Education. It’s a topic many Americans can’t agree on. Heck, it’s even evident in our own state where we have a plethora of educational options – largely due to a difference in style and methodologies: Entity A disagrees with the way in which Entity B educates children, so Entity A goes and opens its own school.
While most Americans and Hoosiers in particular disagree on the manner in which children are educated, they should also focus on the role parents play in their children’s lives.
Parents must play an active role in their child’s academic endeavors in order for students to not only understand the importance of education, but also so they excel toward their individual best. How many children have you encountered who have tremendous potential and could probably do great things in life…if only they had a more engaged and responsible parent?
Over the years, I’ve encountered several students who meet that criterion.
The claim that parents must stress the importance of education to their children is not only my opinion, it is fact.
According to a 2013 poll by Pew Research Center, nearly two-thirds of Americans say parents do not put enough pressure on children to do well in school.
That two-thirds equates to about 64 percent. Compare that to the 11 percent who felt parents were putting too much pressure on their kids and 21 percent felt that parents are right on target with the amount of pressure they place on children.
If the overwhelming majority (64 percent) feels that more pressure needs to be placed on children’s academic endeavors, why aren’t we doing it? Where are those parents who need to be doing a better job? How do we reach them?
The good news is that the continuous warnings over the years relative to low test scores and underperforming schools were not in vain. That’s why 64 percent of Americans feel the way they do. But now is a time to act. Indiana is doing its part with the vast educational options available for students, despite the confusion often associated with determining the best for one’s child. Now parents must get on board and lead their children toward academic excellence.
An interesting finding from the global Pew study was China’s response.
For years people have marveled at China’s educational standards. I am one of those people, as I think it’s great that Chinese educators are revered the same way we revere doctors and lawyers. I also think it’s wonderful to have so many of one’s core values centered on educational excellence. On the flip side, however, I have always been concerned with such a seemingly rigorous routine and standard of living. I questioned the social standing of China’s children and their ability to simply relax and have fun.
China is among world leaders in multiple disciplines including education. That country has a solid reputation for doing extremely well in mostly everything it does, which is evident that they are in the distinguished “best of the best” category.
Here are some statistics to prove why Americans need to step our game up a bit.
Last year, the United States had 67,000 engineering graduates. India had 350,000 and China had significantly more graduates than both combined with 1 million.
In recent years, 25 million to 40 million jobs have gone to India and China.
Such startling statistics threaten America’s national ranking and makes us vulnerable to crime and decreased public service resources.
Much of this can be prevented by addressing the critical education needs of children early on so they grow up to be adults who have the necessary skills to not only provide for themselves, but also stabilize the economic vitality of America.
Other countries are outpacing the United States by leaps and bounds. We have to do something. It’s great that 64 percent of Americans realize more pressure needs to be placed on children, so let’s get to placing. In doing so, however, America has to do what China has been unable to do as of yet: we have to find balance.
In the Pew study, 68 percent of Chinese felt parents were putting too much pressure on children. This is completely opposite to the United States’ perspective.
So while China has benefited from the rigors of their educational standards, they think it’s been a bit too much. Americans feel our efforts have been too lax.
Call me an optimist, but I think American parents can and will improve; it’s just going to take time…and the right amount of balance.
You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
