Chapter 3: Families and Communities

Resolved: All students can achieve at high levels regardless of the structure of their families.

Every student is given an equal opportunity to excel in the classroom. Teachers have special skills to work with students regardless of their race, religion, family, or home. A majority of students come from families of two married parents (68%), while other students come from families of one mother (23%), one father (5%), or neither, where the child is raised by a different guardian (4%). Some students in tradition households (two married parents) still experience hardships such as abuse, fighting, or neglectful parents. Students that live in the non traditional household (32% from above) may be in a better or worse situation than those in the traditional. Children with one mom, one dad, or a different guardian may be put into a bad school experience because they don't have anyone to help or drive them at home. In the household I grew up in my mother would always "nag" me to do my very best at all times and get my work done on time. In other structured families, children might not experience that person in their life that will drive them or make them a better student. Nevertheless, students who are in traditional, nontraditional, or poor family structures still receive the same opportunities in the classroom. It is the teachers job to work with the students and do everything it takes to help them succeed.