Today’s children seem to retain little of what they learn. Worse, with school systems refusing to “fail” any child who doesn’t meet age and grade criteria, they instill a false sense of entitlement—teaching that children can expect things without earning them. Schools are producing “graduates” who lack even the most basic skills. The ability to read, write, and perform basic mathematical equations is no longer a given.

There’s no other way to say it: our education system is broken.

The Blame Game: Who is Responsible?

In today’s “no fault” society, people seem to be looking for a scapegoat. If a child isn’t learning, it’s not their fault—or Little Johnny’s, for that matter. After all, he spends six hours a day in a classroom with a professional educator. Surely, he should be well on his way to becoming the next Stephen Hawking?

If the system is broken—and it is—there is definitely someone responsible. But it might not be who you think. In the hierarchy of the education system, teachers fall quite low on the totem pole. They are often overburdened, and most of their power has been taken away. Teachers have little control over what happens in their classrooms. They’re forced to bend to unrealistic expectations and decisions imposed by people with the least knowledge of their profession. Tried-and-true teaching methods are tossed aside in favor of fads and unproven approaches.

The truth is, teachers are not the problem. They are merely cogs in a faulty system that victimizes more people than it helps.

Recent studies on teacher mental health reveal staggering results. Research conducted by USA Today concluded that more than 50 percent of teachers report that their mental health is far from optimal. A staggering 58 percent of those polled described their mental health as “not good.”

An online survey of over 5,000 educators found that 86 percent feel disrespected by school officials. Perhaps even more troubling is that 61 percent of teachers and school support staff report that their daily work is a constant source of stress. With stress weighing so heavily on today’s educators, it’s no wonder that only 18 percent report getting a proper night’s sleep on a regular basis.

If our teachers are stressed, disrespected, and deprived of sufficient rest, they can’t function at their best. And let’s face it: children are trying. It takes a tremendous amount of patience to deal with your own child when he’s in a bad mood. Now imagine trying to manage 30 Little Johnnys, all having simultaneous meltdowns.

This raises a critical question: if teachers are doing the best they can with the cards they’ve been dealt, who is responsible for the fact that our children aren’t learning?

While government officials and high-ranking education authorities play a large role in the problem, parents and teachers share some of the blame as well. A significant part of the dilemma stems from a relationship that should be a partnership to ensure a child’s success. Unfortunately, instead of working together, teachers and parents sometimes view each other as adversaries. Each assumes the other is responsible for certain things, and instead of communicating to make sure all areas are covered, they end up blaming each other for “gaps” in the student’s social and educational development. Both are at fault.

When teachers and parents collaborate, it’s a beautiful thing that leads to success. It truly takes a village to raise and educate a child. Teachers present the material and provide support within the classroom, but for learning to truly take place, they need backup from parents at home. Together, they can form a powerful alliance that even a government bent on ineffectual change cannot thwart. The key is working together.

What Are the Obstacles to Learning?

The facts are clear. More than ever, schools are graduating students who are ill-equipped to make their way in the world. It’s time for an educational overhaul to address the problem.

The first step in repairing a broken system is to assess what stands in the way of progress. Below is a list of obstacles preventing effective learning in classrooms today:

Excessive class sizes

While we know that one-on-one classroom instruction is unrealistic in today’s educational environment, extremely large class sizes mean children often fall through the cracks. Kids who need extra help understanding basic concepts can easily be overlooked in favor of children with more urgent needs. This ultimately leads to a much larger percentage of students who lack a solid grasp of the fundamental skills needed to move forward.

When class sizes are too large and teachers lack the necessary support and resources, everyone suffers. But it’s the children who suffer the most.

Family problems

Families experiencing upheaval due to divorce, health issues, or job loss often struggle to keep their problems from affecting their children. While parents may try to hide their stresses, children are perceptive and can pick up on changes in mood and behavior. This impacts their ability to focus.

Homes lacking stability often lead to children who struggle with concentration. Since concentration is key to learning, instability at home affects a child’s ability to process and absorb information, no matter how well it’s presented.

Routine and stability are vital to a child’s ability to learn and grow, but maintaining them can be challenging in today’s turbulent family climate.

Technology dependence

Technology addiction is a real problem today, and unfortunately, it’s affecting our children. In a Quartz article titled “It’s not a drug, but it may as well be: Expert opinions on whether kids are addicted to tech,” the author states that research shows “screen time interferes with fundamental factors in healthy child development: sleep, healthy eating, and so-called ‘serve and return’ moments between parents and children.”

