The school polled parents this week to gauge how well it provides a safe and productive environment for learning.

        The survey asked us how well the school implements its homework policy. Does the school provide enriching and stimulating activities in which all students participate? Does the school have a goal to develop multicultural understanding among staff and students? Is the school clean, and are repairs made on time?

        The survey, to me, felt more like a yardstick measuring my shortcomings as a parent. After filling in the dots, and admitting what I don't know about my child's schooling, I felt like rapping myself on the knuckles with it.

        It also reminds me of an important point in the debate this week over minority student achievement: Parents' actions, or inaction, can be the primary determiner in a child's academic success.
       

No passing grade

        Until this week, I had considered myself a fairly involved parent. I'd been to my son's school enough that the principal, the school counselor and a few teachers know me. I go over my child's homework almost nightly, check grades on his class assignments and tests, help him prepare for class projects.

        My son, I figure, is a fairly well-balanced student, no need to mess with the formula.

        But the school survey's simple questions made me wonder at how little I know about the place he spends 6 1/2 hours in each weekday.

        After I answered “I don't know” on the survey a few times, I asked some teacher friends, a teacher evaluator, a principal and counselor, and some wiser moms than I, how parents like me should be more involved.

        They gave me these tips:

        • Meet with teachers several times during a school year. Note on your calendar when the school's Parent-Teacher Organization meets; you never know when the stars will align and you'll have a free night to attend a meeting.

        • If you can't do night-time conferences, skip the bus and take your child to school once or twice a quarter. Speak with his or her teacher then. Drop a handwritten note to the teacher in your child's homework folder or backpack.

        • Read your child's report card carefully. Ohio and Kentucky require that the reports note what your child is expected to learn in the upcoming semester. If the report card does not, see above.

        • Every day, check your child's work. Go through his or her book bag for homework, corrections, make-up work, tests. Don't do your child's homework; insist that he try. Turn off the TV or video game until it's done. Be sure your baby sitter or after-school care provider does the same.

        • Read to your young children every day. Or at least let them see you read. Take children to the public library regularly. It's free, fun and quiet — thank God! And its year-round events, such as children's plays and readings, psyche kids up to read.

        • Encourage your children to ask you questions, and don't worry about answering “I don't know.” Be sure to follow it with: “Let's look it up.”
       

Minority student scores

        Last week, Ohio's school report cards revealed sizeable gaps in minority student test scores compared with white students. We parents can easily point to the other players in our children's education as culprits.

        But first, heed this reminder: Much of the responsibility lies with us.

       Denise Smith Amos can be reached at 768-8395 or e-mail damos@enquirer.com.
       

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