Teachers + Parents = Educated Children
Parents and teachers must join forces for our children’s future.
“This is like a wash of a semester. They’re really just not learning anything and it’s hard. … What I learned is that when 6-year-olds see other 6-year-olds do things, then they do things. Like, they sit and they eat because there’s 25 other ones doing it. They stay at their desks and color because there’s 25 other ones doing it. At home, there’s not 25 other ones doing it. So, to get them to focus and realize they’re at home but yet they’re at school, it’s really been a challenge”
Halle Berry – Calls Homeschooling Her Kids A ‘Nightmare’
3ACTunveiled 