In essence, an overabundance of screen time is hindering our children’s ability to learn properly. It affects attention spans, makes it difficult to focus, and creates challenges with impulse control—factors that are detrimental to producing a generation prepared to enter the workforce.

While technology plays an important role, it is crucial that children learn to use it responsibly. Parents must be involved to establish boundaries, teaching children to use technology wisely while learning to thrive without constant entertainment.

Bullying in schools

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, as many as one-third of students aged 12 to 18 reported being frequently bullied in 2007. Bullying has reached epidemic proportions.

Victims suffer a range of issues, including poor self-image, trust issues, passivity, aggression, anger problems, and social isolation. All of these factors lead to a reduced capacity to learn. School environments should be safe havens where children can thrive academically.

Poor attitude

Discipline has become a controversial topic in today’s society. However, permissiveness and excessive freedom of choice often lead to children who are out of control. Children need boundaries to thrive. As they mature, they develop the ability to make wise decisions. Giving them too much freedom too soon can turn them into ticking time bombs.

It’s vital that children learn respect for authority. While equality is important, it’s crucial that children understand they cannot adopt any attitude they like and expect it to be accepted. Respect for others and proper manners are essential in all areas of life.

Emphasis on testing

Not all children test well. Traditionally, testing has been written-based, and children who struggle with this format often don’t perform well, even if they understand the material. Testing anxiety can also contribute to poor performance. To assess knowledge effectively, a variety of methods should be used.

While some stress is necessary to prepare children for the adult world, adequate support must also be provided. Children need to be exposed to real-world conditions, but at a pace that encourages growth, not stifles it.

Lack of parental influence

In today’s society, where two incomes are necessary for families to survive, children are often left to their own devices. While some children may be responsible enough to prepare their own meals, they still need parental support to complete homework tasks. Unfortunately, many parents are caught up in the “rat race,” trying to make ends meet. It’s a tragic cycle with no easy solution.

Budgetary restrictions

Budget cuts are significantly affecting what teachers can offer our children. Gone are the days of music, art, and even gym in some schools. These subjects help enrich young minds, yet schools claim they can no longer afford the professionals needed to teach them. These classes are seen as “frivolous” compared to core academic subjects like math and science.

Moreover, budget cuts often mean the elimination of teacher aides. With large class sizes and diverse learning levels, teachers need all the help they can get. Sadly, the resources simply aren’t available.

Classroom coddling

While sensitivity to others is essential, we have swung too far in the other direction in today’s classrooms. Overreaction has become the norm. Schools now cater to the minority rather than the majority. While it’s important to ensure student safety, we must also teach children tolerance and respect for others’ needs and wants.

“No child left behind”

President Bush’s education bill may not reflect this exact sentiment, but the tendency to pass every child to the next grade—regardless of their actual ability—is harming our children. Although it’s painful to be held back, it’s a far lesser evil than advancing without the foundational skills needed to succeed in future grades.

Ineffectual teaching methods

The old adage is true: if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Many proven teaching methods have been abandoned in favor of untested innovations. While new approaches can be valuable, it’s unwise to discard what has worked for the majority of students over the years.

Teacher burnout

With limited resources and teachers overstretched, we’re losing some of our best educators to burnout. This leaves us with inexperienced teachers who are ill-equipped to handle the excessive workload. As a result, everyone suffers—but most of all, our children.

There is no doubt that our education system needs reform. While teachers may not be the cause of the problem, they also aren’t receiving the support they need to help our children succeed. It’s time for change. Our children deserve it.

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School climate promotes — or complicates — a student’s ability to learn and achieve academically. This is common sense. To the extent that students feel safe, cared for, appropriately supported and lovingly “pushed” to learn, academic achievement should increase.– The School Climate Challenge, National School Climate Center (NSCC)

So what actions by adults positively impact students’ sense of feeling valued? Part of the answer is as simple as giving children eye contact, knowing and using their names and engaging them in positive conversation. In other words, helping them be seen.

In an ideal world, they will always feel respected but as millions of kids know, peer mistreatment happens. In those cases, it’s the job of parents and school staff to make sure they are not only seen but also heard.

The Youth Voice Project researchers went to the source and surveyed over 13,000 students in grades 5-12 to assess what advice and actions actually help; which ones don’t; and how do kids effectively help each other.

According to the students, the No. 1 most helpful adult action was listened to me. Listening, following up and giving advice ranked at the top and told me to stop tattling was at the bottom. Discouraging kids to report hurtful behavior is perhaps one of the worst things adults can do. If they don’t tell, they can’t receive help. Teaching them from young ages how to report something responsibly versus getting someone in trouble is a critical skill.

