OCR Text |
Show Schoolers, and U Home j Dr. Daryl J. McCarty Executive Secretary Utah Education Association Parents are teachers too Two small boys watched in fascination as their father engaged in mortal combat that day in the hotel lobby. Dad was operating an electronic game that involved "shooting" oncoming on-coming "space invaders." Dad was watching the whirring lights on the machine. His sons were watching wat-ching Dad. If Dad flipped the buttons in a certain way, so did the boys. Dad kneeled to play the machine. The boys tried to kneel, but their legs were too short. If Dad's body twisted as he went about the work of smashing the "enemy," his sons did the same. Sometimes, Dad didn't do too well. The electornic "missiles" he launched missed their targets. His language wasn't all that nice at such times. He may not have realized it, but his kids were listening. The moral of the story is pretty plain: Parents are teachers, too, and they should always be aware that their children learn from many things they do or say for good or ill. Those two young boys are in a critical learning stage. It's been said that a high percentage of a person's character traits are formed before he or she enters school. That should give parents some idea of the responsibility they have in teaching their children well. Too many times, parents are oblivious to the presence of their children. At such a time, Dad may blow his cork about something that happened hap-pened at the office today. Watching and listening, little Don learns how to display his anger. Mom may do less than her best in preparing for night class at community school. Watching and listening, little Don learns that he can get away with doing less than his best. Knowing the children are watching can help us to be better people. |