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I’m tired.
I’m tired of all the letters, articles, opinions, warnings and posturing about our education system, both state and national.
I’m tired of hearing that we must have new programs for preschoolers so they can learn to read.
I’m tired of being told that the schools must promote children who cannot meet the basics of their classes.
I’m tired of hearing that we can only improve by generating more programs for students.
I’m especially tired of hearing we need to throw more money at all the programs that have shown no proven results.
And, lastly, I’m tired of everyone ignoring the real problem: parents.
I don’t deny that for years minority children have not been able to read as well as white children. But, I believe that the discrepancy is going to change – for the worse.
Here’s why. Fifty years ago, fewer white parents held two jobs. The mother (usually) was able to stay at home.
Since there was much less available entertainment (social media, TV, cable, etc), many chose to read to their young children. Thus, the children had a leg up when they finally went to school.
Unfortunately, many minority families were not able to do this. And so, the discrepancy was born.
Fast forward to today.
Now, very few families have the luxury of a stay-at-home parent. Most have to hold two jobs to get by. And, when not working, today’s parents are inexorably drawn to all the entertainment available. They want fun and enjoyment in their off hours, while teaching children to read interferes with that fun and enjoyment.
Instead, to prevent the kids from demanding time and attention, parents put them in front of video games and TV.
Moreover, those parents who were not fortunate enough to have learned to read as young children don’t have the learning legacy to offer that learning to their children. So they don’t even think about doing it.
I understand.
I understand the pressure of working all the time. I understand that people need to relax.
I understand that raising children is demanding, in both time, effort and money. I understand that many low-income parents can barely read well enough to get by, let alone to teach their children to read.
I understand that many parents look at school and pre-school as places that are supposed to do their parenting job for them. I understand also that relying on schools to educate children is a path to failure.
I understand that parents who do not closely monitor their children in their schoolwork, who have a laissez-faire attitude toward how their children are progressing, who expect someone else – someone “more qualified”, someone with “more time” – to be responsible for their children’s education, they have effectively doomed their children to a lower standard of life.
We can throw money at education until we have no money left, but it will not solve the problem.
Until – and unless – the education system has control of children 24/7, instead of 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, the education system cannot make our children learn and excel. There is too much time outside the system – time filled too often with texting, video games, social media, missing school, and all the other fun things that are easier and more pleasant than learning – for the system to succeed without the critical assistance of parents.
If you’re a parent, and you want a better life and education for your children, “man up”! It’s your responsibility, not someone else’s.