Kids need adult help but they also need each other. How do we mentor our children when they’re the bystander witnessing mean behavior? Turn the role from a bystander to an upstander.

The difference between the two is action.  Although it’s good to ask kids to take action, training them to “confront” the child acting like a bully may not be the way to go. According to the Youth Voice Project, it’s not the most effective and in some instances, makes the problem worse. Instead, kids report that the following list of peer actions are much more helpful:

Included Me and Spent Time with Me at School
Most Helpful Actions Overall
Walked or spent time with me at school
Talked to me at school to encourage me
Gave me advice (hope)
Helped me get away; made a distraction
Helped me tell adults

Children can be taught how to “Step Up” to help another child out through empathy, inclusion, even humor and seeking help from trusted adults. By encouraging kids to communicate and then being present for them, the problem may not be immediately solved but the sense of safety will most likely remain intact.

It never hurts to go for the A+.

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If you’re not going to volunteer in the school, don’t complain in the schoolyard.

I felt it was a bit harsh at the time, but in hindsight, it was invaluable.  There are so many benefits to getting involved and as the expression goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” Contributing time and talents to building a strong and healthy school climate has one huge upside: kids have a better chance for academic and social success.

Build a Positive Home/School Partnership…

1. For Your Child
2. For Your School
3. For Yourself

Your Child:

“Who doesn’t want their parents to care about them?” — Fifth Grade Student

Volunteering makes kids feel as if you’re interested. They want you to get to know their friends and have an appreciation for where they spend so much of their day. It also makes it easier for them to talk to you when things are going well – or when things need a course correction. And if a course correction is needed, heed the words of principal Diane Hesterhagen:

“Say anything but it’s all in the delivery.”

When you say positive things about kids or their performance in school, they strive to do better. When you get to know their teacher, it’s easier to get a sense of how they’re doing in the classroom and how you can support the teacher’s efforts at home.

Tangled Ball Tip: When the teacher does something right, send a note. Teachers are human, too, and saying positive things is a motivator for them, as well.

The School:

“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” ― Brené Brown

Schools need support to prosper and depend on volunteers to create that connection and community.  Building a kind environment takes the effort of both homes and schools. It’s a process of reaffirming each other’s values.

According to Scott Seider, author of ‘Character Compass: How Powerful School Culture Can Point Students Toward Success’, the most successful schools build on character and understand the power of synergy between home and school.

I think that nearly all of us would agree that the primary character educators in children’s lives are their parents. None of the schools profiled in Character Compass would describe themselves as trying to take over this role, but rather to supplement and reinforce the lessons that students are learning at home.

For Parents:

Work and life pressures often make it hard to volunteer but it’s worth getting creative and carving out the time.

A strong community helps everyone succeed and it’s not just our kids who form friendships. Parents often form deep and lasting bonds with other school parents. These bonds enrich our lives and make parenting easier. Children need good and trusted Go-To Adults…but so do parents. Often the best advice comes from our own Go-To Adults. They’re often the like-minded people that share our priorities and are volunteering right next to us.

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But what many parents don’t realize is that the counselors working in schools today are trained mental health professionals who are there to support student wellness in all areas, including academic, social and physical, and career. Rather than simply fulfilling an advisory role, they use their knowledge and experience to develop programs based on the needs of the school community as a whole as well as individual students; most have advanced degrees, with many earning an online master’s in school counseling.

A key part of a school counselor’s success is a strong relationship with parents, who often don’t understand the counselor’s role, or who may be feeling frustrated or defensive about the counselor’s involvement. With that in mind, following are six ways that counselors can forge better relationships with parents, ensuring that they, and their students, meet their goals.

1. Communicate What You Offer

Often, parents don’t utilize school counseling resources because they do not realize or understand what resources are available. Again, many parents may base their perceptions on their own experience, not realizing how school counseling has changed in recent years.

Make a point of notifying parents about what you have to offer, using email or a website, sending home flyers and letters with students, and being present at school events. Reach out to parents proactively so they are prepared to come to you when necessary.

2. Offer Workshops

One powerful form of parent outreach is a series of workshops. Once suggestion is to partner with the school’s parent-teacher organization to conduct a survey about the topics that are most relevant to parents, and hosting workshops or providing information packets to hand out during meetings or at parent-teacher conferences. By making yourself a source of education and support, parents will be more likely to reach out.

