Often I ask myself if I have what it takes to be a good father. I answer myself. No, because I believe I have what it takes to be a great Father. It's important to me that I give my son all the love I received plus more since you can never give enough love. People ask me all the time how does it feel to be a Dad, and I tell them all the time Great. And all for the same reason, nobody has ever made my day like seeing the smile on his face. It's hard to find genuine love like that, so it's difficult for me to understand how so many parents could not want to see their kids happy. Alternatively, on the other hand, not want to see their kids at all, it hurts to see how kid's struggle without a solid foundation to grow with. It's good to know that there are great teachers out there that take the time to listen to their kids like a parent would, since some of those kids don't have one to go home to. Some parents get too wrapped up in trying to relive their youth or having their own lives they forget that they are responsible for molding someone's life.
It goes without saying that kids can't do it on their own, and it is not the Teachers' responsibility to raise your child it's up to you.
Billy Ray Cyrus was put on record for saying that he blames the Hannah Montana show for turning his daughter into a rogue teen and practically a loose cannon. However, isn't that the duty of the parent to raise the child? Isn't it up to him to teach his daughter right from wrong? As he was quoting this it had been several months, since she has been caught on video footage smoking Weed out of a bong, and he hadn't spoken to her about it since. Where is the parenting in that? Be responsible and make sure that your kid does not cause unnecessary harm to herself, and you have to watch her fail, be a Great Father not a good one.
With that being said that's just one example how parenting is getting away from its essence. I know some people that won't say a curse word to this day in front of their parents just out of respect that they have for them. Let's teach our kids to be better than us, let's teach them how to be Great people not just good one.
As a teacher, I appreciate your comment about where the responsibility lies when it comes to raising children. My job is to teach academics and ensure that children are safe while at school. Of course a teacher must be caring, understanding and supportive as well. But when did it become the teacher's responsibility to raise your children? For me, being a parent is the greatest honor and responsibility that I will ever be given. I have been given the task of molding a human being into a productive member of society. Providing for my son's basic needs is only part of that responsibilty. I must also provide values, boundaries and discipline. As a teacher, I see a lack of all of the above, far too often. My role as a teacher is now about much more that academics. I am often required to teach morals, hygiene, nutrition, and quite often, I am the only one providing any discipline or a moral compass by which these kids can tell right from wrong. It saddens me, that so many kids go without a consistant home life. But it is also exhausting. How am I to have the students give me respect, when their own parents do not ask that of their children. Parenting is not an easy job. And if it is easy, you are not doing it right. Every parent will look back and know that there were things they could have done better. But being a parent is a huge responsibilty. And you are not doing them a favor by letting them run wild and do as they please. Children need discipline. In fact, they want boundaries and structure. They need to be taught right from wrong, and it starts with us. The old "do as I say, not as I do" does not work. They need to have role models, to demonstrate the proper way to behave. They need to be taught to be polite and respect adults. They need to be taught that the only way to succeed in life, is through hard work. There is no easy way out and there is no easy money. But they also need to be taught that their value does not lie in what they have or how much "stuff" they accumulate. Their value lies in their character and work ethic, and what they did to achieve success. Many children now feel a sense of entitlement; that they deserve what they want without putting in the work. This is where parents have done their children a disservice. These children were not given the values needed to head out into the world and be successful. And when they show up in my classroom, they expect to be able to do as they please. There are plenty of students who are raised with values and boundaries, and unfortunately these students are the ones that lose out, because a good portion of my time is spent dealing with the few difficult students. It is my wish as both a parent and a teacher, that parents will begin taking their job seriously. Not doing so, is not only unfair to their children but society as well.
ReplyDeleteThat was perfectly put Candice.
ReplyDeleteMan, I really appreciate the post and the consideration shown to the teacher in your post. I am speechless because Candace summed it all up! lol This Teacher cosigns her response! =)
ReplyDeleteMy apologies on misspelling your name Candice! =)
ReplyDeleteAs a young man raised by a mother, and mother alone, I can agree with the stress and affects of it; but found people do have to step up and also take responsibility. Often these "single parents" struggle, and we, young people can see it. It's up to the individual child whether they want their parents efforts to be worth while or a waste. Parenting is of the utmost importance but it goes hand and hand with the effort the child or children put forth also. As of Tuesday Feb. 22 I made front page news in the Oakland Tribune for my accomplishments thus far in my life, and the thing that made me happy wasn't the fact that I was in the paper, my happiness and satisfaction came from my mother reading it. So yea, to be a great parent is defined later in the child's life, not just as a baby or pre-teen. And from the sound of what I've talked about so far some people may think this family must have money and I have a silver spoon, but that far from the truth. I was expelled from two high school, been to juvenile hall, jail, and still made something of myself while living in east oakland.
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