Teachers, why not?

Thinking about the topics of debate continued as I left class today. I do understand the idea that schools have little control over what happens outside of school and yes this may be true. Teachers spend an incredible amount of time with children. While teachers may become teachers to teach specific curriculum; I would have to say that they are child care providers during that time. As teachers observe children who may have learning disabilities, they also are available for the reliable observances of peer relations. When do we turn the other way from escalating problems just because it’s three o’clock and schools out? I can remember a time in middle school when there was a battle arising between two peer groups, this escalated into a decision to meet after school. At the end of the school day one Friday, alliances were emerged and pretty soon half of the school kids where marching down to a common park to “brawl”. Being that is was after three o’clock the school administration did not have to legally do anything about this. However, one administers moral judgment entered the equation. The Vice Principal single handily drove down to the meeting grounds because he overheard talk (imagine that) in the hallways about what was going to take place and then was able to break up the fight. This may be a rare occasion that someone was able to stop it became physical, but what if every faculty member tried a little harder to prevent some of the insensible measures our youth get involved in? Maybe it is so that it takes a village to raise a child?
I am not taking any of the responsibility off of the parents because they play an obvious huge roll and can control in some since what their children are up to. I would hope that most teachers get into the field that they do because they want to work with the youth and maybe be that influential teacher that we all remember having when we were growing up. The influential teacher doesn’t have to be the one that taught you how to finally master that algebra equation but maybe the one that did something about the minor bullying that started, that teacher could potentially save a life. One way that both parent and teachers can do to hopefully prevent this tragic headline news from happening is opening up the lines of communication. One or even two parent teacher conference a year does not seem justifiable to the amount of time children spend in school. Unfortunately, some parents do not even participate in the conferences that are offered due to work and overall demands of life. As we all are aware of technology now available, we could use this to stay more connect with our children’s teachers such as emails regularly. Teachers may not have to do anything at all afterschool hours but if you could, why not?