3. Develop Better Listening Skills

Listening is an essential part of becoming a great counselor. By working on your active listening skills, you’ll be in a better position to actually hear what your students and their parents are saying and provide better insights and solutions. Work on using the language that parents use to describe their children and behaviors rather than using clinical terminology; when you do, you’ll build more rapport and show a greater degree of understanding.

4. Develop Empathy

One of the outcomes of improved listening is a greater sense of empathy. Often, school counselors have a tendency to jump right into offering education and solutions when parents come to them with problems, but by leading with empathy, and showing that you understand their plight and want to help leads to better results. Show that you understand, ask questions about what they have tried, and avoid putting parents on the defensive.

5. Be Sensitive When Giving Advice

Parents will come to you for insight and advice, but they don’t want to feel disapproval and judgement. When providing advice, be sensitive to the individual family situation, culture, religion, or other factors that could influence their response.

Again, asking questions, listening carefully, and coming from a place of support can prevent misunderstandings or even offending or angering parents.

6. Provide Genuine Validation

Parenting is difficult, and parents want to feel supported and validated in their choices. It’s not always easy, but acknowledging their involvement and complimenting them on their commitment to doing what’s best for their child can go a long way toward building rapport. Most parents — even great ones — often feel like failures, so noticing and commenting on positive efforts helps boost their confidence and help your students.

7. Develop Shared Goals

At the end of the day, you are on the same team as parents, so be sure they know that by setting shared goals together. By listening, you can determine the parent’s goals for their child and, even if the parental efforts at dealing with a problem aren’t ideal, establish that you are all working toward the same thing. When you get everyone on the same page, the relationship is more productive.

Building parent relationships takes time, and there may be some parents with whom you never really connect. However, when you put forth the effort, you can be a better resource in your student’s lives and help them succeed both in and out of school.

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Obviously, age plays a roll in how well your child remembers their stuff. As early as the pre-elementary years, educators work hard to teach children about responsibility. Keeping up with crayons and having their scissors every day, as well as turning in homework is an important part of the educational process. And parents need to reinforce this at home. From as young as 2, parents need to start teaching kids the importance of being responsible for their belongings. If they constantly leave their beloved baby doll or favorite blankie in random places and then get hysterical about it later, eventually parents need to find the lesson in this behavior. If you frantically look for the lost item and then find it for them every time, you could potentially be responsible for your child losing their belongings. After all, if you find the items for them time and time again – then your child never sees the importance of keeping up with their own belongings and this can be exasperated once they reach school.

Experts also agree that a child, who loses things constantly, may have a learning problem or disorder such as ADD or ADHD. If you notice that they are flighty or disorganized in other aspects of their life, and constantly lose things – talking to your pediatrician may be a good idea.

Truth is, that most kids lose things from time to time. Why else would the lost and found at so many public schools be packed to the gills with belongings? If it becomes a habit with your child then you need to think about helping them learn structure and organizational skills at home. The following tips can help you to help your child remember that winter coat or homework folder.

• Learn how their school day works! Where do they go during the course of the day? Have a quick chat with your child’s teacher so that you understand the routine of their school day. This way, you can talk your child through their day and give them reminders before they go to school. For instance, remind them to look for their lunchbox BEFORE leaving the cafeteria, and to look for their jacket BEFORE they leave school each day. The more you talk about the routine at home the easier it will be for your child to remember.
• Only allow your child to bring the necessities to school. If your child has a knack for losing things then don’t give them extra stuff to take to the school. Instead of using a fancy lunchbox, send their lunch in a paper sack. Instead of allowing them to take their personalized water bottle, purchase disposable ones. And instead of purchasing a North Face jacket that costs a lot of money – purchase instead a jacket that is second hand or from a discount school. This not only gives them less to keep up with, but also keeps the costs down when they do lose things.
• Label everything they own. Even if you decide to find the most unique items for your child, chances are that another kid at school will have the same jacket or water bottle. Use a sharpie marker to label any and every thing that is not attached to your child’s body during the day. This gives you a better chance of having the item returned should it be left, and helps your child identify their stuff.
• Make a checklist. On the front of their binder, you can start out by writing down a simple bulleted list of items in BOLD that your child has to remember to bring home on a daily basis. This can be an easy way for them to double check before they leave the building every day. Also, reinforce the list by keeping it at home somewhere. If you are trying to rehabilitate a child who constantly loses things – then setting up a reward system for things remembered each day is a great idea.
• Be proactive in looking for your child’s belongings. In other words, when your child goes to school in the morning and its cold but its warm by the time they get home – they may have easily forgot about their winter coat. And you can too! Make it an after school routine to go through your child’s belongings every day to ensure that everything they brought to school has been brought back home. Did they forget their pencil box? Did they leave their gym shoes at school? That way, you know what is lost (and when it was lost) and they can look for the items right away which heightens the chance that the lost items will be found.
• Check the lost and found! Do not depend upon your child to thoroughly check the lost and found, especially if they are elementary school age. After all, if they cannot remember their items they probably will not remember an extra task. Take a minute to check the lost and found yourself to see if any of the lost items are there. You might be quite surprised at how many things you WILL find were sent to the lost and found. Just do it in a timely manner, because most school systems only keep items so long before donating them to a shelter or charity.

