Parents Are Fundamental in the Educational Process!

Ephesians 4:6 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

School should be a vibrant, profitable, and enjoyable experience for students. Your students’ attitude and performance in school are most directly influenced by you as their parents. Regardless of what the world may say, it does not take a “village” to raise a child—but it does take committed and faithful Christian parents who love, teach, discipline, and invest in their children. Parents who lead their families to worship (three to thrive), go soulwinning, give (faithful stewards), and serve (discipleship, growing, etc.) the Lord together in a healthy Independent Fundamental Baptist Church will find their children have a greater advantage in all they do for God’s glory. Below I have listed twenty ways parents, students, and educators can team up to help students maximize their God-given potential in education.
 
Parents
  • Place your children in a distinctively Christian school, under the authority of an IFB Church.
  • Know the school’s philosophy, purpose, and procedures.
  • Talk with your children often about the importance of learning, and encourage them daily.
  • Meet with teachers before school starts, and build healthy bridges of communication.
  • Attend the fall parent/student orientation or PTF. This time is crucial to your students’ success.
  • Help your students create an effective location at home for daily study.
  • Be sure your students have all their necessary supplies for school.
  • Set your clocks so that students get to school at least ten minutes before class starts each day.
  • Create a family tradition in celebrating the first week of school by eating at your students’ favorite restaurant at the end of the week or enjoying a wholesome family activity together.
  • Help your students stay on track by checking assignments, communicating weekly with teachers, and reading the school’s weekly newsletter.
 
Students
  • Have a daily devotion time—pray for your pastor, principal, teachers, and peers. Be active in your teen group and soulwinning. Participate in family devotions at home.
  • Love to learn, and develop an attitude of excellence in all that you do.
  • Know and follow your school handbook with a gracious spirit.
  • Respect and honor your parents, pastor, principal and teachers—they are there to help you.
  • Sharpen your reading, writing, and math skills over the summer. Be excited about the new year.    
 
Educators
  • Understand your high calling as a Christian educator—it is a sacred trust.
  • Thoroughly prepare and know your subjects.
  • Embrace your school administration’s vision, heart, and passion for Christian education.
  • Write a note, call, or even visit your students several weeks before school. Talk with the parents (building a healthy bridge before difficult situation may arise) and with the student (helping them be excited about school and letting them know you care about them. This will help students be more successful in the classroom from an academic and discipline perspective). 
  • Pray for each student and his family, your leadership, and your staff on a regular basis.
 
When parents lead in these areas and partner with educators in the ways listed above, students will greatly benefit as they become more enabled to achieve their God-given potential.  More importantly, the long-term outcome will be students who truly love God and are enthusiastic about learning. Students who love their families and who are passionate about reaching people for Christ, students who are patriots and honor authority, students who are academically sound and articulate in their speech, students of courage who will take a stand in their generation, and students of biblical conviction who will “earnestly contend for the faith” are students who are truly ready, willing, and able to be servant leaders for Christ in such a time as this.  
 
By Dr. Manuel Salazar