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 5.00 (Highly recommend) from 11 votes (161 Visits) |
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Parenting 101 - how will we run the subject? |
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by LibbyS  (January 2008) (rank 102nd) |
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There has been a lot of discussion on Minti recently about accidents with children, 'teaching' parenting and parental responsibility. I have be saddend many, many times over the past few months when listening to the news and hearing about yet another child who has died. Car accidents, accidents at home, kids left in cars, dog attacks on babies and cases of child molestation, abuse and murder seem to be happening weekly or daily. Even without immediate tragic results, I've also read a lot of blogs which have commented on the ways in which other parents have been perceived as not keeping their children safe. The answer - education and support for parents, and therefore also an emphasis of personal (and therefore parental) responsibility. I will, however, caution everyone about how we do this. I have seen a few people blog/ comment saying 'they should teach parenting in schools.' I commend people for wanting to be proactive in educating and supporting parents, however I really feel that we need to look beyond schools. "They should teach *** in schools' is often the first and only way that many think of as educating the public. However, I would like everyone to remember that every moment spent on parenting classes would be less time spent on maths, history, spelling, grammar and so on. My thoughts on this matter in detail here. Why should the responsibility of teaching parenting fall to schools; what about families, community groups, church groups, neighbourhood associations and the like? Minti itself is a place (we could call it an online community group) where parents can receive advice, support and education which goes beyond 'they should teach that in schools'. Minti is actually a really great example of how things can be taught and shared and a way in which parents can be empowered - and it functions from the grass roots. It's not someone 'giving lessons' in parenting; it's parents sharing the trials and tribulations, secrets and successes, grievances and goals of their own parenting. It is a great way for parents to receive education and support. Lets look outside the box here, guys. Lets see what other ideas we can come up with, in a positive way, of getting this information and support there for parents. I'd be really interested to hear what ways people think we can support parents beyond 'they should teach that in schools'. So - what can we come up with? Here's my one - I really enjoyed it when SuperNanny first came on TV. Now, I'm not saying that she was the perfect know-all-power when it came to childred - I did and didn't agree with a lot of the things that she did. However, all of a sudden topics such as parenting, disciplining children and the health and safety of our children were topics of converstation among parents and the community in general. Love or hate SuperNanny (or something in between), lots of people were talking about her and her apporach and then wider topics to do with raising children. People were sharing ideas, opinions and thoughts, and it was great. Ok, that's two things which I think work well as a way of supporting and educating parents which didn't involve kids spending less time on reading, writing and arithmetic. So, I challenge you - what other positive ideas of supporting and educating parents can we come up with?
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| ADVICE RATING |
5.00 (Highly recommend) from 11 votes |
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Re: Parenting 101 - how will we run the subject?
Hi, That's great that you found that course useful, but I think I would disagree with it being compulsory. If a student is pursuing an academic course, their course load will need to be mostly academic subjects in order to be competitive, maintain a high level of topic coverage and depth, develop higher orger analytical thinking skills, be fully prepared for the academic rigour of later schooling and university. However, if it is offered as an option, particularly for those who are interested in working in childcare, I'm sure it would be of value. My worry if we make child studies compulsory is that something else gets pushed out of the way, be it another practical course (like healthy cooking or financial managment) or academic subjects. Less time for academic subjects in grades 8 - 10 (or there abouts) may not fully prepare students for the rigour which senior schooling requires. If it's offered as a choice, then those for whom it would be of value will benefit from it. The more choice and different paths which we can offer our kids at school, the more kids who will have the educational experience which best suits the individual child. Most schools today offer purely academic courses, vocational training, apprenticeships and traineeships, work experience (or a combination of these) and can even tailor courses when special needs are evident. Having the choice of a (senior) high school course which is relevant, meets the needs of that particular child and prepares them for their career post school is a vital part of a positive, successful learning experience. The more that is made compulsory, the less flexibility there is. I'm glad that you seemed to have had that experience with the child studies course you did. Thanks so much for your comments!
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Re: Parenting 101 - how will we run the subject?
Great advice you have done here and i would be the last one to argue with what you have said here.. Yes i said i agreed that education on parenting could start at school, and in high school in tasmania we have young teens take baby dolls home and there is a program in it as if it was a real baby, and you have to keep a diary of what you did with that baby ... So teaches teens to be responsible and how it is to have a baby and their programs down here work great... We also have a High school that encourage teens to return to study and provide assistance for childcare for their babies on school premises if need be... Saying all that i agree its not the education department or teachers duty to teach our young ones to be better parents or whatever, but for some kids out there they trust their teachers more to speak too their own parents etc,... Ok thats my views on the education side ...
Now as a foster carer i have had a lot of children and babies come into my care and for some parents they feel embrassed to reach out and ask for help, or they are just a figure to the system, but we as a community can standup and say please seek help and your child wont be taken off u as some think that,....... and its ok to have time out and you aint a failure or a bad parent for doing so......
Also in the Community i live in, there has being many parenting courses that have being organised and run at the community centre and have came from church organisations or government places.. and the programs as such have being Positive Parenting, Triple P , and other parenting related courses, and i have attended all , and it saddens me as at our school there is 200 students now out of that 100 parents would be in a crisis situation and need some assistance in parenting, but do they attend these courses , No, as it either takes away their shopping day or watching the soaps.......
I feel that we need to all unite regardless of gender, age, education and reach out to the young ones today and say hey dont be afraid you aint alone and there is services available and if that service you go too turns you away, then you say to them , then if you cant help me , then could you please find a service that can,,,.......
As i said in the last article that you are speaking about, My dads motto is that you can get a licence to drive but not a licence to be a parent.......
Also yes minti is the best site to reach out and be supportive and i rave all the time to my support groups i attend and say what a great site and what wonderful people i have met.......
It breaks my heart when i switch on the tv or pick up the paper and see a another lost child taken so tragically,. but we cant save every child, but we can try and work together to help those that want our help....
Thank you , and please dont be offended by what i have said, as i think teachers are the best role models for our children and do so well to teach in some unfortunate circumstances....
xxxx cazza
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Related keywords: accidents, babies, disciplining, educating, empowered, kids, neighbourhood, parenting, parents, responsibility, supernanny
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