Where are the villagers?

I am a teacher, and for the record I don’t mind having a conversation about longer school days or longer school years, for that matter. There may be research in favor of one or both.

However, the conversation cannot stop there. We must take into account the role of the county and the parents.  Who is going to pay for longer school days and school years?  It doesn’t seem, at least in this county, that anyone is willing to pay teachers more, even for the job they are currently doing. A cost-of-living increase, at least, would be a good faith effort by the Culpeper County School Board and the Board of Supervisors to say that, yes, you are valued.

As for parents, what role do they play in all of this? Parents must take a role in their child’s education. Sending them to school longer each day and longer each year won’t be enough. Parents must take an active role in their child’s education.

Communicate and support the teachers and the school. Volunteer your time and ideas to make schools more successful. Schools cannot do it alone, nor were they ever meant to.

So the question now becomes, “Who is willing to step up and help?” I know it’s a cliche; however, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Where are the villagers?