05-06-2010, 06:18 PM
Gutenberg hit the nail on the head. So much depends on the parents and their expectations for their children. A kid can survive a year with a bad teacher, but they're doomed if their parents don't care and/or are not involved in their education.
For the past 5 years I have been working in a local program that brings students and parents back to school in the evening. We supplement the student's school work and, teach the parents as well. We have a large number of immigrant parents who are learning English and reading through our program along with parenting skills. We have one 70 year old grandfather that never got beyond 2nd grade. He brings his grand kids (who are all doing well in school), but it has been his excuse to be there and learn how to read. He's now reading on a 10th grade level and wants to continue in order to get his high school GED. "Gramps" has been such an inspiration for both the kids and the teachers. He's now "sponsoring" two black students and bringing them to school. These two students would have been in jeopardy of being drop-outs, but "Gramps" took an interest in them, encourages them and they have made a tremendous turn around in their attitudes because they have someone who cares about them and believes in them.
For the past 5 years I have been working in a local program that brings students and parents back to school in the evening. We supplement the student's school work and, teach the parents as well. We have a large number of immigrant parents who are learning English and reading through our program along with parenting skills. We have one 70 year old grandfather that never got beyond 2nd grade. He brings his grand kids (who are all doing well in school), but it has been his excuse to be there and learn how to read. He's now reading on a 10th grade level and wants to continue in order to get his high school GED. "Gramps" has been such an inspiration for both the kids and the teachers. He's now "sponsoring" two black students and bringing them to school. These two students would have been in jeopardy of being drop-outs, but "Gramps" took an interest in them, encourages them and they have made a tremendous turn around in their attitudes because they have someone who cares about them and believes in them.