MONTHLY MESSAGE
"How Do We Raise Good Kids in a World That Often Isn't?"
I saw this article title on the front cover of one of the free
magazines as I was checking out in Stop and Shop. Honestly, this
is a question that I’ve been asking myself, not only as a parent,
but as an educator. A second question comes to mind, “What is
the role of the parent and of the school in helping our children to
successfully navigate the world in which we live?”
When I first pursued an answer to my second question some
seemingly unrelated thoughts came to mind. First, I thought
about my daily commute to work, where I constantly witness
adults, in their cars, talking on their cell phones, but not “hands
free” as the law in Connecticut now requires. Their inattentive-
ness risks the lives of their passengers (often their own children),
and everyone else on the road. Next, I thought about arrival and
dismissal at Cranbury. We set rules to promote the safety of our
kids and repeatedly a small group of parents, park in bus and fire
lanes, or pull their children out of the lines as they walk to the
gym, some not even informing the teacher that they’ve done so.
Then, I thought about our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences,
and how, as much as, a child’s academic performance is discussed,
so too their ability to follow rules and get along with others is
critical to their overall success.
The magazine article reinforces the notion that parents are the
first teachers of character, and that regardless of the many in-
fluences outside the home, children (even teenagers) are most
influenced by what they see their parents do. Educators, on the
other hand, are the second line of influence in teaching character.
In order to be effective, we can’t just teach the lesson, we have to
demonstrate good character in our interactions with students and with
each other.
I believe, and the article reinforces, that none of us is perfect in
the example we set. I know that in being human, I find myself not always
modeling the correct behavior. What I have learned and I hope to
share with you, is the fact that in an often imperfect world, our kids
can learn by listening to the adults in there
lives admit to mistakes and demonstrate how they will correct their behavior.
By example, we can raise good kids in a world that often isn’t
and in the long run make it better!
magazines as I was checking out in Stop and Shop. Honestly, this
is a question that I’ve been asking myself, not only as a parent,
but as an educator. A second question comes to mind, “What is
the role of the parent and of the school in helping our children to
successfully navigate the world in which we live?”
When I first pursued an answer to my second question some
seemingly unrelated thoughts came to mind. First, I thought
about my daily commute to work, where I constantly witness
adults, in their cars, talking on their cell phones, but not “hands
free” as the law in Connecticut now requires. Their inattentive-
ness risks the lives of their passengers (often their own children),
and everyone else on the road. Next, I thought about arrival and
dismissal at Cranbury. We set rules to promote the safety of our
kids and repeatedly a small group of parents, park in bus and fire
lanes, or pull their children out of the lines as they walk to the
gym, some not even informing the teacher that they’ve done so.
Then, I thought about our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences,
and how, as much as, a child’s academic performance is discussed,
so too their ability to follow rules and get along with others is
critical to their overall success.
The magazine article reinforces the notion that parents are the
first teachers of character, and that regardless of the many in-
fluences outside the home, children (even teenagers) are most
influenced by what they see their parents do. Educators, on the
other hand, are the second line of influence in teaching character.
In order to be effective, we can’t just teach the lesson, we have to
demonstrate good character in our interactions with students and with
each other.
I believe, and the article reinforces, that none of us is perfect in
the example we set. I know that in being human, I find myself not always
modeling the correct behavior. What I have learned and I hope to
share with you, is the fact that in an often imperfect world, our kids
can learn by listening to the adults in there
lives admit to mistakes and demonstrate how they will correct their behavior.
By example, we can raise good kids in a world that often isn’t
and in the long run make it better!
