I recently went to a newspapers site because I thought I was going to read an article about how some new study showed that it was important for parents to be involved in their kids’ education. I love studies like that–that spend millions of dollars to say something that every person with half a brain knows is obvious.
Since I have at least half a brain, I always think they should pay ME the millions and I’ll tell them, heck, yeah, parental involvement is important!
It was a good article, but it was just another parent saying basically what I just said–an editorial, not really an article. And I don’t think they even got paid millions for it.
But look, I don’t think I’m going too far out on a limb here when I say that there’s very little wrong with public education. The problem is not the schools–the problem is the parents. Any halfway intelligent child can succeed in life with a public school education if their parents pay attention and give them the support they need.
Here are a few ways you can do that. They will make a world of difference for your children:
- Ask your child if he or she has homework.
- Ask your child when their next test is.
- Turn off the TV during homework time.
- Designate a time and place for homework (in our house it’s the dining room table after dinner)
- Ask your children what they are learning in each subject, and discuss it with them. Ask them what they find most interesting.
- Display good papers on the fridge (yes, some parents need to be told this)
- Make and keep parent-teacher conference appointments.
- Join the PTA or talk to other parents. GEt to know the parents of your kids’ friends.
- Read to your kids every single day, even if only for a few minutes.
Notice that most of that stuff is just talking with your kids. It’s amazing how much good that one simple act can do. It can be the difference between success and failure in school.
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