In the end, remember that it truly is YOUR CHILD’S responsibility to keep up with their stuff. Not only should you teach them how to keep up with belongings at school, but you should do so at home as well. And, if despite your best efforts, your child continues to lose things resort to NOT replacing them or making your child earn the money to replace the things they have lost on their own.

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But is this really the ideal human experience? After all, who decided that college—and dorm life, specifically—was how things were meant to be? Shouldn’t we question what’s expected of us and ask ourselves if there might be better ways to spend our time? And speaking of “our time,” why do we have to invest years of it living on campus if all we’re going to do is drink too much and study too little?

There are valid arguments on both sides, so let’s explore the pros and cons. It’s time for a classic list of advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of Living on Campus

Access. Where you live plays a significant role in the quality of your everyday life. When you live on a college campus, you’re surrounded by resources. Need food? The cafeteria is nearby. Need to study? The library is just a walk away. Need to work out? There’s probably a fitness center you can use. The list of resources available when living on campus is extensive—and it’s one of the key selling points colleges use to recruit students and student-athletes.

Moreover, you’ll have easy access to a social life, with other students your age, all going through the same experience. If that doesn’t sound appealing, then you may be missing the point.

Focus. This one is a bit more debatable, but it’s worth mentioning. Living on campus gives you an environment where it’s easier to focus on your studies. Your dorm room is small, so heading to the library to get some work done can be a great way to escape your living space. Living at college means you can immerse yourself in academic life—it’s as simple as that.

Of course, there will be distractions. For example, the opposite sex and the abundance of food (leading to the dreaded “freshman fifteen”). But if you can’t find the self-discipline to focus on your studies while living at school, you might want to reconsider your approach to time management.

Cost. Living in the dorms is actually a pretty good deal. Room and board are your main expenses, and most of your daily needs are taken care of. Meal plans are easy to acquire. Books are expensive, but they’d be costly regardless of where you live. In fact, dorm life is a very cost-effective way of living. Even though you’re a broke college student, it’s actually a pretty good setup.

Cons of Living on Campus

The “college experience” is overrated. You’ve probably heard it many times: “It’s important to have the college experience.” “Part of the reason you go to college is for the experience.” But what exactly is the college experience? Socializing with others your age? That’s been happening since kindergarten! The “college experience” of partying in dorms or joining a fraternity might be valuable because you spend it with friends, but what experience that involves friends isn’t valuable?

Don’t feel pressured to drink and party in college to “sew your wild oats.” If you choose to live in the dorms, focus on what truly matters—building lifelong friendships and focusing on your education. That’s the real value of dorm life.

Cost. Yes, we mentioned that cost is a “pro,” but if you’re already 18 or older and have an apartment, living in a dorm may seem unnecessary and even wasteful. Why not opt for an online university, where you can skip commuting, dorm life, and all the associated costs? Online universities offer a more affordable and convenient alternative.

Distractions. This is the flip side to the “focus” section mentioned earlier. While living on campus can help you focus on school, it can also present significant distractions. Perhaps you’re distracted by members of the opposite sex, alcohol, or hanging out with friends who live just down the hall. If you’re not good at managing distractions, dorm life could make it difficult to stay on track academically.

However, if you want to develop your focus skills, the challenges of dorm life might be an opportunity to grow. Just be aware that distractions will be plentiful, and it will take discipline to stay on course.

Is living on campus the right option for you? It depends on your needs, situation, and goals. Everyone is different. The purpose of this article is not to promote one viewpoint but to make you aware that dorm life may not be the best fit for everyone. It’s part of mainstream society, yes—but who says mainstream society gets to dictate your life choices?

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But there’s one critical issue that both critics and supporters of American nationalized education disagree vehemently about: curriculum.

