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Meetings aid local educators, students
Published August 7, 2008
As parents scramble to pull money together for new shoes, clothes and school supplies and kids gear up for days in class instead of in front of the TV or out on the playground, administrators already have started their year — brainstorming new ways to connect with students.
How do they keep children engaged in the classroom? How can they convince them that passing algebra really will affect the rest of their lives? How can they motivate children, even the ones who don’t find much encouragement or positive role models at home?
Brazosport ISD trustees had to have been searching for answers when they set up a meeting with 20 ministers in Freeport to discuss the ways they can partner to promote student success.
It was a smart move toward a meaningful partnership that could make a real difference in the lives of children and, as a result, in the performance indicators of schools.
Brazosport High School is the only county school to be ranked academically unacceptable, based on the Texas Education Agency rankings released last week. The rankings are based largely on student scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills but also factor in attendance and drop-out rates.
Brazoswood High School would have been ranked academically unacceptable, as well, save an exemption the TEA granted based on past performance that ended up with an acceptable ranking.
Teachers, we’re sure, do everything in their power to motivate children, but kids who don’t want to succeed simply won’t. And students whose parents aren’t involved in their education are unlikely to see the value of an education. For some parents, the lack of involvement doesn’t signify disinterest, but for many it does. And it’s a slippery slope from bad grades to lack of self confidence and eventually to dropping out of school.
Communicating with parents certainly is one well-treaded avenue toward improving student performance. Educators who met with area ministers are exploring another.
They discussed strategies to make students more successful in the classroom, talked about ways to get parents more involved and ways to get students thinking beyond high school — to college.
They compared goals, exchanged phone numbers, agreed to talk to parents and to ask church members to serve as role models by speaking to classes.
The meeting in Freeport involved ministers from black churches in that area, but Superintendent Joe Ripple made clear the district doesn’t see this as a black problem or a Freeport problem. He’s right. It’s more widespread than that. Student performance could be improved in every segment of the population and in every city or unincorporated area that Brazosport ISD serves.
We hope district officials follow through with more meetings, with different church leaders in different communities.
Every one of us is a stakeholder in our children’s education, whether those children are part of our family or the larger community. The more stakeholders become involved in the process, the better chance our children, and our educators, have at success.
This editorial was written by Yvonne Mintz, managing editor of The Facts.
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