Did you know that the school system is only able to meet 50% of student learning needs?
That's right! - only 50% of the student population is in an environment at school which enables them to be successful learners.
The reason for this is not because of bad teachers.
There are many excellent, dedicated teachers in schools, whose life's work and passion is to educate their students to the best of their ability. Teachers want to see their students successful, that is why they have given years to training and service. It is not the fault of the teachers that many students do not reach their potential in learning.
It is not a result of bad parenting.
Many parents spend a great deal of time and energy trying to ensure that their children have the best education possible. Parents help with homework, provide many extra-curricular opportunities and keep in touch with the teachers and school in order to help their child to be successful. However when all is said and done, it is the child who needs to be able to learn and pass the curriculum requirements.
Some parents themselves may have sailed through their own school experience and been successful in the academic requirements for graduation, and gone on to further education. Isn't it reasonable to expect that their children would follow the same path and achieve good grades? For some children, yes it is a reasonable expectation, and many, of course, do follow in their parent's footsteps. However this may not be true for every child, even in the same family. I, myself, was a good student, enjoyed my school experience and I love to learn. I went on to become a teacher for over twenty years in the school system, was a Principal of two schools, and successfully pioneered an independent school. All my three children are intelligent and have been given equal opportunities with regard to their education. Out of the three, only one is following in my footsteps. Was I less diligent with two of my children, didn't I help them? Didn't I give them the support they needed to be successful at school? Of course I did! Were their teachers uncaring and unsupportive of their education? Not at all! The problem is as parents we can't go to school for them. Sometimes it seems parenting would be easier if we could!
Is the school system bad?
There are many excellent schools, in which some students are able to thrive and excel in their learning. For those students the school environment meets the needs of their learning styles and motivates them towards success in their educational experience. The school system is not bad for these students, it is good. However the very nature and structure of the school system means it is only able to meet the needs of some styles of learning, and personality traits of its students. For a fairly large number of students to get through a school day is an achievement in itself. Intelligence and motivation to learn are not the issue for them, but the school structure and environment itself. An example of such a student was Albert Einstein. He found school incredibly boring, as the tools of learning in those days were to do with repeating and learning by rote. He learnt more from the reading he did outside of school, and talking with interesting people he met, than from school itself. He spent most of the time in his classes day dreaming. The system had no room for creativity and imagination, or allowing him to learn about what interested him. There was no provision in his school system for people who thought differently.
Many students today, whose learning styles are not catered for in the school system, are prone to be dismissed or labeled as lazy, unfocused, and unintelligent, disorganized, ADHD, or have a learning disability. School for many of these students is an endurance test, which some fail. The school experience can devastate their self confidence and self esteem, due to their inability to conform or adapt to the expectations of the system, and those around them. Yet these same students in later life can become very successful because of their entrepreneurial spirit, their creativity, their ability to think outside of the box, and view the world from a different perspective.
If your child is having trouble at school, it may not be a reflection your parenting, their teacher or the school. Your child may be trying to learn in an environment that conflicts with his natural aptitude and learning style. For your child it could be like trying to learn to swim in an ocean of sand! Look outside of 'normal' expectations, and see the situation through the eyes of your child. You may be surprised!!! ???and why not do a little research in to the school experience of Albert Einstein, and many other notable figures in our history? I think you might see things from a different perspective.
Barbara White, an experienced educator and parent of three teenagers, speaks with humor, insight, and passion to both teachers and parents on the subject of learning and personality styles. Her latest presentation "Learning Through the Eyes of a Child" is both entertaining and inspirational. For more articles and information visit her website http://www.livingbeyondbetter.com
professional maid services Deerfield ..Coping with a child's bad behavior, perhaps more than any... Read More
If you are a member of a stepfamily, you know... Read More
Who Can Register A Birth? The child's mother... Read More
The citizens of the early Roman Republic enjoyed an education... Read More
How on earth can you help your family cope with... Read More
Nanny 911 Interview with Montel WilliamsI saw an interview with... Read More
Many times, we are so conditioned in how we speak... Read More
My thirteen-year-old daughter recently called me up to say she... Read More
I remember watching my 18-month-old son eat a big frosted... Read More
This time, I would like to talk about a subject... Read More
The cost of being a parent and raising a child... Read More
Dear MomOn this day set aside to honour "Mother's" let... Read More
When my firstborn arrived into this serene and peaceful household,... Read More
During one "generation gap" quarrel with his parents young Michael... Read More
The hot new reality TV show "Nanny 911" has been... Read More
A certain educator was once asked at what point should... Read More
Here are ten simple pleasures you can enjoy with your... Read More
It's been raining for a week and the kids and... Read More
The great thing about children is they absorb knowledge like... Read More
Self-reliance and potential are two very important values that I'd... Read More
Just the other day my oldest son asked:"Daddy, am I... Read More
If you're looking for toys that are both fun to... Read More
Much has been said about the "gifted child" but in... Read More
What parents of a teen haven't wondered where their sweet... Read More
The question I have for you drives right to the... Read More
quick home cleaning Lake Forest ..In the news, we hear and see an increasing number... Read More
Something eerily familiar happened in KwaZulu-Natal's Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Africa... Read More
I will never forget the day that my daughter's sixth... Read More
Homes should be run by parents, not children. So many... Read More
In his recent newsletter "Happy Kids", parenting expert Michael Grose... Read More
If you are a parent, then more than likely you... Read More
I used to have a really challenging job. It was... Read More
It is so important to create an environment that promotes... Read More
This can be a very complicated issue, so I don't... Read More
Strattera came out around January of 2003, and is becoming... Read More
Are you a professional?Notice how the questions differs from, "Do... Read More
An address given by Rev. David B. Smith... Read More
There are so many learning labels floating around these days... Read More
Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for... Read More
We are all aware of the child obesity epidemic that... Read More
Does this sound familiar? Have your kids not listened to... Read More
I wanted to share with you one of the most... Read More
As a parent you will be asked to assist with... Read More
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"Whether parent or... Read More
Whenever parents discuss how to deal with bed wetting, the... Read More
It has been a long day. Home from work, you... Read More
If you're a single parent or a married couple on... Read More
Being consistent when children are less than perfect can make... Read More
Although nothing anybody says can ever completely prepare a woman... Read More
Libraries offer more than books. They are places of learning... Read More
Parenting |