The Impact of Parental Influence on Education and Teaching

Note: This piece is written by a former high school teacher with over 14 years of experience. Each year, the author teaches between 60 to 150 students, making a total of around 2000 students over the years. She has maintained a close relationship with the students' parents, often considering them as friends after numerous parent-teacher conferences.

It is fascinating how in 14 years, the only students who truly stand out are those who have behavior or academic traits remarkably different from their parents. Most students who excel in athletics or academics have parents who were exceptional in the same areas. Likewise, well-behaved students often come from families where the parents display exemplary manners and politeness during meetings.

Parental Attitudes and Students' Behavior

Interestingly, students who claim that teachers are always targeting them and are usually in trouble tend to have parents who also perceive teachers as biased against their children. These parents often justify their children's behavior as typical, not realizing the broader implications of the teachers' concerns.

The same applies to students who exhibit antagonistic behavior toward authority figures. These children often come from homes where the parents themselves bear similar traits. Consequently, it is virtually impossible for teachers to significantly alter a student's attitude or behavior if their parents share the same characteristics.

For instance, a teacher might slow down the academic progress of a student, but the child will typically recover once they leave that teacher's influence. Conversely, a teacher with exemplary skills has limited impact on students born into homes with antagonistic attitudes toward authority figures.

Implications for Teachers and Student Development

One of the most profound lessons learned from years of teaching is the importance of being a successful adult oneself. This is a strong indicator of whether a student is likely to succeed. It teaches tolerance, forgiveness, and the value of soft skills such as good manners, honesty, loyalty, and values.

Teachers, often without realizing it, are role models for students. Their patience, sense of humor, and ability to pass on valuable life lessons are just as crucial as imparting academic knowledge. By observing students, teachers gain insights that they might not have otherwise, making them more effective educators.

Reflections on the Journey

Teacher Liezl Cayanan shares her journey: 'It teaches me patience. I never knew I have so much of patience in me. It teaches me to laugh at silly things. It teaches me to be mischievous. It teaches me to forgive my friends. It teaches me to appreciate the importance of not considering academics as the only criteria to consider a child as praiseworthy.'

For Cayanan, the education experience is as much about learning as it is about teaching. The impact of parental influence, especially on student behavior and academic achievement, is a critical aspect of the educational journey. It is through these reflections that teachers gain a deeper understanding of the holistic development of their students.