Another school year begins

At the end of summer teachers, parents and students begin prepping for another school year. Teachers get their classrooms ready and prepare lesson plans for the upcoming term. Parents and children go back to school shopping for supplies and clothes.

This is a very exciting season. It is the yearly reminder of the importance of education and its role in our continuing prosperity. This past legislative session will be remembered for our commitment to improving education and supporting our children. Things like all-day kindergarten and emphasizing career and college readiness stand out as a few big accomplishments.

The start of school truly reminds us of how important teachers, parents and students are to the education system. We have so many great teachers in Minnesota who work tirelessly to educate our kids. This is one of, if not the most, important jobs in the world. It is imperative we support our teachers and show them our appreciation for all that they do. So let me say, thank you to all of the teachers out there.

Education starts at home, and parents play a critical role. When parents stress the importance of education, children are better prepared for their futures. They do better in school. A report from the Southwest Education Development Laboratory highlights this fact. The report found that, regardless of family income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to:

·         Earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs

·         Be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits

·         Attend school regularly

·         Have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school

·         Graduate and go on to postsecondary education

Of course, no conversation about education would be complete without discussing the students. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The secret in education lies in respecting the student.” Teachers, parents and legislators can open doors and help students succeed, but it is necessary for students to take an active role in their own education. They need to be engaged and interested in what is taking place in the classroom. They also need to be in school, which is why I was so proud to have authored the bill to raise the compulsory age in school to 17.

Education truly is a partnership. It is teachers, parents, students, principals, legislators, administrators and a host of other people doing their part to ensure our children have a bright future. No one entity can do it alone. We need to work together to achieve success.

As always, please contact me with questions or suggestions regarding any issue. I encourage you to visit me at the Capitol, or let me know if you’d like me to stop by your home or apartment.  Also, please tune in to my local cable TV show, “Your Capitol: What’s Up?,” which appears on public access channels 15 and 16. I can be reached by email at sen.chuck.wiger@senate.mn and by phone at 651-296-6820.