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CHS Parents Unite
By Yolanda Zamora, Staff Writer
On December 6, at 6:00 p.m., a seminar was offered in Chaffey's library. The discussion's focus was how to improve communication within the community.
Suzanne Snyder, a transition counselor of Montclair High and a family counselor for 25 years, was the guest speaker at the meeting. |
Assistant Principal Mrs. Orozco was also present, translating Mrs. Snyder's advice for the Spanish-speaking parents in the audience.
Difficulties arose getting the 1,800 mailings out to Chaffey parents due to changed addresses, so the crowd was not nearly as large as hoped or expected. Therefore, the group moved to a North Hall meeting room and sat in a circle to discuss matters. Initially the meeting started with Mrs. Snyder's questions regarding what the definition of a family. Parents came to conclusion that a family is pain and joy.
Mrs. Snyder told the parents, "Adolescents can't be controlled, they have to make mistakes and suffer consequences." After she explained that all parents must be united and communicate with their children, three parents shared their personal problems regarding their son/daughter and why they came seeking advice.
The first complaint was from a parent whose sophomore son is currently not doing well in school. Most of the parents blamed teachers whom they felt don't pressure students enough, and don't notify parents about their child's difficulty.
However, other parents argued that it's up to the student to take advantage of the opportunities offered in school and life. Ultimately, parents agreed that they themselves should become more involved in school in order to help their teenagers more.
The second discussion was about a student who was practically failing all his classes when he came to Chaffey. His parents didn't know what to do about it, so they sat down with him and asked him what he planned to do with his life. They wanted him to make a decision: go to school and pass his courses or go straight to work. He had to choose one.
They explained that it was a waste of his time going to school if he wasn't getting anything out of it. Well, by the time this student began his junior year, he had changed dramatically. He is now enrolled at Chaffey College, making up all his classes that he had failed and is doing well in school.
The third situation shared was about a student whose mother joined him at school for an entire day, sitting with him through all his classes in an effort to motivate her child to improve. The mother said, "...since that day he has been doing well in school."
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All parents who attended the seminar were "positive, concerned about their teenagers, and wanting to make a difference by coming together with the school and community," observed Mrs. Snyder.
The meeting lasted just over an hour. However, the parents were eager to arrange another meeting regarding testing their teenagers will have to take. Therefore, they scheduled another meeting on January 10 to discuss the SAT 9 and Exit Exam. |
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