The Educated Parent...

I was reading through a book today that I bought on a clearance table at Follett's bookstore when I was in college. It's called The Educated Child by William J. Bennett.

There were a few things that really jumped out at me today. For example, "Too many mothers and fathers have the attitude that school is like a car wash where you drop the child off at one end and pick him up at the other. They do not realize that, to get a good student, you have to be involved in the washing." Or what about this? "We've tried to turn schools into the first line of defense against problems far beyond their competence to handle successfully. Teachers today tell us that much of their time is spent "raising children"--teaching them the basics of hygiene, manners, and rudimentary respect for the rights and property of others."

Can I get an "Amen?" And people are seriously wondering why our test scores are suffering!

He also has this list entitled: Ten Principles for Parents of Educated Children
It's so good, I'm retyping it in its entirety here. I hope you enjoy!
1. Parents are the first and most important teachers. The more involved you are, the better your child's chances of getting a good education. You can make the difference.
2. Your teaching must not stop when school starts. Some parents withdraw from involvement in education once their children reach school age. This is a mistake. Teachers cannot do a good job without your aid, support, and interest.
3. The early years build the foundation for all later learning. Make it sturdy. The first few years of life and then the first few years of school are critical. A solid education by eighth grade is a necessity or there will be trouble in high school and beyond.
4. American schools are underperforming. Many schools don't pay enough attention to academic basics, and standards are often too low. Trust but verify. Do not just assume that your school is doing a good job.
5. Learning requires discipline; discipline requires values. Too many classrooms are disrupted by disrespectful, unruly children. Too many kids have not been taught the virtues necessary to succeed in school.
6. Follow your common sense. Some people act as though it takes a special degree to know if a school is doing a good job. Wrong. You are the expert on your own child. Pay attention, talk to teachers and other parents, and trust your instincts.
7. Content matters: what children study determines how well they learn. Many schools are unwilling to say exactly which facts and ideas their students should know. This is a fundamental problem in American education. Some things are more important to learn in elementary school than others.
8. Television is an enemy of good education. In many homes, TV is the greatest obstacle to learning. We urge you to shut if off from Sunday evening until Friday evening during the school year.
9. Education reform is possible. You can change the system. If you are interested and engaged, there is much you can do to ensure that your child receives an excellent education. There are ways to improve your child's school, especially if you join forces with other parents.
10. Aim high, expect much, and children will prosper. No parent, school, or child is perfect, but we all rise toward the level of expectations. The surest way to learn more is to raise standards.

I'm thinking #5 will be my motto/philosophy for this school year. How well do you think this would be received as a letter home to parents? Obviously, it would have to modified somewhat, but what about a letter to parents with some list about how important they are in their child's educational experience?
I'll post more as a read more, but I'm pretty pumped now!