Fathers Help Your Child in School

[williamjackson]

Fathers Help Your Child in School

The IDEAL Dads Back to School Conference success was seen in its first conference
in Jacksonville, Florida. Inviting dads to the free conference and providing breakfast, free
materials in books and other school materials for dads to provide for their children. The conference focused on
empowering dads with information and resources.

The discussions were geared to helping dads see that they are important in the educational system and schools can
gain more success if they (schools) embraced and encouraged dads to be part of the educational process.
Fathers taking their child to school on the very first day and continuing to participate throughout the school year is important,
that was shared by William Jackson a 25 year educator in elementary and higher education. The information shared helped dads to
understand their importance of fathering in their children's lives.

Fathers should be encouraging growth of their children and stay actively involved. Fathers can create a paradigm shift in the
educational atmosphere that can lead to higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, decrease pregnancies and decrease
school violence. One of the important responsibilities fathers are tasked with; the education of their children.
Education is not just in the educational systems of our classrooms, but the education of life and social skills.



The vison of Lynette Kohn IDEAL DADS!
Back to School Conference Celebrating Dads was planned just for dads, granddads, stepdads,
and men to help their children.

"To educate a man (woman) in mind and not in morals is to educate
a menace to society." Theodore Roosevelt

Fatherhood is a responsibility of unending change and dedication, the initial thought is that fathers have to be
hard and emotionless; this is false as to being a father. Why would you be hard to a human being that as a father
you have to nurture, teach, guide, mentor, show compassion, strength, teach respect and teach how to love themselves,
their culture and others. Fathering is a short time and changes with the fast approaching years. Children mature and pull
away from the closeness and security of homes. The evolution of the family shows that there are more fathers that are step-fathers,
surrogate fathers, adopted fathers, and "oops" fathers. Even "oops" fathers should be given the chance to be
actively involved and contribute.

The recent IDEAL DADS – Back to School Conference showed fathers need to be involved, active and present in schools. Fathers do have
rights and are / can be held accountable for their children's actions.
The conference workshops were:
7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Dr. Walter Johnson,
Financial Management by Iris Jones of BBandT Bank
Communication Strategies by Earl Kitchings
Social Media Safety and School Engagement by William Jackson



This school year more than ever because of the increased challenged schools fathers are going to have to;
Man-Up, Step-Up, Own-Up, and Fess-Up to their responsibilities and participate more in schools.
It is not enough to attend athletic events, provide pep talks, promise material rewards or even setting almost unachievable
goals. Fathers must be visible and involved in schools to stop growing academic failures and work to stop increasing school
violence and even the School to Prison Pipeline that is incarcerating thousands of youth both boys and girls.
Being a father includes making decisions not just for themselves, for the child or children in their lives, sacrificing for their
families and strengthening their communities.

Children are born into the world that requires fathers to review their accountability and responsibly. Child rearing
is never an easy thing in life, fathers must understand that the world is changing and their children need them to be active
and involved. Even President Obama understands his importance in the lives of his daughters. The responsibilities of this
nation and the world maybe on his shoulders at times, but his children are on his mind and his heart. His decisions affect
their lives as well.



Ozzie Nelson, "Ozzie & Harriet"
"You can't let yourself get flustered. The idea is keep your wits about you at all times. Keep your mind on what you're
doing." The tragedy of Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Renisha McBride and others is drawing national attention.
Fathers need to have discussions, conversations and honest engagement to teach their sons and daughters how to survive
in a world that seems not to value their lives. It can be seen in some cases in schools which are representative of society,
fathers cannot be selfish in their actions and choices because they are models to their children and children see their fathers
as idols and role models. A father must provide wisdom and guidance, by sharing how important education is, that there is value in learning,
reading is vital to survival.

Fathers need to show up at schools and speak with teachers, administrators, coaches and tutors to make sure their child
or children are learning and not being a disruption to the learning in classrooms or on school campuses. Fathers must
be diligent and consistent in their nurturing and consider their actions when speaking. Children will follow in deeds
and actions so fathers cannot say one thing and do something else. The Bible states in Hosea 4:6 (NKJ), "My people are
destroyed from lack of knowledge." This can be extended to children unsupported, unguided, and lead astray.



Fathers must show good judgment openly to their children and in their communities.It is up to fathers to show that life does
not have to be violent, thuggish, angry, hard or lonely. A true man does not make dozens of babies by multiple women and then
leave them in poverty. Real fathers do not let entertainment icons, rappers, musicians, and television raise their children and set morals
and values. As Charles Barkley (professional basketball athlete) once said that parents should be their children's first role models not
television.
How different would our society be if fathers were as enthusiastic with children as the enthusiasm for sports
or other recreational outlets?

Cliff Huxtable, "The Cosby Show"
"Now I'm telling you, you are going to try as hard as you can. And you're going to do it because I said so.
I am your father. I brought you into this world, and I'll take you out!"

Events like the IDEAL DADS Conference should help motivate dads to be the best they can be for their
children. The First Day of school should be the start, a standard to multiple days throughout the school year
of visits, mentoring and support.Proverbs 22:6 (NKJ), "Train a child in the way they should go, and when they
are old they will not turn from it." The unfortunate reality is too many children are being lead into the juvenile justice
system where they lose their identities and treated like human capital with more value imprisoned and less on their education.

This is a defining moment in our society from education to incarceration, from legislation to enforcement and
now from murder to justice for this nation. There are two institutions that desire children, Educational and Correctional,
it will take the hard work of all fathers to make sure their children choose wisely, but fathers must be activity involved to help their
children make the right decision.



Malcolm X stated, "Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare
for it today." Our children's lives are balanced on their parent's involvement, love, care and dedication. As millions of youth
head back to school their parents should be there beside them, supporting them and cheering them on to academic and societal
success. If parents don't want to take care of their children the prisons and graveyards of this nation have plenty of room
for them.

William Jackson, M.Ed.
Edward Waters College
Speaker / Presenter / Educator / Blogger

IDEAL DADS! Back to School Conference
Celebrating Dads in Jacksonville, Florida
Next Event for IDEAL Dads will be on
Saturday, November 15th 2014
9am to 12pm
Hilton Garden Inn – 1201 Kings Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32207



For more information contact:
Lynette Kohn – idealdads@gmail.com – CEO, Family for Life
William Jackson – williamderekjackson@gmail.com – CVO,
My Quest To Teach

IDEAL DADS
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ideal-dad-back-to-school-conference-tickets-12589442361