Lawmaker explains why teachers should grade parents

[Guest guest]

Lawmaker explains why teachers should grade parents

State Rep. Kelli Stargel says her bill is not meant to punish parents

Postal, Orlando Sentinel

As a state lawmaker interested in education reform, Kelli Stargel said she's

heard a lot of discussions that come down to, " What about the parent? "

Schools and teachers can do only so much, she said, if parents don't make sure

their children are in class and ready for academic lessons.

That's why she has proposed a bill that would require elementary school teachers

to grade parents on the " quality " of their school involvement. A parent rating —

satisfactory, needs improvement, or unsatisfactory — would appear on the child's

report card.

The proposal is not meant to be punitive or intrusive, she added, but a way to

prod parents to make their child's education a top priority.

" I think there's a certain segment of parents who would just step it up a

notch, " Stargel said. " It's not intended to be big government coming down on

parents. It's just intended to hold parents accountable. "

Stargel, a mother of five, is chairman of one of the Florida House's education

subcommittees.

The Polk County Republican expects her bill, HB 255, will get lots of discussion

and debate in the Florida Legislature this spring, adding, " I had to start the

conversation. "

Already, some have said they fear her proposal would make parent-teacher

relations more tense and add to teachers' workload.

" I think it's very important that the parent be involved in the child's

education. But I think the teacher's main focus should be in the classroom, "

said Delise Sangmeister, president of the PTA at NorthLake Park Community School

in Orlando.

Sangmeister wondered whether such a law would be effective in changing parent

behavior, and whether busy teachers would really be in a position to judge

parents.

Stargel's bill focuses on four broad categories: Parents' response to requests

for school meetings or communication, their children's completion of homework

and preparation for tests, their children's absentee and tardy rates and their

children's " physical preparation for school, " including a good night's sleep and

appropriate meals.

She said these are the " basics " of parental involvement and mostly involve

information schools already keep, such as attendance records and homework logs.

It's not meant to put more work on teachers, she added.

Parents could appeal their grade but nothing more would happen if a poor

involvement rating remained on their child's report card — except that, perhaps,

some parents would work harder on those areas, she said.

Years ago, when her husband was in law school, Stargel was working full time and

had two young children at home. At the time, Stargel said, she " wasn't on target

with the kids " as often as she should have been.

She might have earned a " needs improvement. "