Tam District Parent Newsletter
April 2019
Time for Reflection
Over the past several weeks, subsequent to the college admittance scandal coming to light, I have had ample opportunity to engage in conversations around privilege, power, the pressure students feel to achieve and what success means to our community. These conversations led me to a book by Dr. Richard Weissbourd called The parents we mean to be: How well intended adults undermine children’s moral and emotional development. Essentially, the book asks adults to reflect on what messages we send to young people through both our actions and our words. It specifically speaks to what he calls the "achievement craze". One not so surprising conclusion the author draws is that we, as adults, often inadvertently, encourage an ends-justifies-the-means, win-at-all-costs culture for our youth.
One passage from the book that had a particular impact on me states: “about 40% of students (surveyed) identified getting into a 'good college' as more important than being a 'good person' and nearly half of students (surveyed) said that it was more important to their parents that they get into a good college than that they be good people” (Weissbourd, p. 62-63).
I think the scandal provides us with an opportunity to truly reflect on what implicit and explicit messages we send to our young adults everyday and whether or not those messages are likely to foster the values we espouse.
Other books that were recommended include:
How to raise an adult -by Juile Lythcott Haimes
What great parents do: 75 simple strategies for raising kids who thrive-by Erica Reischer
teacher appreciation week is May 6th-10th
Take a Moment to Thank a teacher!
upcoming events
Experience US History Through the Native American Perspective
Teen Wellness Film Series: Finding Kind
Parent Education Event
Courageous Conversations About Race
May 7th, 5:00-7:30pmMarin County Office of Education
1111 Las Galinas Ave
San Rafael
There has been a significant increase in teen use of nicotine products through vaping. Please click on the image below for resources on vaping
Tam District
Email: ttaupier@tamdistrict.org
Website: tamdistrict.org
Phone: 1-415-945-1020
Twitter: @Tamsupt