When we think about parenthood, one of the first topics that comes to mind is our children’s education. Choosing the right school can be a very stressful decision for parents, as the two most important institutions in shaping an individual are the family and the school. The family is a child’s first educator, responsible for teaching moral and social values. While schools can also reinforce these values, they have other important responsibilities, such as teaching mathematics and geography. It is not the family’s obligation to teach academic subjects. However, times have changed, and increasingly busy parents now expect schools, especially full-time or extended-day schools, to take on a broader educational role.So whose responsibility is education? For some parents, it belongs to the school, particularly the teachers. For many teachers, it is primarily the family’s responsibility. In the past, when schools operated only half days, mothers often stayed at home and there was no internet, roles were more clearly defined. Today, school and family have complementary roles. A school can never replace the family’s role in educating children. Instead, it should support and expand the values taught at home, preparing students for citizenship and equipping them for the workforce, forming leaders capable of making a difference in an increasingly global and competitive society.The changing role of the school is evident in the fact that a good diploma alone is no longer enough to guarantee professional success. Schools must assume responsibilities beyond teaching academic subjects. Families have changed, and so have schools. Although their roles remain complementary, a strong education must now include social-emotional skills, which were once considered solely the family’s responsibility but are now incorporated into the best curricula around the world.Brazilian International School is a bilingual, extended-day school located in São Paulo. Its Brazilian curriculum includes subjects such as Human Development and Current Affairs. The international curriculum complements this with Global Perspectives, Career Planning, PSHE, Speech, Digital Citizenship, and Current Affairs. This humanistic curriculum, focused on developing the whole child, complements the family’s role in shaping students’ growth.Families are increasingly selective when choosing schools for their children. Many now choose to have only one child to ensure access to the best possible education. Parents in the twenty-first century expect their children to speak other languages, gain volunteer experience to develop social awareness, appreciate different cultures, demonstrate leadership at school, speak confidently in public, debate respectfully, embrace diversity, manage setbacks, and seize opportunities. Schools are expected to prepare students for these challenges by offering activities and knowledge that develop these skills and enable every learner to reach their full potential, including those who face learning difficulties.In the past, learning difficulties were seen as limitations. For the Educational Guidance Department at Brazilian International School, they are opportunities for growth, never barriers. Working in partnership with families, using diverse resources and guided by care and dedication, supports each student’s unique development and success.The partnership between school and family provides students with the support they need to develop fully and reach their maximum potential. According to Brazil’s National Education Guidelines and the Child and Adolescent Statute, schools are required to work closely with families. Parents have the right to understand the school’s educational project and participate in its development. Vygotsky believed that a child’s social environment influences development. For this reason, schools must understand what happens at home, and families must understand what happens at school. Both institutions must work together and support one another.There is no bad school, only the school that best fits each family. Because both family and school play equally important roles in a child’s development, choosing the right school is essential, as it becomes an extension of the home. A school cannot educate a child alone, but if it is not the right fit for the student, it may hinder academic and personal development. School and family must share the same values. Together, they contribute to each child’s future success. Choosing the right school remains one of the greatest challenges parents face in seeking success and fulfillment for their children.
