What's Up, Doc? Teachers, Parents Must Work Together

By Randall Freeman, PhD

Teaching is a noble profession and a very rewarding one. To witness students "getting it" due to the teaching you provided is better than just about anything. I cannot picture doing anything else in my life.

As with any profession, teaching has its frustrations. To me, teaching has more outside pressures and distractions than any other profession I can think of at this time. (Admittedly, my bias of being a teacher for 28 years must be taken into account as I make this statement.)

Partnering with parents makes all the difference in the degree of progress a child achieves in school. Great teachers understand and take advantage of the parental expertise for the benefit of the student. Concerned parents advocate for their children to succeed in school. Everybody benefits, especially the child.

When teachers and parents fail to agree on the child’s educational process, the child suffers. The teacher is highly trained in pedagogy and instructional strategies and should be considered to be the educational expert. Likewise, the parents are the experts on what works and doesn’t work with motivating their children.

The teacher is in charge of anywhere from 20 to 185 students, depending upon the level they teach. An elementary teacher with 20 to 30 students must consider ALL students, not just one. Each parent is concerned about their child over any other children. That is being a parent.

The key to success for the child is for the responsibilities of the teacher and those of the parents to merge and work in unison for the benefit of the child and the other students entrusted to the teacher. When the teacher and the parent successfully view their interactions as a partnership geared toward the success of the child, all parties emerge as winners. Anything less will create unnecessary friction among teacher and parents and inhibit student learning.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy and Max, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. When not assisting Karen in driving the girls to all of their sporting events, Randy volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley.