Where Do We Draw the Line?

In the teacher's lounge the other day the question arose, where do we draw the line between the responsibility of the home and the responsibility of the school? Here is my honest opinion, and you know what they say about opinions...everybody has one. I truly believe that for the really great and successful schools and teachers there is no line. Because they do whatever is necessary to make sure each child in their class and school is successful. We can not control how they come to us, but we can control the impact we have on them while they're at school! If they're hungry we feed them because its easier to learn if your belly is full. If they need clothes we cloth them because it is easier to learn when you are warm. If they are sick we help them get better because it is easier to learn when you are feeling good. When they do not know how to behave, we teach them how, because is is easier to learn when you are in the classroom and not in the hall, corner, or office. When they're parents are not doing what we think they should be doing we must love them because you learn more when someone loves you! The bottom line is that we don't draw a line between the responsibility of the home and school. As a matter of fact we draw a line around the school, home and community because we all must do what's necessary to make sure each and every child is successful!

Brian
The other half of The Teaching Twosome