Secretary's Column
By Dr. Rick Melmer
Department of Education
We are not in Vegas anymore
If you’re like
me, you have found some humor in the TV commercials about
Las Vegas. They usually focus on people who have returned
from a trip to Las Vegas and are reluctant to talk about
their experiences in the city. The closing caption is always
the same: “Las Vegas – what happens here stays here.”
As I think about
how our schools have changed over the years, I realize that
we have been accustomed to operating with the same Las Vegas
mentality. It used to be that whatever happened in a school
– stayed in school. If a student was disciplined, it was
between the student and the teacher. If mom and dad got
involved, it was often bad news for the student.
Parents received
reports four times each year – at the end of each nine-week
period – regarding their children’s grades. They also could
plan on meeting with the teacher two times a year, during
parent-teacher conferences. During these times, parents
would receive information – either good or bad – that
reflected their child’s efforts over the past nine weeks.
When the report
cards arrived at home, parents also may have noticed that
attendance issues were a problem. An interrogation of the
child determined when the tardies and absences occurred. In
many cases, these problems were not easily solved because
the issues were clearly in the past.
Our schools today
are dramatically different than they were in the past.
Today, we are transparent. Due to technological advances,
parents have access to many key indicators of academic
success. In most districts, parents can look online for
their children’s attendance records, discipline referrals
and grades in each course or subject. There are few secrets
anymore. Furthermore, if a parent wants to visit with a
teacher, one click of the mouse provides access to a
teacher’s e-mail address for instant communication.
These changes have
helped to change an educational system that was once a
“don’t ask, don’t tell” environment to one of openness and
communication. Ultimately, this creates an informed
partnership between the school and parents.
The teachers and administrators of
South Dakota should be commended for their willingness to
embrace this approach. Rather than being threatened, you
have welcomed the changes and worked hard to inform parents
about the academic progress of their children. We have come
to realize that what happens in school should be shared with
everyone who has an interest in our students.
|
