The Best Schools

07/17/2007

It just seems clear to me that as long as we are all here, it's pretty clear that the struggle is to share the planet, rather than divide it.
Alice Walker

This month, one of our city newspapers provided a comparison of two inner-city elementary schools, both of which share a common characteristic . . . their communities have been identified as presenting significant psychosocial challenges to children and families. Predictably, in the past 5 years, one school’s academic performance has been on the decline. In contrast, students in the second school have achieved significant increases in measures of their academic performance.

Why might these schools differ? The school that’s challenging the odds…

Provides nutritional programs to students in the form of breakfast and late morning snacks;
Maintains an open door policy with parents;
Operates a parenting centre within the school; and,
Dedicates energy to the Parent-Teacher committee.

It’s important that future teachers of young children recognize that engaging parents, welcoming families, and communicating with systems help to create learning environments that are good for children. And, a meeting is always better when there’s food.

Contributed by Laurie McNelles - Mothercraft

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