by Georgia Charter Schools Association
By Rich Thompson
For students in Georgia, this week marks that joyous and sometimes tearful moment known as the first day of school. Being the that I am,聽it seems like eons ago when the hot days of August聽was precisely聽the time our summer vacation was聽finally kickin鈥� into full swing! Now聽as聽the parent of two Millennial Generation daughters, the month of August and 鈥渒ickin鈥� into full swing,鈥� beg聽an entirely different understanding.
It’s a聽misguided perception that back-to-school聽applies only to our children, or that learning only takes place in a school building Monday thru Friday between the times our kids are dropped off in the morning and then picked back up in the afternoon. That聽couldn鈥檛 be farther from the truth.
In fact, when our two daughters go 鈥渂ack-to-school,鈥� so do we!
My wife and I make it a聽point to visit our daughters鈥� schools not just on Back-to-School-Night, but throughout the year.聽After sixteen plus years of fatherhood I have learned one unforgettable lesson that聽Henry Wadsworth Longfellow summed up well聽when he wrote, 鈥淎 single conversation with a wise man (or woman) is better than ten years mere study of books.鈥�
Simply put,聽no matter how great the academic experience our children may receive from roughly 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at school, it鈥檚 the one-on-one conversations that we parents share with them every day that have the most significant impact.聽
Everyone in Georgia made a really big deal over the聽end-of-year standardized tests called the Criterion Referenced Curriculum Test, or CRCT. (Side note: The CRCT was replaced by the聽 exam in 2014.) After all, the results of the test were the yardstick by which the effectiveness of every school in Georgia was measured.聽
But I contend that there is a more conclusive and exacting test for measuring the effectiveness of our child鈥檚 academic experiences. At聽, we like to call it the FKTT — the聽聽That鈥檚 right,聽in a world consumed by technology, iPhones, iPods, iPads and iEverything, the best scholastic assessment tool known to humankind is a discerning Mom and Dad. Overwhelmingly, the number one聽predictor of a student鈥檚 academic success is an engaged and empowered parent.
So聽to answer the question, “For Whom the (School) Bell Tolls?” I say it tolls for all of us who answer to聽the names Mom and Dad. As part of your daily routine for this school year, I want to challenge every Mom and Dad in Georgia to join me in taking the 聽pledge. Be that parent who rises early to get your聽child ready for school, ensures that your聽child arrives to school on time, equipped and ready to learn, and helps your聽child with their homework in the evening.
And finally, after the family dinner bell has rung, be that parent who enjoys a loving, one-on-one conversation with the wisest person your child will ever know聽—聽you!
Rich Thompson is the Executive Director of , a nonprofit membership organization聽that聽supports Georgia’s public聽charter school parents and teachers. Georgia PTO聽helps schools engage and empower parents to ensure that聽every child finds聽success in college, career and in life.
The views and opinions expressed on CharterConfidential聽are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency.聽聽
Georgia Charter Schools Association
The Georgia Charter Schools Association (91桃色视频) is the membership organization for Georgia鈥檚 charter school operators and petitioners, established in 2001. Our mission is to be an effective advocate and service provider for all charter public schools in Georgia.
