Each morning we send our children off to school. Each morning we remind them of what is expected of them. Each morning we remind ourselves as parents to be forward thinking and not to repeat some of the \u2018mistakes\u2019 that our parents made with us. I am certain that there are many of us who still cringe from the, \u201cLet me hear another complaint from the teacher and I will come up that school and straighten you out right in front the whole class.\u201d<\/p>\n
I am certain that many of us got the, \u201cWhat grade is that, a ninety-six, well where you lost the rest? Don\u2019t bring anything in front of me unless you get one hundred.\u201d I am certain that many of us were asked by our parents, \u201cWas that your best? Don\u2019t you think that you are capable of better? You know that there is still room for improvement? Yes, you got a ninety but have you evaluated where you fell short? Where did you lose the ten percent?\u201d Trust me, I have been there and in those moments we thought our parents were being harsh, mean and impossible. We viewed the response in the negative and at times just wanted to know, \u201cWhy can\u2019t he or she say well done and I am proud.\u201d Then as the years pass and you are raising your own children you can\u2019t help but look back and do a couple of \u2018what ifs or where would I have ended if Ma didn\u2019t push me or if Ma didn\u2019t do such and such?\u2019<\/p>\n
I am certain that there are many of us who heard, \u201cWhy you come telling me you don\u2019t have any friends in school for, is that I send you school for, to go learn how to look friend? Friends going lead you astray! School is a serious business. It is not a social club. I am sending you to school to take in what the teacher have to \u2018pung\u2019 in your head. I am not wasting my money to send you there to look no friend. You will have more than enough time to look friend when you finish your education, so don\u2019t come back in front of me and tell me you don\u2019t have any friend in school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many of us thought that our parents were insensitive, mean, harsh, and in my case I can say down right militant when it came to school. The message was sent that school was no joke, that it was serious business. School was your vehicle to success. Education is key. It was instilled that you were not sent to school to \u2018skylark\u2019 or \u2018form the fool.\u2019 You were sent to school to learn.<\/p>\n
Given our past experiences, many of us made the pledge that when we became parents we would be more understanding. We pledged to not resort to such harsh or caustic methods, the methods that many parents of yester year used. We made the pledge to not be as hard on our own children. I made that pledge. Many of my friends made that pledge. But you know what, as my sons are growing older, I did a total about turn. To my surprise, I find myself employing many of the methods that my own mother used, as I now have a great appreciation for all that she has done. My mother, a former educator fed us a hearty diet of books, active social debates and limited to no television. At that time I thought she was mean because I couldn\u2019t tell you anything about the characters on Saved by the Bell or 90210 which were popular among my peers however at a very young age I could start a diatribe on any social or political issue, Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, and Dame Eugenia to name a few, thus my interest in social, international and political affairs.<\/p>\n
My sons have heard, \u201cYou are not going school to look no friend.\u201d The modern day mother that I am, and given all of the parenting books and materials that I have read, the appropriate response for my sons\u2019 complaints about their friends not playing with them on a given day would be one of comfort and understanding, however the West Indian parent in me thought it pertinent to send the message as my own mother did, that school was not a \u2018social club\u2019 but rather an institution of learning and that was\/is their purpose for being there. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I want them to build lasting friendships, I had friends, many who are still with me today, however my mother made it known that my purpose for being in school was to learn, full stop, period, and as she used to say, \u201cLeg bend! Story end! You are not going there to socialize. School and your books are priority.\u201d<\/p>\n
I can hear all of the proponents of socialization starting an uproar now, and let me clarify that socialization has its place in a child\u2019s development, however ask any West Indian parent if their child\u2019s socialization in school, and let me reiterate in school, was their number one concern. The message, \u201cYou are sent to school to learn, not to win a popularity or congeniality contest, there is more than enough time for that when you were finished with your schooling.\u201d The message, \u201cWhen you come home and you finish your homework, you can outside and socialize.\u201d The message, \u201cYou have brothers, sisters and plenty of cousins what you need more friends for.\u201d The message, \u201cWhen you go to Scouts, play football or netball you can socialize. School is not the place for socialization.\u201d<\/p>\n
