I recently watched an old John Stossel special about public education. The special was called "Stupidity in America" and its focus was public education. It's purpose was to convince Americans that we are not getting a good enough education and government regulations, unions, and a lack of competition within the system is to blame.
While John Stossel had some valid points, I believe he left out one very important element to America's apparent stupidity: The home.
Why is it that Americans believe that we can sit back and relax while public schools take complete care of our children? Since when do parents and families have no responsibility for the education of our children? I am shocked when I hear someone complaining that their child can't read because the teacher just couldn't teach. If your child can't read why don't you take the time to teach him or her instead of wasting countless hours complaining to the school board? If Americans aren't as intelligent as they once were it is largely due to the fact that our homes are disintegrating. More and more people have decided that marriages are a passive state of mind that can be quickly discarded without another thought for children or the possibility of renewing love. More and more couples have decided that day care and nannies can raise their children. Career and self renewal of course are far more important than our children. Today's careers have become more important than Tomorrow's security.
Public schools can be improved. There is no doubting it. But if the public schools are "failing" your children it is your responsibility to make up where the public schools have failed.
Your children love you, they need you, they crave your time and talents; so teach them, teach them all you know. Teach your children how to read and write, teach your children to value education, teach your children how to love each other, how to deal with confrontation. If we teach our children, I guarantee, our public schooling will improve and our nation will have a brighter and smarter future.
Parents have responsibility for their children's education
By ambmae - Posted on March 12th, 2009
Tagged: Family and Parenting
• public education
Parents often have so much faith in the system that they don't bother to do the things they need to do. Parents have a huge role in their child's academic success from the moment the child is born! The parent is the child's first teacher, which means the foundation for early literacy, language, and thinking skills is laid in the home.
Parents need to be talking to their children, explaining what things are and why things are, even when their children seem too young to understand. They need to read to babies--even to newborns! Studies show strong correlations between the number of words to which a child is exposed daily and their academic success.
Sadly, there is a clear breakdown along economic lines, with children in lower earning households being exposed to vastly fewer words per day. I don't know if any of the studies speculate about the reasons for this, but I would imagine it .has to do with a combination of odd work schedules and lower levels of education. That is not a judgement. I'm sure there are exceptions; my mom is one of them. She raised us in poverty, worked odd hours, went to school, and all three of us entered school reading, questioning, and ready to learn.
All you have to do is talk and read to your kids, people! Scaffold their learning by explaining things to them, even when they don't have any questions. Doing so teaches them to question, which is one of the most important academic skills! And it is learned well before any teacher gets a hold of them.
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
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Studies show strong correlations between the number of words to which a child is exposed daily and their academic success.
One of my earliest memories is sitting in front of the refrigerator and playing with colorful magnetic letters, my mother reaching down and spelling out simple words for me. I just thought I would share that...
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And you grew up brilliant!
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
~Jack Donaghy
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
My mom used to read to me when I was little too. Eventually she had me and my older sister read novels to our younger brother. It was fun for everyone and it made a big difference for all of us. Every one of us read way above our reading level all throughout grade school.
The correlation between income level and test scores is a little frightening. I imagine that it's really hard to educate your children as a single parent. You would have to really be determined to do right by your kids.
While I certainly agree with your main point--parents do need to take a more active role in their child's education--I don't think you should entirely place the blame on the breakdown of marriage, and assume that just because a couple gets divorced, the parents no longer care about their children. It's a difficult decision all around, and I don't think it would be beneficial for many people to stay together just for the sake of their children.
~C
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Of course their are many factors involved in everything, but children of divorced parents - while not by huge margins - tend to struggle in school and with friendship. Marriage requires more work than many couples are giving it. In my opinion "I fell out of love" isn't a viable reason to get divorced. Serving each other creates love and more often than not their is a way to solve conflict. As long as both parties go into it ready to work hard it can be succesfull. Because marriage isn't easy. But anything worthwhile takes effort.
And of course I'm lumping everyone together, and their are exceptions. I had one friend who wished her parents would just get divorced already because neither was willing to put effort into the marriage and the resulting environment was even more unhealthy for the kids than a divorce would be. I see your point. I just believe that people are giving up way to soon in general.
My dad cheated on my mom, that's why they got divorced. They also divorced when I was still pretty young; about 5. My dad remarried very quickly, and I lived with him and his new wife for almost two years before she wanted me to move in with my mom because I wasn't providing her any income (my little sister is autistic and got social security at the time; not sure if she still does or not). I flourished in school, and the only reason my friendships have suffered is because my mom and her second husband were both in the military, so I moved around a lot.
My little sister didn't really speak until she was supposed to be in junior high. But, this didn't have to do with my parents getting divorced as much as it did the horrible treatment our first stepmother gave her. Once she was removed from that situation, she flourished in school, and now has an A/B average and is nearly mainstream.
Divorce hasn't hurt our family; bad relationships and people have. I can't even fathom what it would have been like if my parents had stayed together, but I can't imagine it would be pretty.
~C
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Like I said, there are always different circumstances. In the case of Adultery, divorce is definitely viable. I'm sorry you had to go through that. You were in a way a victim of your father's choices. Once again, let me reiterate, I'm speaking of the average divorce that sites "irreconcilable differences" behind its reasoning. Adultery, abuse, things like that are good reasons for divorce.
Very interesting points and I definitely agree. I think parents should be more involved in what their children are learning. There are different groups trying to pass an amendment that will give parents more rights concerning their children's education. I totally support that!!!
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1) is a parent who is unable to provide his or her child with an education guilty of neglect?
2) is a parent who is unwilling to provide his or her child with an education guilty of abuse?
Just wondering where people stand on this...
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Is the first situation referring to parents around the world? I can't imagine that, in the United States, it's too difficult to enroll a kid in k-12 school and put him or her on a bus every morning. There really isn't any reason why any child would be unable to receive an education, at least from a public school. But I could be wrong. If in the event a parent is genuinely unable to provide a child an education, and the surrounding community has absolutely no resources available to help the parent out, I don't think it's neglect if the parent is making an effort. I do think it's neglect to purposely have children if you don't have the means to provide food, clothing, shelter, or a basic education.
The second one I would definitely say yes.
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I do think it's neglect to purposely have children if you don't have the means to provide food, clothing, shelter, or a basic education.
I agree with this statement but you realize you are describing about 4/5ths of the parents on Earth.
I attriubute it more to ignorance then malice but the result is the same.
I know it. And I stand by it. I especially stand by it when I think of people who purposely get pregnant because they want a kid. Doesn't matter if they can afford one or not. If the thought "money isn't important, all a child needs is love" crosses someone's mind, they should not be a parent.
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I generally agree with this blog completely.
But I think you make a mistake when you stop at family. Educational success goes beyond family to cultural identity. Some cultures place much h...
You make a good point. It takes a village to raise a child.