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Home > School Life > Parent Perspectives: Learning From the Students LEARNING FROM THE STUDENTS My husband and I both felt that as our son Ted ended his elementary school career he was not ready to move on to the more traditional public middle school setting, which requires a student to possess quite a high level of organization and independence in order to succeed. In his (almost) three years at New Morning School, Ted has been given the support and direction necessary to develop these skills at a pace that fits his personality and learning style. We have seen him grow into a very capable student who continues to possess a wonderful curiosity about the world. We know that by graduation time Ted will be more than ready to face the new challenges of high school with self-confidence gained through a wonderful middle school program taught by Barb, Audrey and Linda. As for myself, I have learned a great deal by being a parent at NMS. I have been part of the Auction Core for the past two years, getting to know some talented people, learning some new skills, and feeling a sense of accomplishment as everything gets pulled together for a fun and successful auction. Aiding in the classroom has given me many opportunities for my own growth and understanding of life. First of all, I know my son better by having been able to observe him in the classroom. That in itself is an experience that is very difficult to get at public middle school, where volunteer opportunities are plentiful but generally do not include ongoing classroom involvement. Second, I have learned from the teachers. I have always felt that my children's teachers have been a tremendous resource for furthering my parenting skills. By being in the classroom I have been able to observe how they handle certain situations and how they respond to each student as an individual. Finally, I have learned from the students themselves. Middle school students are very willing, if unwitting, teachers of life. If there's a situation or a temperament I haven't learned to deal with, most likely it will present itself in the classroom, and I am given the opportunity for growth. I say this somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but also with love and respect for these students who are just doing their job: teaching all of us to become better human beings. Will I be ready to graduate by June, too? Each Parent Perspective was written by a different New Morning School parent. The names of the parents and children have been changed to protect the confidentiality of parents and children. |
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