Most every student in Idaho (third through 12th grade) will be asked to complete a short online survey this spring. The survey will give students an opportunity to voice how they feel about their education. (Click here to read the details at IdahoEdNews.org)

Some of the questions are:

• How often do your teachers seem excited to be teaching your class?
• How often do you worry about violence at your school?
• How fair or unfair are the rules for the students at this school?

This simple questionnaire could help us better understand our kid’s teachers, classrooms and schools.

I love it. I have spoken with other parents and they love it.

Feedback and test scores both provide us with information. The more information we can get, the more we can understand our kids. The more we understand our kids, the more we can adapt to what they need.

Some kids don’t like their teachers, this is true. They don’t like teachers who are mean. They don’t like teachers who treat them poorly.

They do like teachers who show them respect. They like teachers who try to understand them and their learning needs. 

As a parent, I know that sometimes my kids don’t like my rules and sometimes I’m not very understanding. Being a great parent is hard. Because I know it is difficult, I read books and talk to other parents to discover different parenting strategies. I also ask my kids for feedback. I use all of this information to change and adapt my parenting styles.

At school, our kids are constantly being tested on what they have learned. This survey could help us understand why they are (or are not) learning.

As a parent, I’d like to see students and their families have a voice in their education.