Dr. Regisford: Neglect by migrant parents a hindrance for children

Reverend Dr Sylvanus Regisford has said that parental neglect by parents who migrate is one of the main hindrances to learning in children.{{more}}

Archdeacon Regisford, who is the Rector of St. Paul’s and St. John’s Anglican churches, was part of a panel discussion organized by the Calliaqua Anglican School PTA held on Monday March 17th 2008 on the topic “The Roles of Parents in Our Children’s Education”.

The priest also highlighted the making of excuses for not completing homework, lack of self-discipline, destructive criticism and lack of encouragement as contributing factors. “Parents need to be the first role model in teaching our children,” he said.

Other panelists included Pastors King and Smith, Senior Education Officer Sylvia Sayers and Principal of the school Yvette Bowens. Pastor King spoke on the distractions that make the role of parents so much harder in relation to their involvement of the children’s education. He touched on areas such as lack of interests by the parents, the various media electronic instruments that are mainly used as substitutes for the quality time and attentions needed by the children from their parents.

Sayers suggested that parents or guardians get to know their children’s teachers and what is going on at the school, and they should be a good example to their children and show love and avoid ridiculing the school in the presence of their child.

Bowens highlighted some programs that the Calliaqua Anglican School already has on stream such as: welcoming parents to be a part of the morning devotions, training programs like the PIL (Parents in Literacy) and the Home Makers Program.

Two other programs which are in the pipeline are: a family and friends night and evening classes in preparation for the CXC Examinations. The principal also invited the churches in the community to get involved by preaching excellence in both parents and children, offering prizes and other tangible rewards to our well-behaved and successful pupils, offering a counselor where possible, starting a homework club, opening libraries and resources to our students and also becoming mentors to the children.