Another school year is just around the corner. In St. John the Baptist and St. Charles parishes students return on Aug. 12, while in St. James Parish, the first day of school is Aug. 6.
Now is the time for students to have one last hurrah before buckling down for the school year. Regarding education, everything builds upon what preceded it, so falling behind is never a good idea because it will affect not only that class but all the related classes that follow. Keeping up is much easier than catching up. And with classroom standards growing more and more stringent, staying on top of classwork is more important now than ever.
While much of the weight of the school year is on the shoulders of the students, parents and other community members also share in the responsibility. Parents need to provide children with a home environment conducive to learning. They also must keep tabs on their children’s activities, ensuring that schoolwork is being done and that they are getting enough rest to thrive in the classroom. Community members should also be mindful of setting good examples for local students and should keep an eye out for those suspected of truancy.
And of course, the three respective school districts must each contend with their own problems and not allow them to affect classroom instruction. St. Charles Parish Public Schools must continue to maintain the standards that have made it one of the best districts in the state despite the recent retirement of its longtime leader, Rodney Lafon. The St. James Parish school district is battling a wave of public outcry over what some in the parish have called neglectful treatment of some of its facilities. And St. John Parish has the highest hurdle to leap after Hurricane Isaac left two of its schools flooded and unusable. It must find a way forward for these students and the district as a whole under the leadership of new Superintendent Kevin George.
The demands are high, but the stakes are even higher. Make the most of the upcoming school year.