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WAS BARACK OBAMA TALKING TO PARENTS?
Published On 01-30-2010 , 11:32 PM
PRESIDENT Barack Obama's State of the Union address was longer, I hear, than any other from a United States president in our nation's history. In that lengthy speech from Wednesday night, the man dispensed a bit of parental advice among his many words detailing where the country is and where it should be going.
While his words on education didn't really call us rulers of the household clan by name, but whenever I hear education reform mentioned it includes parents without so much as saying so.
Advice? I think so.
But Obama phrased it differently - "reform" was the word he used. But can there really be educational reform "that raises student achievement, inspires students to excel in math and science," without putting parents on notice?
That's what I see as advice.
OK, the pundits in their ongoing analysis of what the president said don't quite see things my way as they were too busy reporting on how the focus groups perceived the speech, and how many Republicans in the chamber slept, didn't applaud or jump to their feet like the Democrats did.
I'm not surprised. When has my viewpoint been mainstream? When's the last time I saw things the same way as those who are paid handsomely to shape public opinion?
How are we going to, as Obama proclaimed, "turn around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans, from rural communities to inner cities?" While President Obama spoke emphatically about higher education, students cannot get there without a concrete foundation and that begins at home.
Parents you've been advised. Are you listening?
What must we think the man in the White House was talking about when he said: "In the 21st century, one of the best anti-poverty programs is a world-class education. In this country, the success of our children cannot depend more on where they live than their potential."
Reform can be seen as the answer and the word, but I'm going to claim that like charity beginning at home, recognizing a child's potential begins in the same place.
It was advice to parents but it was couched in the words, " ... the best anti-poverty program is a world-class education." I took that to mean stop letting the lack of money and where one lives be the excuse for parents not making sure their kids have a good education.
Maybe I was reading into the State of the Union address something the president had said when he was on the campaign trail in Beaumont, TX. "It's not good enough for you to say to your child, `Do good in school,' and then when that child comes home, you got the TV set on, you got the radio on, you don't check their homework, there is not a book in the house, you've got the video game playing."
OK. OK. I give! I'll call it parents being advised to reform.
This blog can be found in our column section where you can print a copy or e-mail to someone
http://talkaboutparenting.org/pages/articles.php
Tune-in Thursdays 7:30 p.m. Talk Abut Parenting with Shirlee Smith LIVE Call-in at 626-794-2116 or 794-2551. Charter Arroyo Channel 32 in Pasadena. Return to our home page and click the Arroyo Logo for streaming. See our calendar listing for show guest and for further information.
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Comment
| | 1. | Thank you for hitting the nail on the head. I have been teaching for 25
years. Motived students are the result of Supportive parents. Unmotivated
students are usually the result of non-supportive parents. People do not
like to be held accountable and they like to place the blame somewhere
else. It all starts in the home. You do not buy your child an I-phone
when he comes home with a report card that has D's and F's.
- by Anonymous, 02-01-2010, 11:37 AM
| | 2. | Shirlee,
Yes, you were reading into President Obam's speech. But, that's okay. Your interpretation is acceptable. Actually President Obama was teaching some of his "overexpecting" children in the Congress. And, to a lot of the grown Democrats and Independents in the country who expected too much of his election.
He was saying to the Republicans, "I hear you." And, he was saying "Now, let's govern together."
As to your education improvements, Shirlee, I'm afraid you parents are gonna have to count on your local school folk more.
Hank
- by Hank Wilfong, 01-31-2010, 7:19 AM
| | 3. | BINGO!
I hope people who need to read this do so, or a friend reads it and shares it. I know you practice what you report and that most successful students are lucky enough to have parents who do as you recommend. After school study rooms help, especially when both parents are working, and more are single parents
these days, but the competition to just hang out with friends and text message the person sitting next to them, which I see as embarrasingly hilariously funny, seems to to be overwhelming without an adult authority to provide that word of organization and caring needed to rearrange priorities.
Anyway, here's a tangible kuddo from one of your fans.
Thank you,
- by Mel, 01-31-2010, 12:17 AM
| | 4. | Rule 1: Don't teach to the lowest common denominator. Rule 2: Quality education begins with proper home environment. Ideas: When my two older children were in grammar school, they could watch TV until 5, then had to get on their homework. After two time violations I caught them in, on the third, I grabbed a pair of wire cutters, pulled out the TV plug and said: "Watch this" and clipped the plug. They had plenty of time thereafter to read and do homework. They are now two very successful attorneys engaged in positions of public service.
- by Tony, 01-31-2010, 12:01 AM
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