A Challenge to Parents

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A Challenge to Parents

• Joseph F. Johnson, Jr., Ph.D.
• National Coalition of Title I Parents
• November 4, 2006
• Los Angeles, CA

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National Center for Urban School Transformation
Dedicated to identifying, studying, and promoting
the best practices of Americas highest achieving
urban schools in a manner that supports urban
districts in transforming teaching and learning
http//edweb.sdsu.edu/ncust
2nd Annual Symposium May 4th 5th in San Diego
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Challenge 1

• Build Hope

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Dont allow anyone

• No teacher
• No tutor
• No principal
• No superintendent
• No counselor
• No nurse
• No M.D.
• No Ph.D.

• No psychologist
• No psychiatrist
• No social worker
• No professor
• No politician
• No friend
• No relative
• NOT EVEN Yourself

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Dont allow anyone
To define the limits of your childs potential!
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People May Be Defining Your Childs Potential
When You Hear

• He may not be cut out to learn a foreign
  language.
• You really shouldnt expect much because of her
  learning disability.
• Hes just too far behind for us to expect him to
  catch up.

• Hell never learn algebra.
• Shes not college material.
• It would just frustrate him to try.
• Its OK if she never is a good reader. Lots of
  children arent.

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Who was it?

• Failed in business twice and was defeated in
  elections 8 times
• Cut from high school basketball team, went home,
  locked himself in his room and cried
• Teacher said he was too stupid to learn
  anything
• Fired from a newspaper because he had no
  imagination or original ideas

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Today, my childs potential is under
construction. What I do today will strengthen
his or her potential and influence his or her
quality of life.
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How to Build Hope

• Be Positive.
• Reinforce your childs strengths.
• Help your child learn that attitude and effort
  are important than aptitude and luck.
• Talk to your child every day about your hopes for
  his/her future. What will you say TODAY?

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Challenge 2

• Build Alliances

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Build Alliances with Parents

• Build partnerships with other parents (even just
  a few).
• Reach out to parents from other backgrounds.
• Identify the things you agree upon and focus upon
  those.
• Find ways to support each other.

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Build Alliances with Educators

• Find educators who care about your childs
  success. Learn from them. Find ways to support
  their efforts.
• Let educators know they are valued and
  appreciated.
• Always be open to supporting other educators who
  want the best for children.
• Work toward solutions not blame.

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Build Alliances with Politicians

• Meet people who hold positions of power and
  influence on the school board or city council.
• Let them know youre watching.
• Make regular contacts.

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Challenge 3

• Be Focused on Results

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Learn About School Data

• Learn about AYP.
• Learn about proficiency levels.
• Learn about graduation rates.
• Learn about suspension/expulsion rates.
• Learn about course taking patterns.

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Monitor Your Schools Progress

• Expect your school to expect a lot from your
  child
• No grade inflation
• Appropriate homework
• Rigorous coursework
• Learn how your school compares with other
  schools.
• www.just4kids.org
• State Department of Education websites

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Monitor Your Childs Progress

• Learn which standards your child has mastered and
  which ones still need work.
• Learn how you can help your child build a better
  understanding of important concepts and skills.

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Parents, you are powerful beyond measure!
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From Nelson Mandela
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light, not our darkness that
most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to
be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child
of God. We are born to make manifest the Glory
of God that is within us. Its not just in some
of us. Its in everyone. As we are liberated
from our own fear, our presence automatically
liberates others.