A life-skills program for parents?

Let us think that we have the very best education system in all of Canada and that we have the most qualified and experienced teachers that can be found anywhere in the world.

Let us also think that we had the most up-to date facilities and materials available for all types of teaching. One would then think that there would be absolutely no trouble in producing the brightest and most successful students in the nation.

Not necessarily so.

If students do not have the full support and encouragement of their parents and-or guardians, then having the very best of everything becomes almost meaningless. It is like having a healthy, well exercised and trained dog team – but without a smart lead dog, without an owner who knows how to handle dogs, that trains, disciplines and looks after his or her dogs, then they will be of little use. Certainly they will not be able to reach their full potential.

The success of our students rests with good parenting. This means parents and guardians who are well informed, well motivated, but most of all who accept full responsibility in raising and cultivating healthy relationships with their children until such time as they are able to survive on their own.

The question therefore is on how to motivate and maximize our most valuable resource – us. I would like to see developed one overall “life skill” program, but split into different sets — one aimed at parents and others created for students at different levels of comprehension and life development.

I offer the following suggestions as possible guidelines. In no respect am I suggesting that all, or indeed any, be incorporated into such awareness-guidance programs. I present them mainly to stimulate ideas and to convey some of the thoughts behind this presentation.

• Understanding the aims of education – academic and home;
• Provide a brief summary of qualifications and skills required for various jobs found in Nunavut;

• Understanding the need for proper sleep;

• Understanding what is good nutrition;

• Understanding the need for proper exercise;

• The importance of good school attendance;

• Accepting the responsibility of caring for and supporting a child until that child is able to survive in the world on his-her own. Message: Do not have children unless you know you (not your parents or grandparents) can look after them until they grow to maturity;

• Understanding the pressures on young persons and the challenges facing them;

• Knowing school rules and regulations with respect to attendance, discipline, behaviour, grievance procedures, school hours, routines etc.;

• Knowing the responsibilities and roles of the district education authorities;

Learning about coping skills, self- discipline;

• Knowing about the various clubs, organizations, committees, associations etc. related to school operations and activities;

• Understanding, monitoring and managing the use of the vast assortment of electronic media;

• Knowing, controlling and monitoring drugs of all descriptions – their use, abuse and impact. Knowing what to do.

Government departments, other than the Department of Education, could and should become involved in providing the financial and operational support to launch such a program and to continue its success.

For instance, there are messages the Department of Health and Social Services could incorporate into the program concerning proper nutrition, exercise, common home health practices, preventive care, handling stress, coping skills etc.

A program similar to the one described above would have to be designed for delivery over a span of many years in order to have any benefit.

Such a program could tie into many other social and educational programs with similar aims and objectives.

We as parents and guardians need to take back our children and grandchildren. They are our responsibility and not that of the government, except in special cases.

The government is there to provide various services including schooling. The rest is up to us. We are responsible that our children and those trusted to us, receive proper care and instruction, whether it is learning how to survive on the land, knowing how to behave responsibly in society or gaining the necessary academic skills and work ethic needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.

As parents-guardians we are losing our children in another way. For the first time in history young people are turning for instruction, modeling and guidance not to parents-guardians, teachers and other responsible adults but to people who nature never intended to place in a parenting role – their own peers.

Technological advances in communication have facilitated this trend. We need to understand and harness this technology. We need to better understand our children — period, and our role in their life.

We need help and this is where a well-designed information and awareness program becomes extremely useful. In my mind it is also essential. It is a win-win-win proposition for parent-guardians, children and instructors-teachers alike but also society as a whole.

Frank Pearce
Iqaluit

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