Parenting for America; Teaching for America!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/opinion/21friedman.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage. Thank goodness–Thomas Friedman finally (though, only in the last paragraph) said what we all know. Teachers can’t teach alone. Parents have to support education, turn off the TV and electronics, feed their kids, get them  to bed on time,  Etc. 

What is still left to be said is, Kids have to study in order to learn. And, shock of shocks,  if the work is hard, they need to study harder.  Not get an excuse for not doing so that condones  lack of  hard work and effort.

Once we get all three players aboard–teachers, parents, students–then we’ll finally get achievement up.  Alas, it woun’t happen before that.

It strikes me as ironic that people look to successful countries, Finland, Singapore, etc., and discuss what their schools are doing –while ignoring the parent and student role in those countries. I am sure that the three players are on board.

Thank you, Tom Friedman, for finally writing that the second player–parents–need to carry our their responsibility.  Next  time, please write about the students’ own critical role.