What would happen if our country had a one child
policy? Would there continue to be an
achievement gap among youth African-American youth and their peers? Would our schools and parents continue to be
at odds, or would they truly become partners in the education of children? Would our schools continue to be plagued with
poor achievement and low expectations, or would our students lead the world in
math and science?
Let me say that I am not advocating for a one child
policy. The following ideas are based on
my travel to China
In my discussions with parents, I came to understand the
true meaning of children being our most valuable resource. Parents retold stories of how they took the
proper prenatal care, spoke positive affirmations, played classical and
traditional music, and read to their child in the womb to ensure their child
would be born healthy and intelligent.
Parents also discussed the plans they made to help their child get off
to a good start academically. Plans such
as beginning academic enrichment prior to formal schooling, paying for tutors
or attending Saturday classes and paying for music lessons, were part of many
success plans parents talked about.
Parents also taught their child about family, honor and the importance
of education.
Parents understood their role was to provide every
benefit possible in order to place their child in the position to become
successful. Extended family and close
friends were also included in helping the child to become successful. The concept of it takes a whole village to
raise a child is an idea that was embraced and taken seriously. The failure of a child is viewed as the fault
of the family and causes the family shame.
Therefore, parents and the “village” become heavily involved in every
aspect of the child. Nowhere was this more evident than the parents/school
dynamic.
During my visit to schools, I witnessed a true
parent/school partnership. I observed
parents volunteering inside and outside the school building. I observed parents and teachers meeting
without hostility, I observed school administrators being a presence in their
buildings, observing teachers, talking with teachers, talking with students,
and meeting with parents. While talking
with school administrators, their words were not disingenuous or cliché, they
spoke of their role with passion and conviction. The administrators understood they were being
entrusted by families with their country’s most valuable resource. The administrators knew failure was not an
option. They understood that a child’s
failure was a reflection of poor leadership and their failure caused shame to
the family, to themselves and to their country.
Imagine if parents in our country adopted the one child
ideology for every child. All of our
children would get off to a healthy start because parents utilized proper
prenatal care. Children would be ready
for school because their parents would provide early reading, basic writing and
math and children would begin school eager to learn.
Imagine if our educational system adopted the one child ideology
and understood that children are our country’s most valuable resource and
integral to the future prosperity of our country. Administrators, teachers and parents would
work together in a true partnership for the benefit of the child? Administrators and teachers would view the
failure of a child as their failure and would do everything to help the child
succeed. There would be no achievement
gap, our children would lead the world in math and science, and our country
would continue its dominance as an economic superpower.
Unfortunately all we can do is imagine
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