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(This is a blog written by Dr. David Fincher, President of Greater Atlanta Christian School, concerning the Parent Promise geared toward students in the 6th-12th grade. I have replaced GAC with Arlington to convey its relevance.”) When in office, President Ronald Reagan was fond of quoting an old Russian proverb, ''Trust but verify.'' While Reagan used that phrase in the era of tense Soviet-U.S. relations, it has an important place in supervising our young teens, whether 13 or 18; and ACS parent, you can’t do it alone. We’ve got some incredibly good teens at Arlington Christian, and you may have the absolute best child at ACS. If so, congratulations!! Still, our children need us to watch, insure, and verify. Occasionally you may have an emotion-filled conversation with your daughter in which she cries out, “You don’t trust me!” When that happens, remember Reagan. Let your son know you do indeed trust him, but you don’t trust his age and the pressures and limited experiences that go with being a teen. Speaking of trust, there’s more than teens on the table. How about fellow ACS parents? While you might prefer to personally supervise your child 24/7, you finally recognize your dependence on others. So, can you depend on one another, ACS parents?
· Can you count on “supervision” at someone else’s house matching yours?
· Do you feel at ease calling a fellow ACS parent about an upcoming party at their house, because they know that goes with hosting a teen event?
· Can you depend on a fellow parent to inform you about your child, even if the news is not good? That’s where the ACS Parent to Parent Promise comes in. Soon ACS will publish—yes print—all the names of ACS families who have said in writing, “You can count on me.” Fellow parents of yours have signed the 9-point promise. Now it’s your turn. Connect to the link below. Read it. Sign and mean it. Then send your signed copy to the High School Office. Do you want to see and print the Parent to Parent Promise now? What would be ideal? Absolutely every 6-12th grade ACS parent look themselves and their fellow parents in the eye, and say by this document, “You can count on me without a doubt.” The Promise to guide your children and others is among the most important roles God has given you. Take it seriously. Trust, verify, and join other ACS parents in taking the pledge.
David “I affirm the thoughts and comments from Dr. David Fincher concerning the Parent Promise. I pray that you will consider partnering with other Arlington parents in helping our students negotiate a world that is combative to their spiritual growth. Click on the link to view and print Arlington's Parent Promise. http://www.arlingtonchristian.org/forms/parentpromise.pdf
Chris King, Headmaster Arlington Christian School |