Liv Finne, Esq. @livfinne
Author
An Option for Learning: An Assessment of Student Achievement in Charter Public Schools
Parenting and School Behavior
@livfinne
Dr. Michael Robinson: In what ways is it possible for “good” parents with “excellent” parenting skills have children who exhibit bad behavior in school?
Liv Finne, Esq.: If a school does not set high expectations for good behavior in the classroom, children will misbehave, even the children of parents with excellent parenting skills. The school’s failure to establish and maintain discipline is the school’s failure, not the parents. This is why offering parents access to public charter schools and scholarships to private schools is so important. At public charter, schools and private schools teachers set high expectations for student behavior, and maintain them.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Should “good” parents/parenting be held responsible for the bad behavior of their children at school?
Liv Finne, Esq.: In general, parents should be notified immediately of the bad behavior of their children in school. Parents should support efforts by the teacher to improve student behavior. If the teacher is being unfair to a child, that is a different matter. Parents should then complain to the principal. If parents are not satisfied with the failure of the teacher to treat their child fairly, they should consider enrolling their child in a public charter school. These schools are responsive to parent complaints because they must attract their students and keep them to stay open.
Dr. Michael Robinson: How can or should educators assist parents who are struggling with the behaviors of their children?
Liv Finne, Esq.: Educators can help parents by suggesting disciplinary practices like “time-outs” and the denial of privileges. Parents can use the support of educators when learning how to change a counterproductive disciplinary dynamic with a child.
Dr. Michael Robinson: What should the role of the Parent (s) be regarding student behavior in the classroom?
Liv Finne, Esq.: Parents must understand that it is unfair for any student to disrupt the learning of the other students. Parents should support the efforts of educators to discipline their children. If educators are imposing unfair discipline on a child, then parents should seek out a nearby public charter school, where teachers are trained in fair discipline practices.
Bio
Liv Finne is the Director of the Center for Education at Washington Policy Center. She is the author of An Option for Learning: An Assessment of Student Achievement in Charter Public Schools, which in 2011 reignited the charter school debate in Washington state. She wrote “Why parents will love charter schools,” “Why teachers will love charter schools,” and many other publications during the 2012 public debate on Initiative 1240, the nation’s first charter school initiative. When charter schools came under attack from the state teachers union, she wrote “Analysis: Why the state supreme court ruling against charter schools is wrong.” She is also the author of Washington Policy Center's widely-read education blog, and of Washington Policy Center’s Education Reform Plan: Eight Practical Ways to Improve Public Schools. Liv holds a law degree from Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College. She retired from civil litigation practice to raise two children and work as a business partner for a small business she owns with her husband. Liv is committed to improving public schools by expanding school options for all parents, regardless of their zip code, including charter schools, vouchers, online and other innovations in education.
Liv Finne, Esq.: If a school does not set high expectations for good behavior in the classroom, children will misbehave, even the children of parents with excellent parenting skills. The school’s failure to establish and maintain discipline is the school’s failure, not the parents. This is why offering parents access to public charter schools and scholarships to private schools is so important. At public charter, schools and private schools teachers set high expectations for student behavior, and maintain them.
Dr. Michael Robinson: Should “good” parents/parenting be held responsible for the bad behavior of their children at school?
Liv Finne, Esq.: In general, parents should be notified immediately of the bad behavior of their children in school. Parents should support efforts by the teacher to improve student behavior. If the teacher is being unfair to a child, that is a different matter. Parents should then complain to the principal. If parents are not satisfied with the failure of the teacher to treat their child fairly, they should consider enrolling their child in a public charter school. These schools are responsive to parent complaints because they must attract their students and keep them to stay open.
Dr. Michael Robinson: How can or should educators assist parents who are struggling with the behaviors of their children?
Liv Finne, Esq.: Educators can help parents by suggesting disciplinary practices like “time-outs” and the denial of privileges. Parents can use the support of educators when learning how to change a counterproductive disciplinary dynamic with a child.
Dr. Michael Robinson: What should the role of the Parent (s) be regarding student behavior in the classroom?
Liv Finne, Esq.: Parents must understand that it is unfair for any student to disrupt the learning of the other students. Parents should support the efforts of educators to discipline their children. If educators are imposing unfair discipline on a child, then parents should seek out a nearby public charter school, where teachers are trained in fair discipline practices.
Bio
Liv Finne is the Director of the Center for Education at Washington Policy Center. She is the author of An Option for Learning: An Assessment of Student Achievement in Charter Public Schools, which in 2011 reignited the charter school debate in Washington state. She wrote “Why parents will love charter schools,” “Why teachers will love charter schools,” and many other publications during the 2012 public debate on Initiative 1240, the nation’s first charter school initiative. When charter schools came under attack from the state teachers union, she wrote “Analysis: Why the state supreme court ruling against charter schools is wrong.” She is also the author of Washington Policy Center's widely-read education blog, and of Washington Policy Center’s Education Reform Plan: Eight Practical Ways to Improve Public Schools. Liv holds a law degree from Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College. She retired from civil litigation practice to raise two children and work as a business partner for a small business she owns with her husband. Liv is committed to improving public schools by expanding school options for all parents, regardless of their zip code, including charter schools, vouchers, online and other innovations in education.