Newclare Primary School along with the Readers R Leaders (RRL) invite parents to talk about education
"By engaging with the parents in this dialogue we saying to parents not see the homework as an obstacle or burden, there is a reason for homework and it's a chance where parents have a one-on-one with their child," - Principal Derick Eastwood.
A public meeting with the title ‘We need to talk about education’ will be held on April 4 at the Newclare Primary School for all parents with children in school.
The meeting is called by Newclare Primary School along with the Readers R Leaders (RRL) team. We spoke to the founder of the RRL non-profit organisation, Cyril Turton and the principal of Newclare Primary School, Derick Eastwood to find out more about this initiative.
Turton said: “Education has changed in such a manner where children can no longer be left at school and left for the teachers to deal with, we know that children are battling with reading and children are moving from Grade to Grade still not being able to read, and this is countrywide.
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This national problem needs to be shared with parents so that we can see what can be done about this problem, as a community organisation, this is where I’m coming from and that is why we are having a public awareness meeting with the parents.”
Principal Eastwood added: “We are extending the invitation to all schools in the surrounding areas. I think for too long we have taken the responsibility of the parents in terms of waiting to play their role and at school, we do not have the time to do so, the earlier the children start reading and the earlier the parents encourage reading and reading to their children, the earlier the children will understand what has been read to them.”
“All of our academic problems stem from that issue, children cannot read and write and it doesn’t seem the be getting better. We find that children do not have the love for reading, they have other interests and we find that it reflects and shows that they do not have a work ethic.”
“By engaging with the parents in this dialogue we saying to parents not see the homework as an obstacle or burden, there is a reason for homework and it’s a chance where parents have a one-on-one with their child. We also picked up that the parents are saying that they do not understand the work so how can they help their children and if we have to set up some sort of training with parents we will do so.”
“This initiative is said to be an on-going one and the meeting is not only for parents who have children in primary school, but high school to. Mr Eastwood added: “If you look at the academic curve, you will see that it goes up but the moment the child goes to Grade 8 you see the dip when they leave primary school they in the 80% or 90% bracket but when they get to Grade 8 it drops to 40% and below, we need to find out why this happens.”
The guest speakers will be principal Derick Eastwood, Professor Errol Holland who is a medical doctor, and Vernon Fritz, a youth leader from Together Action Group (TAG). The meeting will be held at Newclare Primary School, in Pollock Avenue, Newclare at 9.30 am on Saturday, April 4.
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