TEACHERS FAULT

By Coach Frank Sagasta 

November 3rd, 2024 

As a fourteen year professional instructor, teacher, and coach.  I am sick of people who know nothing about public schools, or charter schools.  I am tired of hearing or reading about people complaining over their children’s (5-18) education from our government educational school system.  What did you really expect?  And why do people blast teachers or the schools on social media?  What we never see or hear more about—are parents or guardians deciding on how to fix our education system.  What we don’t see or hear—are parents or guardians taking the opportunity to volunteer for a day or for a week in the classroom.  

Not ALL teachers are the problem!  Not All Schools are the problem either!  Everything rise and falls upon leadership or management of the business.  Mahatma Gandhi once said, “There is no school equal to a decent home, and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent.”  Much of what teachers are dealing with aren’t new, but it is getting worse and harder.  Parental guidance isn’t happening.  Most parents are not teaching their children manners, core values, personal responsibility, professional principles, or even a general knowledge of how to get along with others (Golden Rule).  The children come to school in shoes that cost more than the teacher's entire outfit, but have no pencil or paper.  The children come to school with water jugs that end up in the lot in found.  The children come to school with selfish attitudes.  The children come to school with no clue of the society that awaits them.  Children come to school to socialize rather than getting some value for tomorrow’s future.  

When you look at schools that are "failing," look at the parents and students too!  When you look at schools that are struggling to keep a school grade.  Look at the parents, guardians, and students too!!  It is wildly irresponsible for people to just blame the schools for your children learning.  Only some parents come to parent nights.  Why?  Because many have lost their value for education and don’t really care for the profession.  Do parents talk with the teachers regularly?  No, because they don’t make time.  Do they make sure their children are prepared by having the necessary supplies?  Maybe some.  Do they make sure their children do their homework?  Let’s be honest, maybe a few.  Do they talk to their children about what they’re learning and how it can apply to life?  Maybe some.  Do they have working telephone numbers that up to date?  Very few.  Now the student—Do the students take notes in class?  Very few.  Do they do their home-work?  Very few.  Do the students listen in class, or are they the sources of class disruptions?  Do more and more kids blame themselves or parents?  No, they blame the education system and teachers.  When you look at these factors, you will see that it is not schools that are failing but the parents.  Teachers cannot do their jobs and the parents' job too!!  Until parents step-up and do their job, nothing is going to get better tomorrow in education or as a society.  

Since the blog was on pointing blame on teachers or schooling, let’s start with a quiz:

1. A 7th grader in Arizona is often late for class.   She tends to forget her class book, class assignments, homework and is unprepared for the day.   The teacher would like to talk to her parents or guardians about these habits, but they fail to attend parent-teacher conferences.  Parents or guardians haven’t updated their emails or phone records. The teacher should:

a) Fail the student.

b) Fail the parents.

I have read the stories.  I have heard the conversations.  Teachers are fed up with being blamed for the failures of American education, and legislators are starting to hear them little by little.   Bills are being introduced in various states now taking aim squarely at the parents.  If you think you can legislate teaching, the notion goes, why not try legislating parenting?

I know it is a complicated idea, taking on the controversial question of whether parents, teachers or children are most to blame when a child fails to learn.  And there is so much research outlining the factors of why kids fail to learn or listen.  

But what do you say… 

With gratitude,

Coach Frank Sagasta