Look at interests, not just results

Instead of focusing on academic results alone, it is more important to ensure that your child maintains his passion for learning and becomes a lifelong learner. As a parent, you could pay more attention to your child's learning style, inspire his curiosity and develop his interests.

When your child encounters difficulties in learning or receives disappointing results, the solution is not to reprimand him or engage a tuition teacher. Instead, seek to better understand your child and talk to his teachers to find out how he is coping in class. By working together with the teachers, you will be able to help your child tackle these challenges more effectively.

Learn about your child's school day

Ask your child about his or her school day to understand what he is facing in class.

When you come home from work each day, ask your child if anything interesting had happened in school.

"How is he getting along with his classmates and teachers?" "What did he learn in school and what questions did he pose to his teachers?" "Is there anything he doesn't understand?" By asking these questions instead of reprimanding him for not getting good grades, your child will understand that you care and support his learning journey.

Listen to the teachers too

The learning process is not always plain-sailing. When a problem occurs, listen to what your child has to say, but also take the initiative to talk to his teachers to gain a more thorough understanding of what he is facing. Parents can communicate with schools through many channels: by email, student handbooks, text messages or simply picking up the phone. Teachers are happy to work together with parents in helping their children learn and grow.

Be an active partner in school

The time when parents could simply delegate their child's education matters to the school has passed. Nowadays, parents would benefit from learning about the programmes and values of their child's school, as well as participating in school activities where there are opportunities for parental involvement. This will help you as parents to gain a better understanding of how the school functions and its culture, and pave the way for more fruitful collaboration.

Always feel free to provide your feedback to schools, and even volunteer your services where there is a need for it. A close partnership between schools and parents will lead to further improvements, benefiting the children.

Maintaining harmony between school and home

Children spend much of their time at home and parents remain the people closest to them. Life at home has changed in recent years, as parents are now more highly educated and many families have domestic helpers to take care of household chores. Sometimes what goes on at home may contradict the values taught to children at school.

Learning the right values takes place at home as well as in school.

For instance, a child might be told in school to pick up after himself, while a parent might tell a child: "Your teacher is wrong, don't listen to him/her; just leave your toys there, the maid will tidy the place up." This will cause confusion in your child or leave him at a loss of what to do. Worse, the child could lose respect for his teachers and be unwilling to pay close attention to them in class.

This is why you should try to meet and discuss any areas of disagreement with your child's teacher in private instead of criticising the teacher in front of your child. You would not want your child to lose respect for his teacher.

As part of the school community, all children should maintain good discipline and do their best to serve the community at large. These are very important values for our children to imbibe while they are growing up. Therefore, we hope parents could work hand-in-hand with schools to instil these civic values and a positive attitude in their children.

Learn about your child's progress

Speak to your child's teachers to understand his or her learning progress.

Schools organise meet-the-parents sessions each year and these present a good opportunity for teachers to meet one-on-one with parents. Parents are encouraged to attend these sessions to understand their children's learning progress and performance in school. Apart from attending such sessions, parents should pay close attention to their child's personal and academic development. If you sense something amiss, you should contact the teachers immediately to provide your child with timely and suitable support.

It is an inevitable trend that schools face growing expectations from both parents and society. Teachers must continue to work hard and learn to provide the best education for our children. At the same time, we hope parents can come forth to be partners in education, helping schools improve the learning and growing up experience of pupils through careful attention, cooperation and support.

Contributed by:
Mr Ngoh Choon Ho
Principal
Hong Wen School

教育伙伴：父母的职责

The school is a place where a child can develop a passion for learning and other interests.

孩子的教育，不能单靠学校，不能只依赖老师，家庭教育尤其重要，父母在孩子的整个教育过程中所扮演的角色，是没有人能取代的。

－　关注孩子的学习兴趣，不要只看学业成绩

在孩子的整个学习过程中，保有学习热忱，终身热爱学习，是比眼前的成绩更为重要的。家长的责任就是要多关心孩子的学习状况，引导孩子对事物的好奇心，提高孩子学习的兴趣。当孩子在学习上出现问题，成绩不理想时，不能一味靠打骂，也不要马上找补习老师。要多了解孩子，多与老师沟通，了解孩子在学校的情况，与老师配合，对症下药，才能收实际之效。

－　关心孩子今天在学校学到了什么，而不是分数

下班回来，看到孩子，问一问孩子，今天学校发生了什么有趣的事？在学校与同学、老师相处得如何？今天在学校学了些什么？向老师发问了什么问题？有什么不明白的地方吗？这就是给孩子在学习上的关怀与支持，而不是一味的责问为什么没得１００分。

－　多与学校老师沟通，不是兴师问罪

Education today is a holistic process that develops a child's body, mind and character.

孩子在学习过程中，肯定不是一帆风顺的。遇到问题时，不要单听孩子的一面之词，主动与老师沟通，多加了解。现在学校在与家长沟通方面，都设有许多管道：电邮、学生手册、简讯、电话等，相信老师们都很愿意与家长配合，共同协助孩子成长。如果认为老师有处理不妥当的地方，多与老师商讨，最后再与校长联系，共同找出解决问题的最佳办法。

－　多参与学校的活动，成为学校的教育伙伴

把孩子推进校门，一切教育的问题交给学校负责的时代已过去了。现代的家长必须多了解学校的课程与文化，多参与学校的活动，积极参与学校主办的家长会活动。只有积极地参与，家长才能了解学校的运作，多了解学校的文化，才能更好地与学校配合。多给学校提供意见，有可能的话，也可以根据学校的需要，给于必要的帮助。只有在家长于校方紧密合作之下，学校才能办得更好，受惠的还是我们的孩子。

－　家庭教育与学校教育的配合

It pays to get to know the culture, strengths and values of your child's school.

跟孩子最亲的，是家长。孩子花最多时间的地方，还是家里。现在的家长，知识水平提升了，好多家长的学识也比老师来得高。许多家庭的一切也都有女佣代劳。这有时会造成家庭与学校所灌输给孩子的价值观有冲突，比如，如果孩子在家所听到的是：你的老师错了，不要听老师的；把玩具丢在那，不必收拾了，待会女佣会打理。这样必然会造成孩子的迷惑，无所适从。人都会犯错，如果是老师错了，悄悄地提醒老师，让老师向学生更正。不要在孩子面前批评老师的不是，以免孩子不尊重老师。因为如果孩子不尊重老师，他肯定不愿意专心听课，无法虚心学习。在学校里，孩子过的是团体生活，他必须遵守团体纪律。没有专人为个人服务，而是个人得为团体服务。这一切对孩子的成长是很重要的，所以家长们必须密切地与学校配合，让孩子了解这一切。

－　多了解孩子在学校的学习进展与行为

学校每年都举行见家长日，这是一个老师单独会见个别家长的机会，家长务必出席，亲自了解孩子的学习进展以及孩子在学校里的行为表现。除了见家长日，父母平时要多关心孩子，如果发现有什么不对的地方，应该马上与学校的老师沟通，给予孩子最及时的扶持。

小结

时代不断地在进步，家长与社会对学校的要求也越来越高，这是无可厚非。教师都要不断地努力，不断地学习，提高教学质量，才能为孩子提供一个最佳的教育。学校的资源毕竟有限，教育一个孩子，靠的是整个社会。家长是学校教育的最亲密伙伴，有了家长的关心、配合与支持，我们才能把教育办得更好。