Curriculum is, quite simply, the content of what children are learning. While there is general agreement on maintaining the three R’s—reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic—many wonder if children are simply wasting their time by listening to lectures filled with facts.

Shouldn’t children with specific talents or predispositions be exposed to a more challenging curriculum than others? Shouldn’t struggling children without diagnosed learning disabilities be able to “catch up” with a customized curriculum?

The truth is, the current education system is indeed outdated, and the modern curriculum reflects that. But to understand the problem, we first need to explore what’s wrong with the current curriculum.

Do Kids Learn the Right Things These Days?

Education—from literacy to math and beyond—is undoubtedly important. Having a basic curriculum standard for each individual student is not a bad idea.

However, once you move beyond the “Three R’s,” things get a bit murky. For instance, what are the benefits of teaching music to children who have no interest or aptitude for it? Some argue that including music in a curriculum is essential for making sure children are well-rounded. After all, they argue, what good is an education if it isn’t comprehensive?

Learning music isn’t the issue; the problem lies in what children aren’t learning. For example, how many of these basic life skills are part of the core curriculum in the K-12 American education system?

• Personal finance
• Loan and money management
• Car/home maintenance
• Basic survival and emergency preparedness
• Socialization and networking

While a comprehensive education from Mozart to Means, Medians, and Modes is important, why are these essentials so scarcely focused on? Under the guise of providing a well-rounded education, many supporters offer a partial system that does not fully prepare young people for life after school.

For example, how many high school graduates are unable to change a tire? How many have plunged themselves into credit card debt? How many would be woefully unprepared to handle a natural disaster, an injury, or a sustained power outage? How many lack the social skills that can harm their long-term career prospects?

The answer, for all of the above, is “too many.” This happens because many basic and essential life skills are not part of the curriculum. Learning facts about the Civil War, while important, does not make one a fully-functioning adult—and it hardly qualifies as being truly “educated.”

The Doing vs. Hearing Problem

Perhaps one important element missing from this discussion is that schools in 2012 are still based on the lecture model: one teacher explaining things to children, assigning homework, and offering feedback on student performance.

This is the “hearing” model of learning: if you tell students a fact, they should be able to retain it.

However, real-world learning doesn’t work like this. It has to be interactive, proactive, and sometimes even messy as students make mistakes. How many people still struggle with new experiences for the first time, no matter how much they’ve been told about it? The only true way to learn is through action—actually performing a task and correcting mistakes as you go. This was even understood in Aristotle’s time when he said, “To do is to be.” Students who aren’t taught to “do” are being conditioned to live passive lives.

It’s not regular practice that consumes today’s student’s time; it’s the inaction of listening to a lecture. Even learning experts will tell aspiring teachers that students retain only about 20% of what they hear, meaning 80% of the time spent in school is largely ineffective. Yes, traditional schooling includes homework, but homework is by definition unsupervised and lacks interaction between student and teacher.

How can this be addressed in the curriculum? It would require an overhaul of the entire education system since so many teachers are trained to educate students in a particular way.

Introducing New Curriculum

The issue of how to solve modern education’s problems through a change in the curriculum is not as complicated as it might initially seem.

Sure, modern education is deeply ingrained. Entire generations of teachers have been trained in the same way. But opening the school system up to flexibility and competition could change how each school treats its students, introduces new curricula, and interacts with parents. The only way to introduce a new curriculum—and determine which one is ideal—is to free schools to make these changes.

This means loosening restrictions and reducing reliance on standardized testing. For some, this presents an insurmountable challenge. However, if schools were freed to perform in the private market, they would have the freedom to innovate and the incentive to outperform their competitors. It is this competition—and accountability to parents—that could ultimately lead to a curriculum shift that benefits students in the long run.

At the very least, this kind of modernized system would bring schools out of the dark ages and help them explore the new possibilities of the 21st century.

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Encouraging Political Curiosity in Children

This is a noble thought, but how do you go about giving them the bigger picture? Many children find politics boring. A great way to spark their interest is by showing how political decisions impact them and their family. This approach not only grabs their attention but also helps them understand the importance of these decisions.

Of course, this is different for every family. Some children have personal connections to political issues, such as family members or friends overseas fighting in a war—one of the nation’s hottest topics right now. Knowing someone involved in a war completely personalizes politics for a child. However, it doesn’t have to be all grim and depressing. In fact, children tend to respond better to factual information. Giving them the facts and then allowing them to ask questions can help foster a more critical political mind.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the motivation to be an active part of life. Teaching them the responsibility, joy, and empowerment of voting will carry through into their adulthood. Explaining the power of their own voice can go a long way in not only piquing their interest in politics but also helping them realize their role in influencing political decisions. Most kids are intuitive enough to understand that having the power to vote also means they have a responsibility to understand why they want to vote for someone.

