Teach English in Taiping Zhen - Changde Shi

What does it mean to educate? The root of the word education is derived from latin word educare, it comes from educere, which is divided into: ex: (outside) and ducere (guiding, driving). To educate would be to guide the person to become his/ her best self, and to develop his/her full potential. Education seeks to nourish the good qualities in men and women and draw out the best in every individual. I believe that nowadays the idea of education has been confused with the idea of acquiring knowledge. Education is a much more wide process, is a lifetime journey and parents play a key role in this process. There are a lot of theories and methods regarding education but I would like to address the “Montessori Method” because It is based on concepts that I fully agree with: is an approach to learning which emphasizes active learning, independence, cooperation, and learning in harmony with each child's unique pace of development. The Montessori Method is an approach to education which emphasizes individuality and independence in learning ; in my opinion these concepts should be a guideline for educators in general, whether they are teachers or parents. There are many members involved with the education process, society, teachers, friends, family... but for me the most important role in education is played by parents. Is at home where a kid learn what’s right and wrong, how to solve problems with others, the beauty of reading a book, to play, to be kind and caring, honest, to be heard and free to express his/her own ideas...but above all, is at home where kids learn to be unconditionally loved and accepted which is essential to build self confidence, and self esteem in a person. Teachers also play a very important role nevertheless they are more involved with teaching new knowledge which is very important for human development, it helps us build opinions and have points of view on things in life. Educational process is a teamwork, and even if parents have a more important role in education, each part of the team is fundamental to achieve the main goal: to draw out the best in every person. Some years ago, around the 70’s decade, parents were no involved with the education of their kids at school, that was exclusively a teacher’s duty, education was rigid and authoritarian, there was no way to question authority nor to express one’s ideas; a completely lack of respect and understanding towards the kid or student. Education was based on fear rather than self conviction. It was like a separated process: manners and values were taught at home and knowledge at school. Now education is different, teacher and parents roles have become complementary, and also kids play an active role in their own education. We have a better understanding of human development and this allows us to create better environment to improve learning process like Maria Montessori suggested: Respecting the kid, creating the right environment to stimulate self education. Unfortunately today, along with this greater participation of parents in their children’s education, we also find a style of parenting where they feel a kid can’t be successful, unless the parent is protecting and preventing every mistake or failure in each step the kid is taking. Everything has to be enrichment, controlled and supervised, therefore kids have no free time, no enough sleep, no time to be bored and creative. It has been changed the concept of worth, and now it is based on grades and credits, something to be owned; happiness is based in personal achievements and parents are forced to make this possible through all this over help, over protection and over direction; nevertheless parents are depriving their kids the chance to built “self-efficacy”, a concept defined by the Psychologist Albert Bandura, as one's belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task; in another words one’s own actions lead to outcomes. Is important to be aware that the true value of the human being is intrinsic to his or her existence. A person is worthy and valuable just for being who he or she is. The role of parents in their children education must be balanced, it is very harmful to be absent but it is harmful as well to be over protective and prevent kids to learn through their own experiences of trials and errors. To conclude, I would like to summarise my personal idea about the role of parents in education: their job is to provide a nourishing environment to strengthen their kids, through responsibilities, setting limits and giving them chores, but at the same time loving them unconditionally regardless grades and scores; their job is to support them in becoming their best and wonderful selfs.