Parents must play vital role in education

I AM convinced that none of the teachers’ unions in Ireland have a creative idea on how to improve primary and secondary education in Ireland.

The answer to every “problem”, according to the unions, is more money.

The lowering of education standards in Ireland is taking place and it truly is taking place at a very fast rate, not because of the lack of money being pumped into the system — but rather the decrease in parent expectations and involvement in their child’s education.

Without parental involvement in the life of a child’s education, there is almost nothing a teacher or administrator can do.

The most successful school districts in the United States have the lowest per capita tax expenditure while the highest have the lowest achieving rate.

Why? Parents are heavily involved in their children’s education in the former and little involvement in the latter.

Vincent J Lavery

Dalkey

Co Dublin