Question

How do families influence students' educational outcomes in the 21st century? Consider the messages that parents communicate to their children. What impact do these messages have on the overall educational experience? Address the ways in which schools/teachers/administrators communicate with parents. What messages are shared? Which topics are avoided or overlooked? What recommendations would you offer to schools and families in communicating about the students' educational pursuits? Do your recommendations differ as you examine the spectrum of educational options available (e.g., K-12, college)?

Answer 1

Most of the time parents and teachers set high expectations on the students without understanding their actual potential. Everyone is forced to be experts in two predominant subjects, math and language with which one is considered good. All the other subject areas and the abilities of the students are given no importance. This kind of practice tries to provide a panacea for all the issues of the students. Parents and teachers do not talk anything other than subjects. They forget to ask how the student feels, whether the student needs any other help, is the material appropriate, has the student got an environment and support for his studies and is there any other issues that prevents them from studying.

Teachers and parents should explore the vast opportunities available to them in the colleges which would shape their career by not limiting the students only to math and language. One shouldn’t go with the easier subject because the tougher the subject in the school and college, the better one’s career would be. One should choose a subject in which one is interested in and a subject that they study effortlessly because one’s success depends on one’s interest and only one’s interest will keep them alive in their pursuit of education and career.