The Home Guard
After 20 years the National Curriculum is still evolving. News of the mounting stress levels affecting teachers through continuing changes to the curriculum, teaching systems and procedures emerge daily. As the performance of a school is scrutinised to such an extent statistics tend to be massaged to present a far rosier position than reality. It is also unlikely that any revolutionary change can break through to make a real difference to the load.
Overseas the pressure on schools is similar, but the emerging difference is the general realisation that the problems are not of the school system alone.
Compelling evidence indicates a family’s involvement in the schooling process has a marked benefit in the performance of a child and school. Politicians cite the essential parental role required to adopt and maintain effective citizenship and the CBI voices concern over the long term competitiveness of the UK in world markets.
If we are to seek a sea change in the educational standards of our children the onus cannot lie with the schools alone. The one enormous resource that can be quickly mobilised with proven capacity to make a difference lies at home.
The process that started with the parent and infant child can be re harnessed in an enjoyable way to reinforce the classroom lessons at home. A child’s learning retention is greatly enhanced through practising at their comfort pace - a key element that is difficult at school due to the class size, availability of equipment and time.
Technology has made the process much easier and enjoyable. Parents with no teaching skills are now able to access the modern teaching aids used in school and replicate the practice function of the classroom at home. Concerns of the child can be overcome and confidence and competence established back in the classroom.
Allowing teachers to enlist dedicated support at home presents a fantastic opportunity to ease the pressure and gain a huge boost to the teaching capacity of our schools. Parents’ more intimate and dynamic knowledge of their child’s performance can only be beneficial.
