THE HOME FRONT EDUCATION

 

5th October was world teachers day and much was said and celebrated.

It has been a thrilling experience for me, teaching in formal and informal settings.

Teaching is a powerful forte for some of us and especially when it has to do with instructing life transforming and workable principles to impressionable minds (both young and old).

I'm not so excited with the British bookish instruction style we have fully embraced long time ago though.

Well, no one cares if I'm a fan or not. It was meant to be what it is. Hehehehe🤣😃

I will however move away from the teacher and the lost soul of education especially in our clime to chip in some counsel to caregivers and parents.

I've always believed that while someone is called a parent is because, he has qualified for responsibility to bring in a life into this world and by every effort possible, should be responsible for the growth, development and upbringing of that human being.

At least, I haven't believed too weird a truth.

So, while doing so and delegating responsibilities to the society to help in this process, the mindset should always be that, as a parent, if anyone fails me in any way after every effort, I shouldn't be let down totally. I should pick it up and continue. I brought a life to this world and I must be responsible.

This is why I feel a little awkward when people decide deliberately to fulfil the Genesis injunction(multiply and fill the earth) without a pinch of care to the post-processes and resources needed to achieve a worthy multiplication of lives.

It's painful that some people deliberately want to cause problems to the fleeting years of others in a bid to fulfil the scriptures. 

I am one of those who believe that a teacher at school in which ever setting has just a part to the child's total development.

 The parents/caregivers/gurardian has to necessarily compliment it. It is a divine delegation and it should be taken serious as such.

The time has passed where teachers are left with the entire cognitive, psychomotor and affective development of children no matter how much coins you're paying in to a school in any setting.

It's very pitiable how some parents brashly express their cocky confidence in the monies they're paying to big schools and feel they've done the alpha and omega.

We see them come to schools and vend their red hot anger on the slightest issues relating to their children and ward.

I am not exonerating the rash attitude of some education administrators and teachers too. No, I know too well to throw a blind face to that.

So, going forward, parents and guardian must become intentional partners in achieving this all round development in very outstanding informal ways.

Self awareness and discovery is what comes to many children in this part of the world very late.

Parents can stand with schools in such a profound facet of growth as this and see that their children succeed. 

Undoubtedly, the lack of such an aspect of growth in our formal learning curriculum has raised the very many excellent grade laden pupils and students we see around without a distinct approach to so many life's snags.

It is therefore an urgent task for parents and caregivers to begin to effectively partner in these ways as practical as possible.

Consider some of them below-

✔ As early as possible in life, lead your child to the saving arms of Jesus. There's nothing as heavenly to a child whenever he or remembers as this. It is the fulcrum on which all other wheels of his life will rotate.   Insist and cry with God for them. 

Openly lay hands on them and confess how you intend for their rich building in Christ. Do this without comparison with the children of Mr. A. It will always resonate in their conscious and subconscious and God will show you mercy. It is a divine obligation.

✔ Reduce pressure on children for grades and look at their holistic development and approach to problem solving. Some schools are doing this.  It can be qualitatively done at home where all pressures are at no sight.

✔ As early as you can, help a child discover himself while he is schooling. This is not necessarily choosing or jealously selling a career path to him or her for its prosperous outlooks. Be true to it without holding back.

✔ Tell them that, there are several other college degress away from law, medicine, nursing and engineering. Tell them that there are degrees in community health, social media management, network marketing and the likes. Let them have a life of multiple fulfilling options.

✔ Tell them early enough that class mates and course mates exist only in the four corners of the school. Let them know that the world has presented to them humans who they must build valuable and profiting relationships with to attain fulfilment in life. 

✔ If you can, teach them to be confident and emotionally intelligent. The door to several opportunities in life has a key left in these soft skills.

✔ Make them know how they've been born in such a time as this. A wonderful time where knowledge and information is a great tool in advancing. 

Instruct them to profitably engage the internet and never forget to momentarily tell them how THE INTERNET NEVER FORGET and it can become banana pills on their way to success.

That their digital footprints wouldn't be used against them when the dice are rolled and they are called to take a seat at the tables of the royals.

✔ As you help them get formal education in this country, tell them how through funded scholarships, the children of commoners now have a chance at studies abroad where education is given more attention.

✔ Insist with them to have sound financial literacy and look closely at financial freedom early in life. Schools will never teach them. At least for the majority we know. 

Let them know how money comes in primarily by offering value. That their hands may work hard and their minds work smart.

Help them to know that with this technology that has become a tool in the hands of men to deceive and destroy the fortunes of others, the same technology can pay them simply by talking about what they like so much and have passion for. e. g YouTube.

You may have little or nothing to do concerning these action points but maybe you can start with yourself by being open minded to know that these are your responsibilities. Then you can take one step at a time.

This is getting too long.

Summarily, every parent must know that partnering with his or her children/wards teachers at the home front is a powerful partnership for the soul of their holistic development and the for the best interest of the world you've brought them into.

May we all be helped to see deeply into this and take our roles.