Compass: Points of view from the community
By CAROL COMEAU and REP. LES GARA
We should do everything we can to make sure all children, regardless of background, share in this state’s great opportunity and wealth. That’s why improving our schools and improving the opportunities of children to learn are so important. We can take a big step in improving our schools for a small cost by working together to get more parents involved in their children’s education. It’s a step we believe people across party lines can support. It’s something that’s achievable this coming legislative session.Children of parents who read to them and take an interest in their children’s education do better in school, and better in the job market, than children of parents who aren’t involved. While much in the field of education is subject to fair debate, this point is not.
There are many educational reforms we know will work, but that get bogged down in legitimate debates about cost. Smaller class sizes work. Early childhood education works. Alaska is one of only a few remaining states that still has no statewide early childhood educational program. Starting a child’s education before kindergarten and teaching in smaller, more individualized classes both carry significant price tags and are policies worthy of public discussion.
Increasing parental involvement is both a wise and cost-effective way to improve a child’s chances of succeeding in school. It is widely acknowledged that a parent or other loving family member is a child’s first and best teacher. Last year we promoted legislation to add parental involvement coordinators in our schools. Just two staff members in an elementary or middle school would greatly enhance the ability of teachers to work with parents of children who we know need help at home.
Right now teachers often face a catch-22. They have as many children in their classrooms as they can handle. Reaching and working with parents, who are often only home in the evening, can be a daunting additional task after a 10-hour day. Parental involvement coordinators can help teachers reach the parents they cannot currently reach on their own. Parental involvement coordinators can also reach into homes, churches, cultural groups and the community.
Greater parental involvement can also free up teacher time to the benefit of all students. Teachers spend the most time with students who have the greatest educational need. Students who get help with their studies at home, with reading, math and homework when needed, often require less teacher time in school and progress more rapidly. By decreasing the amount of special attention individual students demand, we can help all students receive a better education.
We certainly don’t advocate that policymakers give up on other solutions. Increasing educational opportunity is too important a goal. But the bigger solutions involve bigger debates.
For example, starting a voluntary statewide early education program in Alaska will likely be expensive. But failing to join the roughly 40 other states that have started down the road to early learning will cost us more in the long run. The discussion on that topic needs to continue.
Studies show that children who have the benefit of early education opportunities do better in school are more likely to graduate and continue their education, earn more when they graduate, rely far less on public assistance, and find their way into the criminal justice system in much smaller numbers. Adopting a statewide early education plan will enrich the lives of children, help them succeed, and save us significant expenses in our criminal justice system in the long run.
We should do everything we can to give Alaska’s children real opportunities for real success. Our schools can play a big role in giving children the tools they need to succeed in today’s world economy. Parental involvement in a child’s education is invaluable. Enhancing parental involvement will pay great dividends for a minor cost and it’s something that’s worth our investment.
Carol Comeau is superintendent of the Anchorage School District. Les Gara is a Democratic state representative from Anchorage.
Fine sentiments from the ASD superintendent in “Oz.” Anchorage is blessed with high value private property as a tax base, and a disproportionate return of revenue sharing (when that was available). When I was an elected public official, I made a comment at a Municipal League meeting that if Seward could get the tax revenue of one square block of downtown Anchorage, we’d be fixed for the entire year. Other elected officials from smaller (struggling) communities appauded.
I came to Seward in 1985, when the HS was much better than it is now. Seward high has taken every hit possible in the last 20 years, from music, languages and teachers & support staff. Even the bus drivers got the axe.
I am of the mind that “responsible people tax themselves to pay for what they need.” It seems that local tax (I own real property in Seward) goes to the west peninsula in a disproportionate ratio to local needs, as evidenced from the past two decades.
Yeah, it’s a real “feel good - warm fuzzy” to talk about education being the #1 priority and that more money needs to be spent for it. The reality is the money is not there, and if it is it’s being directed elsewhere. The last 20 years of shrinking education money at Seward High is testament to that. “If you think education is expensive, try the price of ignorance.”
We as parents are asked above letter to volunteer in the schools. My experience is that parent participation is not welcome. One example: I used to teach first aid and Emergency Medical Services at AVTEC. I was a Certified Teacher. I offered on three occasions over the years I was teaching to do a USDOT First Responder class for Seward High. Volunteer my time - no charge. A lot of head nodding, but for whatever reason, it never happened.
The local school board is the most powerful form of government in the land. A dictatorship. Id like to say “Benovelent Dictatorship,” but it is just not so. Despite what you might think, what they might tell you, or what the law says, they are not accountable to the public financially, or ethically. They routinely deny basic civil rights to parents and students, perhaps teachers and support employees as well, while they teach civics, government and American history - and they do it with a straight face. Parents’ concerns are routinely dealt with derisively, to the point of condescention and insult. Nothing teaches the value of Justice and Liberty better than denying it to a subject population.
The facts on the local level at any secondary school are if you are a jock, cheerleader, have a 4.0 GPA, money or otherwise make the school system look good, you get the attention. If you are average to below average in scholastics or socio-economic status you get little to nothing. These are the people who need the attention. Alaska has one of the highest drop-out rates in the country. Some think that raising the drop-out age to 18 will remedy this. Instead of reaching these people in a meaningful way, the thinking is to force them into failure (therefor skewing the bell-curve while “No Child Left Behind” money is denied as a result, perpetuating that failure).
My three children were all “Educational Units,” - read: “worth $5K/head/year,” equal to all of the other “EU’s” at Seward High. Do I think they got their money’s worth? My Seward High Honor Society graduate had to take algebra in college to get her to the point where she SHOULD HAVE BEEN as a High School graduate. My “drop-out” pursued a GED and graduated before his class at high school, and was earning a good income on his vocational skill learned at AVTEC.
So, Ms. Comeau’s and Mr. Gara’s words are surely inspiring, and their hearts appear to be in the right place, but they are woefully ignorant (or choose not to be aware) of what it’s like for a lot of students, parents and teachers in the trenches who are not so affluent.
Comment by James A Krasnansky — December 30, 2006 @ 11:27 pm
Great letter James.
I fear our school system and have great concerns about the way it is funded. I am also concerned about my daughter being in this system in the next 3 years and am actually concidering moving away from Seward which I have called home for the last 8 years.It makes me sad. I am actually thinking of moving out of country and having her attend school in a more diverse enviroment. The lower 48 school system isnt much better. I applaud our teachers and staff at the schools, many of them are friends. I wish they could receive the support and funds from thier employeers to do thier jobs right. It is not an easy one. It is unfortunate that we are attached to the the other side of the peninsula financially, when we are so different and our needs are no where near the same.
Comment by Erik Slater — January 7, 2007 @ 12:39 pm