Take parenting out of the classroom
The education of children from both parent and teacher has long been interlinked, but the seemingly increasing shift in balance is concerning.
Recent reports in the national press of teachers branded as 'surrogate parents', being called upon to show pupils how to use a knife and fork, sit at the table, hold simple conversations and even potty train would seem to further indicate the demise of the family unit in the UK.
It simply can't be stressed enough that the above responsibilities, coupled with the overall nurture of our children MUST lie with the parents. The role of the family at home can never be underestimated and coupled with the support of society role models such as teachers, will provide the foundations from which children will best develop.
It's a tough time to be a parent, there's no doubting it. In today's society many couples find they both need to work in order to raise a family, increasing the pressure on both individuals to resume the role of parent when with their children.
Reliance on teachers and other individuals to adopt this role when the parents themselves are unable to is not the solution. Parenting is a drip-feed process and those who choose to take the job need to do so with the understanding that they're in it for the long haul. It's an issue for society at large to address - shifting the balance back to parents, allowing teachers and parents to do, respectively, what they do best.
ã Christine Meadows