Don't let students' summer be idle

B.C. Tozer

is the author of "The Four C's of Successful Teaching: Consistency, Contingency, Compassion, and Courage"

Parents, welcome to the summer months.

This is the time of year you learn how important your child's school is to your family. You may be the type of parent who understands and appreciates the job teachers do for you and your children, but now is the time to become a true partner in your child's education.

We teachers have worked very hard over the last nine to 10 months teaching and preparing your children for the next grade and overall success in life. We ask you, the parents, to keep up the momentum we have built. Even if you feel it was very little.

Some parents advocate for a school to be in session all 12 months and to teach your children year-round. However, just because your local school district is closed doesn't mean your child can't continue his or her education.

My question to the parents who want a 12-month school year is:

Do you really want year-round education, or is it that you don't want to worry about your child for two or three months? If the latter is the case, it sounds more as if you are not advocating for better education, but instead are seeking taxpayer-funded babysitting.

For those parents who want the best for their children and who want to not only be a parent to their children but a partner in their education, take advantage of the educational opportunities available.

Don't let the summer months go by without reinforcing the ideas and lessons taught to your child by their teacher. Take day or weekend trips to museums, science centers, and cultural or historical spots. They can be across the country or, if your budget is tight, across town.

We teachers can do only so much. We can't be expected to teach and raise your children for you. We also have our own children to worry about.

So we have done our turn for the last nine to 10 months. Now we need the parents to be our partners, and to take the reins for two or three months so we can focus on our own children and family.

Let me also make one request, as a teacher and a parent. Before you come back to your child's school next fall to complain about how a teacher, a school administrator, or a coach failed your child in any way, look into the mirror and take account of everything you did with your child over the previous three months. Ask yourself, what did you do with the time you had with your child to make him or her better?