In many states, August means a few things to parents – slow news, end of summer, and most of all, lower utility bills because – THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL!!!
From elementary school to college, most kids don’t know that parents quietly act as if they are going to work when the kids are off to school. What really happens is that the cash register at BevMo sings in anticipation and all over the nation, parents are partying like it’s 1999. Or maybe just sleeping…
Unfortunately, there are repercussions to the glorious start of the school year. It is what most parents dread – filling out continuous, monotonous, and repetitious paperwork – which is further exacerbated if you have multiple children in school.
I was recently speaking with some college friends, who are also parents, about the treachery of school forms:
“I abhor signing a form stating that you have read & understand the “handbook” that you have to go online to read. You can check a box if you need a paper copy, but only after you sign & return the form. What?! Streamline your processes! Oh, and all of the forms are due back the next day. ”
- Dr. D. Owens
I have experienced the same. I understand the need of having a paper copy back up on file of parents acknowledgement, student emergency cards and other pertinent information. However, when the school has to input this date into a database anyway, wouldnt it make sense for this to start on digital?
I shouldn’t complain though, as my children’s school district is on the forefront of using mobile & digital. In the past, the school used to send pertinent information and notices home via my 6 year old, and of course, its either lost, made into a paper plane, or crumbled beneath the other stuff in their bag.
This year, the school decided to GO GREEN & GO DIGITAL. Now, most of the notices are texted to me, with the dates able to populate my calendar on my phone. Which, of course, is synced to my desktop calendar. Also, an IVRU calls my phone with information if it needs to be longer than 140 characters and is also transcribed to my email with my google phone number. Some of the documents I need to view are online, and if I would like a paper copy, I can request one electronically where I can pick up at the school, saving postage. And believe it not, my children attend public school, not private school.
Now this is not a knock on public schools or private schools, but what I believe separates the two is that some private (or charter) schools have to take a “start-up” mentality – looking at new and exciting ways to teach, do business and get parents involved. An LA Times article (http://leep.it/oT) noted that the Los Angeles School District lost $10 Million dollars due to to the inefficiency of its inventory tracking system. I wonder how old was the system? Some public schools could use the intelligence of innovation, but within cost range, because, alas, I dont think “talking benches” (http://leep.it/oU) are an efficient way to spend money, at least tax payer’s money…but I digress…
I am not saying that digital and mobile should replace all paper correspondence, however, both allow for flexibility, convenience and cost efficiency. Maybe schools should consider joining the republic of digital….