Gripe / The Educational ‘Extras’ Are Essentials

Two years ago, the El Monte School District offered summer parenting classes, reaching out to parents to help them develop skills to assist their children in school. The message: Parents are the primary educators of their children. Message sent, message received. The comments at the conclusion of the program were impressive and positive. Last year, the Montebello Unified School District held a one-day seminar for parents, offering a variety of workshops. More than 1,700 people participated. Child care was available and lunch was included. The Red Cross and the DARE program were some of the programs with displays set up to assist those in attendance, along with workers to answer questions, even taking blood pressures. This should be an annual event, but, as in many districts, there’s no more money for things like this. Just another extra, like music and art.

What will we be left with in a few years? Like much of what we learn, consistent and persistent messages are the ones we learn best, so once is not enough. The message of responsible behavior needs to be offered frequently and strongly.

The students in my son’s high school, as well as the other two high schools in our district, staged a walk-out this past spring in protest of the massive cuts being made. A peaceful walk-out, organized by the student body officers. My 16-year-old son, who is usually so quiet, said, “You just take it so long, then you have to do something.” This is their education, their lives we’re dealing with.