Al-Madinah

The family plays a major role in a child’s performance at school and also in shaping a child’s personality and morals. On the other hand, the school has an important role to play, especially the teacher, but the role of the family is surely greater.

When children are supported by their families, the positive effects can be clearly seen. For example, I am incapable of understanding why some fathers do not ask their children about school for the entire year but at the end of the year get furious because their children do not get good grades. Some parents do not even bother to ask about their children’s friends and who they spend their time with. They also become angry when they are told that their child was in a fight or in trouble at school.

Nowadays, we find that most families who criticize schools for their children’s results are not actually providing the right environment for their children at home. They do, however, provide a comfortable place in which they are allowed to play their favorite games. As a result, their children spend most of their time playing video games instead of paying attention to their homework. Moreover, we find many families providing for their children all modes of entertainment, such as the Internet and TV channel subscriptions. I do not advocate the banning of entertainment from our children. However, there needs to be some sort of balance between entertainment and real work. In this way, our children will not just play games but will also develop their minds and critical thinking.

It makes me sad to see some parents who have never thought of taking their children to a bookstore or reading them stories. Some parents have never even attended parents meetings. After all this negligence, parents get angry when their children do not meet their expectations.

In my opinion, the family has a major role to play in a child’s performance at school. Before blaming the school, we should look at ourselves as parents and see if we have truly given our children the attention and care they deserve.