The impact of parental opinions on a child is deep and long-lasting. Because parents are the primary caregivers, children are exposed to their values and beliefs long before those of anyone else. Children adopt their parents’ values and beliefs, seeing their parents as authority figures. Specifically, parents have a tremendous influence on a child’s perception of education. Since formal education plays such a large part in a child’s life, ensuring that a child approaches his or her educational experience in a positive and realistic manner is a crucial element of parenting.

If a parent or sibling of a child had difficulty in school, it is probable that their attitudes about teachers and school in general are negative. A negative attitude about education creates negative performance in the classroom and beyond. A child with a negative attitude about education will have difficulty completing not only school-related tasks and responsibilities, but also job-related tasks and responsibilities. Responsibility is often lifted from the child’s shoulders, and blame is placed on the teacher or employer.

Frequent, harsh, and biased criticism of, for example, schoolwork, discipline (as long as the child’s safety is not threatened), teacher salaries, and “summers off,” send a direct message to a child regarding respect and responsibility. A child who hears parents criticize his or her teacher affects the child’s ability to respect authority figures. The child feels that he or she does not need to follow the teacher’s directions, insisting on completing a task in his or her own way, or refusing to complete the task at all. This disrespect transfers to the child’s eventual employment. Respecting an employer and following directions are essential parts of acquiring and retaining a job.

Keep an open mind when discussing teacher-related issues with your child. When a situation arises in which the teacher makes an unpopular decision, regarding, for example, an incomplete homework assignment or inappropriate student behavior, the child relates the incident as he or she sees it. The teacher also has an account of this situation, which may not agree with the child’s description. A child’s description of the situation may reflect avoidance of the consequences (reprimand or punishment) of his or her actions. Believing the child’s account without any conversation with the teacher, followed by open criticism of the teacher to the child, results in responsibility being lifted from the child, and blame placed on the teacher.

Parental attitudes affect the child. If the child hears prolonged unfounded criticism of education by parents, he or she assumes the same belief about education. Negative attitudes impact the child even after formal education is finished. As difficult as it may be at times to stay positive about education, remaining so enhances your child’s educational experience. Your opinion matters.