Who are to teach the children school work, Teachers or Parents?

All of us wear many different hats, some wear more than others. As we progress in life, we tend to put on more and more hats, each hat represents a role or a function we play. When we wear too many hats or when we take on too many roles, we may not be able to perform equally well in all the different roles, unless we are someone who has the special ability and capability to manage them well.

At times, we are playing overlapping or duplicated roles. This obviously is not a productive use of resources. Situations like this happen not just at work but at home. At work, sometimes, we find that two departments are doing the same function, that is obviously a duplication of work. At home, many parents are taking on the addtional role of teaching their children school work. Let's go back to basics. A teacher's role is to teach and a parent's role is to parent the children. But, apparently, the dividing line has been blurred somehow.

The teachers or rather the schools expect the parents to teach their children at home. But, the parents have their own roles to play, and in many families, both parents have to work. When the parents come home from work, they are expected to teach their children school work, help them with their homework, school projects etc.

Let's deliberate on the following questions. Does it mean that the teachers are not capable enough to teach well enough to make students understand the subjects? May be? Why must the parents be involved in children's academic work? What if the parents are not highly-educated enough to teach? What would happen to the children, may be they would be streamed into the "lousy" classes! What if the parents have to work long hours and on odd-hour rotating shifts? In that case, parents are expected to engage tutors for their children. Is it fair to expect parents to do that? If they don't do it, what choice have they?

Many families are already struggling financially, do you expect them to fork out another few hundred dollars for the tuition which may not be necessary in the first place because the teachers are responsible for teaching the students and making sure they understand the subjects. If tutors could help the students do well, doesn't it mean that the teachers are not doing as good a job as the tutors?

I think the teachers have to reflect on this issue. Rightfully speaking, it is the teachers' responsibilities to teach and make sure the students understand the subjects and do not expect the parents or the tutors to share their responsibilities. Each one of us is entrusted with certain responsibilities and we have to do them well. Furthermore, teachers are paid to teach. Parents pay school fees to send their children to school.

I feel that many stakeholders in education while trying to change, have changed for the worse. Anything that is fundamental and has been working for decades, there is no need to change for the sake of changing. Just add on good stuff that could enhance the existing education and learning systems.