Essentials for Parents and Schools

Essentials for Parents and Schools

Nov 10, 2017 | TEC Connects

Based on the article by Dr Beth Green, “Three Back to School Essentials”, in Convivium, August 28, 2017
Parents can become confused and even overwhelmed when they approach a choice of school, or even returning to school at the start of a year. Dr Beth Green from the Cardus Institute in Canada distilled some basics for parents earlier this year. Perhaps we may be able to encourage our parents in a similar manner.



Here are her three main points:

  1. Your kids are your kids – parents and their children can experience a lot of expectation pressure from government authorities, school authorities, and the ever-present media. But the Biblical mandate is clear that the greatest influence is to be parents and their community – and that is what the research confirms;
  2. Quality of teaching and learning – this counts more than fads with technology or curriculum or other influences that fly around the classroom. Teachers matter. Find good ones.
  3. Exercise your proper choice – the closer you are to having common values with the school you choose, and the more certain you are that your voice can be heard, the better the outcome for your child as a person.

One of Dr Green’s summary statements says it well:

Remember that the onus isn’t just on you as parents to be active partners in your child’s schooling: teaching is a sacred trust. Standing in the place of the parent, acting in loco parentis, should be a key professional component of teaching. It manifests itself when teachers are empowered to plan for individual learning needs, when they understand and respect the values and religious beliefs of your family and community, and can speak intelligibly about the nation’s past with confidence.



Enjoy closing out the year at your school – and encourage your students and parents about the exciting partnership you can have together next year.



Grace and peace,



Stephen F



To read the original article, click here

Collaboration

Collaboration

Nov 10, 2017 | TEC Connects

1 Peter 4:10 ‘as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace’

We are created to live in community. Collaboration and teamwork are significant features of any community, and are prized in the 21st Century adult world. Students should be given the language, experience, skills and attitudes that enable successful collaboration. What does this look like?

  1. The ability to work with diverse team members in an inclusive way
  2. The ability to accept accountability to the team
  3. The knowledge of group dynamics
  4. The ability to effectively communicate within and for the group.

Ideally, students should be exposed to a range of types of collaborative frameworks.  Importantly, we as educators need to model collaboration for our students.  Are we creating cultures in our schools where collaboration can thrive?  The Cambridge Dictionary defines collaboration as something ….where 2 or more people come together to create the same thing…We weren’t created to work alone. This is a Kingdom principal; even Jesus had the 12 Disciples.

We are looking forward to exploring this further when we launch our 2018 theme at Hope Conference in January.  On the 22nd and 23rd January, we will be gathering with staff from across the Pacific Group of Schools looking at ‘Hope through Collaboration.’ We would love to have you join with us for this great event.

More info about the Hope Conference can be found here