How do we talk about issues that matter?

 To be able to talk about issues that matter, you have to make sure communication is in high priority. Being able to make an environment that makes the parents or students feel able to feel safe to talk is very important. Parents should feel as if there is a problem, they can reach out to the teacher. Also, during teaching meetings, the parents should address any issues that they might have or their child. Most likely, teachers have no idea what the issue is or that their student is giving them a different version of what is going on. One example of this is when the student tells their parents that they do not understand anything that is going on or that the teacher is not teaching. But in reality, they are not paying attention in class. If the parents come across this issue they should reach out to the teacher to maybe get tutoring, or they might need some extra help. Teachers can also reach out to see if the extra help or tutoring is successful or not, so they can see the student's progress.  If a student feels nervous about talking about any issues, they can come privately during office hours, or they can ask in advance. If they feel nervous, they can tell the teacher because it is important to disclose upfront, the teacher might understand where they are coming from. If the student is unsure of what to say, they can also write down some ideas to get the conversation going. Communication between teachers, parents, and students is very important. 

What is the purpose of schools?

 I believe the purpose of schools is to help students prepare themselves with the skills and abilities to be productive members of society. Some information is not used at all depending on what the student chooses to do for a career, but it sets a schedule for the student. Students can choose what information they want to use for their careers. One student might want to become an art teacher, so they will not use math at all. Marginalized students that come from low-income or may have a disability, they might struggle in school. No one knows what anyone really goes through at home, so as a teacher, you have to remember that and be patient with your students. Schools should create an environment that makes the student feel safe and make sure they have all the necessities they need. They also should have empathy for students that are struggling and make sure they are helping the student with anything they need.