I contend that there are many facets to West Indian parenting that can use a bit of sprucing up or improvement. The one area I can\u2019t say that I want to see a change is the West Indian parent\u2019s attitude to school or education. The one aspect of West Indian Parenting that I won\u2019t change in raising my sons is that school is important. They are being sent there to learn. School and one\u2019s education is nothing to play with, it was a serious, serious business, as one of my uncles like to say.<\/p>\n
Respect for one\u2019s teachers, respect for those books which contained knowledge and respect for the institution of learning were surely no laughing matter. The West Indian parent saw it as his or her responsibility to feed and clothe his or her child, send him or her to school, to take in that knowledge and not to \u201cskylark or form de fool.\u201d For the West Indian child the order of the day was church or religion and then it was school. School was important.<\/p>\n
There are times I do wonder what the attitude of the West Indian parent is today, as it relates to school. What I can say however is that the old attitude to school, education and learning should not be thrown by the wayside. As a people we used to put value on education. We used to put value on learning. This should not change. We should not compromise on this. I will end by saying that the West Indian parent can soften his or her approach a bit, the going to school with the belt to the \u2018wash out\u2019 the child in front of the class, I am not so sure of, but instilling that attitude of respect for the institution, respect for teachers, respect for other children\u2019s education \u2018that is not going there to skylark, distract or disrupt the lesson,\u2019 respect for books, and respect for the right and opportunity to be educated should be instilled in each and every West Indian child.<\/p>\n
Valuable Lessons Not Taught in School only by the West Indian Parent<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAll skin teeth ain\u2019t laugh.\u201d Quotes of Encouragement<\/strong> – Developing a Healthy Attitude towards School and Education<\/p>\n \u201cThe beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.\u201d BB King<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we learn becomes a part of who we are.\u201d Unknown<\/p>\n \u201cThirty years from now, it won\u2019t matter what shoes you wore, how your hair looked, or the jeans you bought. What will matter is what you learned and how you used it.\u201d Unknown<\/p>\n \u201cIt always seems impossible, until it is done.\u201d Nelson Mandela<\/p>\n \u201cNothing is impossible. The word itself says, I\u2019m possible.\u201d Audrey Hepburn.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is hard to fail. But it is worse never to have tried to succeed.\u201d Anonymous<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what everyone is doing. It matters what you are doing.\u201d Anonymous<\/p>\n \u201cWrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. Right is right even if no one is doing it.\u201d Anonymous<\/p>\n Recommended Reading for Children \u2013 Caribbean Themed Books\/West Indian Authors Each morning we send our children off to school. Each morning we remind them of what is expected of them. Each morning we remind ourselves as parents to be forward thinking and not to repeat some of the \u2018mistakes\u2019 that our parents made with us. I am certain that there are many of us who […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":557,"featured_media":38111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11,4,147],"tags":[4898],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\u201cRemember common sense, mek before book sense.\u201d
\n\u201cNo every old pan knock you must follow.\u201d
\n\u201cHurry dog eat raw corn.\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t cut your nose to spoil your face.\u201d
\n\u201cYou ain\u2019t fall out no breadfruit tree.\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t hang your hat where you hand can\u2019t reach.\u201d
\n\u201cSee me and come live with me is two different things.\u201d
\n\u201cWho can\u2019t hear must feel.\u201d
\n\u201cOne hand can\u2019t clap.\u201d
\n\u201cRemember, one, one full basket.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nEfa and the Mosquito by Alscess Lewis Brown, Illustrated by Cynthia Hatfiled
\nCaribbean Animals by Dawne Allette, Illustrated by Alan Baker
\nI am Dominica \u2013 Mwen Sen Donmnik by Mara Etienne Manley Artwork by Aaron Hamilton
\nPicture book- Ackee, Breadfruit, Callaloo: An Edible Alphabet by Valerie Bloom, Illustrated by Kim Harley<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"