What Should You Do if a School Isn’t Servicing Your Child’s Needs?
It's not uncommon for parents to feel as though a school system isn’t servicing the needs of their child. If you feel this way, one most important things you can do is to realize that you are not alone and then work towards fixing the problem!
Dealing with a school’s shortcoming can be a tricky proposition. Most parents are busy, and financial constraints may not allow parents to move a child into a private school. With that in mind, however, there are plenty of steps that parents can take to help their children excel when school systems fail. Many of these tools did not exist twenty years ago, but today, parents have more education augmentation options than ever before.
Take a Proactive Approach: If you feel that a school isn’t helping your child reach his or her potential, then start looking outside of the school for resources. There are many online education options that are free and can provide endless learning opportunities. Even tools, such as YouTube and search engines, can help you bring more tools to your child. Of course, you should reach out in a calm manner to your child’s school as well. While it is key that you be proactive in your child’s education and adequately provide supplemental materials, it is also vital that you work with his or her teachers as well; they may have supplemental resources as well!
Coordinate with Educational Professionals: Since your child’s teachers spend five days a week instructing your child, they will likely have some insight as to how to best help your child. That being said, it is important to remember that teachers are generally overworked, and their pay does not reflect the tremendous effort the job requires. Being friendly and asking for their help rather than blaming the teacher is the smartest course of action. Even if you believe the teacher is to blame or partially to blame, pointing this out will not help your child or the situation. So, stay cool and focused and work with your child's teacher to get them where they need to be.
Supplement with Tutors: Hiring tutors is an option if you feel as though your child needs direct one-on-one help. Tutoring services can be expensive, but with some research, you may be able to find cost effective options. For example, if you contact a local university’s education department, they may help you find an undergraduate or graduate student who is willing to help tutor your child just for job experience or a reasonable rate of pay.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t give up. Instead, invest the time and effort into finding a way to help your child; ultimately, you are your child’s greatest source of assistance.