Asking their opinion as political races, debates, and controversial issues arise allows them to learn how to express themselves, listen to opposing views, and research politicians’ positions on these issues. Children learn about politics through conversation. While they may be willing to watch the news or read news magazines, these programs are typically aimed at adults. Conversing with children gives them the chance to ask questions, challenge the situation, and form their own viewpoint.

We teach children to “agree” with their parents when they are young by teaching them to obey. However, this is one area where they should be encouraged to think freely and to feel comfortable disagreeing with their parents, even on strong political topics. It’s important for parents to verbally acknowledge that it’s okay for children to hold different viewpoints.

As adults, we often associate Democrats with liberalism, charity, societal programs, and outreach, while we associate Republicans with conservative business practices, the American Dream, and the belief that hard work leads to high achievement. Many experts believe it is better to allow children to develop their own political viewpoints without assigning them to a political party. Assigning a political party to children makes them associate their beliefs with the party rather than their own thoughts, as though they are “supposed to think” in a predetermined fashion because of their party affiliation.

Many adults don’t thoroughly understand the entire political structure of their country. While the United States has the House of Representatives, Congress, and the White House, other nations have similarly complex governmental systems. It can be very difficult to teach your children about something if you don’t fully understand it yourself. In a recent poll, 98% of Americans knew that the President of the United States had the power to veto a bill, but 69% of adults didn’t know where the bill the President was vetoing came from. It may be necessary for you to brush up on political education as you teach your child, if not beforehand. Sometimes it’s not as important to know the answer to a question as it is to know how to find the answer when needed. Sitting down and doing quick research with your child not only increases political knowledge but also encourages independent research skills. This can make them more likely to become informed voters when they grow up. Teaching children about politics empowers them to be the leaders of tomorrow.

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With the introduction of the No Child Left Behind laws, which are now being phased out by public schools, many educators and school administrators are questioning why all parties in the educational process—administration, teachers, and students—are being held accountable for children passing school, EXCEPT for the parents. At the same time, teachers and school systems not only value the role of parents in the educational system, but also see many parents waving a white flag when it comes to their child’s school progress. Parents often show up to teacher conferences concerned about less-than-desirable grades, ready to wag a shameful finger at the school systems for not holding up their end of the bargain. But is it really the teacher’s fault? Who, pray tell, has the most direct influence over children? Wouldn’t that be the parents and the environment in which they are raised?

The Impact of Home Life on Education

The problem is that research from nearly every facet of education shows that one of the best indicators of a child’s progress and success in school comes from their home life. If a child lives in a home where education is valued and where parents are involved in the educational process, the student will perform better. This leads to the truth that if a child lives in a home where education is not valued, no matter how hard school systems and teachers work, the child is at risk of failing. In fact, research from the US Department of Education indicates that most kids who drop out of high school come from homes where little to no value is placed on education.

So, who is to blame when a child doesn’t do well in school? Is the easy way out to simply blame the teacher for not teaching the child well enough? Is it the student’s fault for not doing what they are supposed to do? Or does much of the responsibility lie on the influences of the home?

One marker that indicates a lack of academic success is inherently linked to a child’s attendance. Attendance is directly linked to parents. The National Coalition for Accountable Parenting, as reported in The Washington Post, believes that parents who fail to get their kids to school on time—or at all—should be criminally punished and fined for their irresponsibility. After all, when it comes to children who are not able to drive, the responsibility to ensure they go to school lies with the parents. Unfortunately, many parents do not care whether their child goes to school. Each absence, each lesson missed due to an unexcused absence, sends a struggling child even further behind. The responsibility of the teacher should not lie solely with the needs of one child when they have a classroom full of students who attend class regularly and complete their assigned work. Teachers have large curriculums to cover within a year, and extensive absences make it impossible for them to waste precious class time catching up just one student.

In several U.S. states, such as California and Alaska, parents can be fined up to $500 for five or more unexcused absences. Many school systems across North America are considering similar actions to put an end to lackadaisical parenting when it comes to education.

Other initiatives focus not on punishing parents who fail their children academically, but on rewarding the parents of successful children with tax breaks. The hope is that these incentives will encourage more parents to get involved and support their children’s academic success.

