By MELISSA PEACOCK

The St. John the Baptist School reconfiguration, the renewal of a sales tax to increase teachers’ salaries, new programs to boost LEAP scores – some things parents with children in public schools will never agree on. But differences of opinion did not keep local parents from attending the first St. John the Baptist Parish Parent/Teacher Orientation and Rally at New Wine Christian Fellowship last week.

In a show of support and solidarity, over 400 parents, teachers and school administrators filled the sanctuary at New Wine, vowing to themselves and to each other that the 2002-03 school year will be a new era in St. John education. Starting now, education in St. John will be spelled I-N-V-O-L-V-E-M-E-N-T. At least that is what educators hope.

Refreshing. That is the word that comes to mind when I think of the parent/teacher rally Tuesday. For one moment, all differences were cast aside. For one moment, there was no one person or one policy to finger for the school system’s failures. Not once during the event did I hear anyone say “my child failed because the teacher did not like him/her.” Instead, parents were asked to step to the forefront of their children’s education and, the most encouraging part, many responded. Booths were packed with parents eager to find out what is going on in St. John schools this year. Sign-up sheets for PTO meetings had more names then they have seen in a while.

But no matter how encouraging the renewed enthusiasm, now is not the time for celebration. It is a time to exercise cautious optimism. Many parents have pledged to support local schools this school year. That does not mean that all of the parents will remain faithful to those vows. The rally was motivational. There is no disputing the impact the speakers had on the crowd. But being swept up in the moment can sometimes cause people to make commitments that are never kept. How do we keep parents as motivated three or four months into the school year as they were at the rally? How can we ensure that parents will stay involved in policing their children’s education?

At some point parents have their own roles as educators minimized by the school system. Superintendent Michael Coburn has said himself that the school system has not always been parent-friendly. Parents are reluctant to become involved when they feel intimidated by the system. Other parents with little education are left feeling like they have little to contribute.

By the same token, there is an attitude that has developed among some parents that educators are paid to teach children and are responsible for failures in the school system. What these parents fail to realize is that teachers come in many forms. The most important are those that influence the child’s behavior, study habits and receptivity to learning – the teachers in the home.

Let us not just make our commitment to education a one-night event. Every day, educators need to find ways to involve parents, to keep them informed about what is going on in the classroom and to keep them active in the school system. Every day, parents need to support teachers at home by promoting good study habits, good behavior and respect for teachers.

Domestic educators are also encouraged to take off work a little early and drop by the classroom. Listen to what is being taught. When possible, offer to volunteer time to help out in the classroom.

When we talk about St. John students we are talking about the future. Is that not worth the investment?

MELISSA PEACOCK is a staff reporter for L’Observateur. She may be reached at 652-9545.