Why do teachers get the blame when the parents are the source of the problem?

Question

Children come unprepared for learning, five year olds never having looked at a book, they don't know the ABC's or thier colors, abusive homes, drug infested environments, uninvolved parents-grandparents-group homes-foster care, if a child has been given nothing and gets nothing from home every day how will that child perform to an academic level beyond that of their parents. (there are always success stories but not enough of them) How can a teacher be the blame for failure.

Answer 1

Face it, who is getting paid to "teach" the children, Teachers are. In todays society, people want someone else to blame and since we are getting paid to work with the children, we shoulder the blame. It is not fair, I agree. When I see a child for 45 min. a day, approximately 180 days a year, I should not be the fall-guy. Get real!

Answer 2

I've had this problem only once in my career. I do believe the problem is that parents hate to look in the mirror and see that sometimes maybe they've spoiled their child, given them too much time on the X Box, not helped with homework, not been involved, haven't been reading, etc.

The reality is that teachers and parents are in a unique partnership. Where one needs to trust that the other has be best for the child in their minds. Problems exist when parents do not trust us or think that we have something against their child.

This can be easily avoided when teachers and parents are in constant communication and have clear parameters. I have a homework policy that I hand out to children and parents for them to sign. In it are my "rules" for home during school time. When a child is unsuccessful I make sure that the parents know. I'll call home, work, cellphone, email, anything to make sure the parents know in time to catch a problem. Some parents react and some don't.

The key to teacher protection as I've learned is documentation. A parent cannot say that you didn't call and have a conversation if you don't have the child as a witness and have it recorded on a sheet that on such and such a date you called home or work to let the parent know that blah blah blah. I've been cleared of such accusations because of my outstanding documentation. Anytime I get an e-mail, I print it. When I speak to a parent I write, date, time and the content of the conversation, same with conferences.

When we look at research data, teachers and schools have only 10% influence over the children. Parents need to realize that they are their children's first and most influential teachers. They are the ones from whom children learn first....teachers come later. Teachers cannot be held solely responsible for a child's failure...that's a parent's fault too.

Answer 3

I don't think teachers always get the blame. When things at home fail the next thing to do is pass the buck, or the kid into the hands of government(ie teachers) and government rarely can fix the broken.

Answer 4

The problems is not the parents or the teachers.
After independence the dirty old men in office threw away our creator's orginal gifts of life for the survival of living human kind on planet earth.
Now they were all at loss with the missing x-files.

Answer 5

Because teachers are supported by tax-payers' money, so they have the right to blame us... at least that is THEIR argument. And it's so easy to blame somebody else instead of themselves.

Answer 6

they shouldn't be, but that's how our society works, and parents have custody rights, etc., so the teacher can't really do anything to better the child's life even if they wanted to

Answer 7

When you are an ignorant pig of a parent you have to blame some one for your little criminal