Unfortunately, the devaluation of education is a learned behavior. Statistics show that parents who did not graduate high school themselves are nine times as likely to have a child who also does not graduate. Reeducating these families through the department of family and children services, and including punishments or fines for those who do not conform to educational standards, is one way that school systems are looking to redefine academic accountability.

Let’s face it: if you have children and they come home with homework, it is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that it gets done. Teaching healthy study habits, instilling a deep appreciation for learning, and encouraging kids to become self-sufficient and responsible students are all lessons learned at home. Regardless of what a child is capable of in the classroom under the direction of teaching staff, these lessons need to be reinforced at home as well.

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The Parent’s Struggle

Often, the transition is much harder for parents than it is for children. By sixth grade, children begin developing a taste for independence. And by all means, they should. However, your child isn’t a teenager yet, and you worry about the older kids they’ll be around—some with breasts, boyfriends, girlfriends, and the painful pressures of growing up. In elementary school, every kid was about the same. There weren’t parties or football games, and you knew all the parents of the children your child hung out with. But middle school comes along, and your child has many more kids to befriend. Pubescent hormones are everywhere, and you’ll notice that your child is either developing ahead of the others, behind, or right on track.

In any case, it’s a stressful time. Your child feels awkward and insecure, no matter where they are in their development, and they’re completely baffled by the changes taking place. This can lead to trouble at home, including arguments, moodiness, and disrespect.

On top of the emotional toll of starting middle school, it becomes evident that teachers can no longer rely on the boy-girl seating arrangement to prevent trouble in the classroom—it might even cause more. Loads of homework come piling in from numerous different teachers, each expecting things to be completed in a different manner, confusing both you and your child. You may experience the first instance of bad grades caused by your child’s overwhelmed mind, reeling from the pace of middle school learning. They can no longer miss a day at school for “mental health” reasons or a trip to Disney without falling behind.

The good news—or so your child thinks—is that middle school teachers don’t immediately contact mom and dad when there’s a failed test or potential problem. This means that, unless you are paying very close attention, you might not know your child is struggling until you receive a report card or progress report.

Developing Independence

This is part of middle school life. Developing their own mind, taking responsibility for their work, and remembering to do homework without needing parents to sign every paper are all important precursors for a successful life. Middle school teachers are skilled at piling on the responsibilities to see how your child handles both the freedom and expectations. As a parent, you should try to stay out of their business while remaining aware of what’s going on in their world. Instead of relying on your child for everything, learn how the middle school prefers to handle parental inquiries. Many schools have websites where you can keep tabs on your child without breathing down their neck or treating them like a baby.

Don’t be afraid to communicate via email with your child’s teachers. Most importantly, talk to your child! When your child starts middle school, one of the most important things to success is how well you communicate with them. Up to this point, they’ve followed your lead. Now, you need to learn how to offer advice and gather information without coming across as overbearing.

The Beginning of You Being the “Bad” Parent

Starting middle school is also the beginning of you being the “bad” parent. With so many children of different ages in one school, your child will gain exposure to what other parents allow. The peer pressures of being in a clique and being popular start to take hold in middle school. Suddenly, your rules of parenting may seem unfair. Why can’t your daughter wear a tight shirt and ripped jeans just because everyone else does? Why can’t your son walk home from school with his friends, even though you don’t know them?

All of a sudden, you’re unfair, and at some point, your child may accuse you of treating them like a baby (for good reason, of course). Don’t be surprised if your child starts telling a tall tale or two as well. Most middle schoolers assume their parents have no idea what’s really going on.

While you may be tempted to go back to work or start living your own life again, don’t be fooled by how big your child’s shoes are getting. Lives can be made or broken during the middle school phase. If your child has too much time alone or too many freedoms, chances are they will swerve off course. Instead, try to remain a constant presence in their life, but one that’s sometimes invisible. Don’t go sit with them in the lunchroom like you used to, and avoid the urge to follow the bus on field trips. Don’t try to hold their hand in the hallways, and don’t feel hurt if they don’t want to kiss you hello or goodbye in front of their friends. Your child is growing up and away, as they should.

Starting middle school is the beginning of a new relationship with your child. In these years, trust will be built between you and your child. You will also have the vantage point of watching them succeed (mostly on their own) as they blossom physically and emotionally into a young adult. As a parent, it’s important to learn the ropes of being both a cool mom or dad and one who isn’t worried about being ‘friends’ with your child. Work on communication with your child every day, and try not to feel resentful that time has passed so quickly.

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