| Being a parent of a school aged child has never been | | | | This class helps parents organize their finances and |
| an easy task. And with all the choices facing young | | | | deal head-on with issues like credit cards. It also |
| people these days, the job is getting even harder. But | | | | provides a forum for parents to discuss all of the |
| a new program run by Miami Schools is trying to | | | | expenses associated with sending a child or children to |
| alleviate some of the burden on parents with a number | | | | Miami Schools. And there are a lot. |
| of programs designed to keep parents informed on | | | | One popular class is child discipline. Meeting with other |
| some of the most important issues facing young | | | | parents is a great way to just chat about strategies |
| people in the Miami Schools. | | | | that have worked (and some that haven't) when |
| Parent Academy in Miami Schools | | | | dealing with children. And we all know what an issue |
| The Miami-Dade Public County School system runs a | | | | school discipline has been in Miami Schools in the last |
| year-round "Academy" to inform and assist the | | | | few years. Being able to deal with issues at home |
| parents of students in Miami Schools and other | | | | may take some of the burden off the already |
| schools in the county. There is no formal campus. | | | | over-worked teachers. |
| Instead classes and courses are held in businesses, | | | | But the Parent Academy of Miami Schools is not all |
| libraries, on-line, and in some public Miami Schools. | | | | work and no play. In fact they just hosted a big family |
| Classes are informal in nature, but don't let that fool | | | | fun day. There was story-telling and face-painting, a lot |
| you. Parents learn quite a bit while still having a lot of | | | | of water games, and plenty of great food. Similar |
| fun. And best of all, Miami Dade Public Schools doesn't | | | | activities are hosted all the time on a smaller scale. If |
| charge a fee of any kind. | | | | you check the calendar found on the Miami Schools |
| The classes hosted by the Academy of Miami | | | | web site, you will find a few story days hosted by |
| Schools vary greatly. For instance, many parents have | | | | Barnes and Noble coming up. And it's just about time |
| taken a financial management course offered in 2007. | | | | for the Back to School Resource Fair. |