Parents have to be involved in their kids’ education

Mr. Dubrall, in your letter in last Friday’s paper (June 20, 2014), titled “PSS, stop marginalizing poor, underachieving children,” you place a divide between children of different social classes, emphasizing the distinction between those children who come from well-off families and those who don’t. You said that “by first grade, kids already know who has money and who doesn’t and the ones that don’t are already being marginalized by their economically better off classmates.” This might be true if you were stateside, but here in the islands things are different. All classes interact and play with each other regardless of their families’ income levels. You go on to say those children who come from affluent families get better grades and receive more awards than kids who come from families that are not economically sound. However, that is not always the case. I’ve seen it first-hand with children whose families are not as well-off as others; they are ahead of their class. Look at some of the top students in schools on island; you will see that not all of them come from privileged families. It is the love and support that they get from home that helps them accomplish their educational goals, not how much money their parents earn.

Your attempt to segregate these children teeters on discrimination. Your insinuation that underprivileged kids are not given fair treatment is not legitimate because all of the kids receive the same education. Meeting with my kids’ teachers, I see the support and encouragement they give their students. However, it is up to me as a parent to get involved and make sure that my kids are doing their best in school. And no, it does not matter whether I am making $50 an hour or $5.50 an hour, my involvement with my kids’ education is something that I believe that all parents should do regardless of income level.

You see, Mr. Dubrall, PSS is not at fault. The breakdown of family values is the real culprit. What I mean by this is that the family household plays an important role in how a child is raised and educated. If a child is raised in a household of contempt, then that child is likely to perform below their true potential. However, if a child is raised in a household of affection and respect, then that child is likely to perform at an optimum level. A child learns through their environment and the most impressionable environment a child spends most of their time in is their home. It is the child’s home life that dictates how that child will develop and not the Public School System. Their job is to educate and reinforce the values that the child learns at home.

Mr. Dubrall, you infer that you care about how children are educated and about fairness in schools; however, it appears that you have a hidden agenda. Are you upset that someone close to you did not get an award for their academic endeavors? If so, then you as a role model could see what you could do to help. You don’t need to bash PSS or discriminate against those who may have more than you. Instead, you can become a contributor to that child’s life. I’m sure you could find time out of your busy letters-to-the-editor schedule to help. Like I said, it is the family who either helps or hinders a child’s educational goals. Sixteen-hour workdays and low income is not an excuse for failing your child, especially when it comes to their education. Others have accomplished more with little.

As far as awards go, I feel that students should be awarded for their outstanding scholastic performance. The President of the United States even has an academic achievement award for students who excel in their studies. I also believe in healthy competition in schools and in individualism. You see, not all of us are the same; we are unique in our own right. Even if we receive the same information, how we process the information is not always the same. Children should learn to be different and celebrate their own individualism and respect each other for who they are and not what they have. They shouldn’t have to conform to any stereotypical role, but instead be proud of their differences. They should also learn to compete and be awarded for accomplishing their goals. When the correct balance is struck, competition can be a healthy part of a child’s life. Mr. Dubrall, seeing as you are 100 percent against competition, you could probably petition PSS to get rid of all the programs that promote educational competition, such as the AG’s Cup, Math Court, and forensics. Start one and let’s see how many signatures you get.

Glenn Deleon Guerrero
Capital Hill, Saipan