We are only as smart as the least common denominator. It is about to get worse.
I try to avoid the news but yesterday I was in a room that happened to have the news on. The story was basically praising a city’s decision to drop the children down to a four-day school week to save money.
The parents, who I thought would be pissed off at their child not getting a good education, were only concerned with the city providing some sort of “free” day-care service on the “day off.”
They weren’t concerned that their child would learn less. Just that someone else would watch the kid.
On the other side, I assume it was people without kids but you can never be sure, were people that were thrilled at the money the city was saving. “It is about time the city made some smart cuts,” someone said, “I am sick of stupid spending.”
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (not that we will have any anymore) but if you keep cutting the amount you educate future generations we won’t have to worry about any jobs in the future – there won’t be anybody around smart enough to invent anything or provide a service.
This really is just another example of no one in any power….strike that….no one at all, that is actually concerned about the future. Everyone seems only concerned with themselves and what they get now. Screw it, my kids can learn from television or PS3 as long as I get a couple extra tax dollars to get my nails done or have a beer with some friends.
Great. Little Jimmy will be an idiot but we saved a few bucks on gas for the buses and not paying a teacher that day.
How can anyone really think this is a good idea? You can still read this right?
Fine, I suppose this is where you look for some witty insights to my mind. A "bio" of sorts. Here is the deal... I ride motorcycles, smoke cigars, golf, kayak, fly, race my car through the mountains, write (a lot), and travel extensively. I am almost old enough not to care what other people think about me...almost. ~Godfadr
I could go on and on about this topic, my partner is an educator and it shocks me the things I hear parents say, and the way they feel about education. At the elementary level I have heard parents discuss that they feel school is a “baby sitter”, they don’t want to hear about homework, (in fact many will not allow their children to do homework, and by law a teacher can not force them, or even hold them back unless the parent agrees!). Parents in general do not want to assist in the education of their child or even the raising of their child – “that’s their (teachers) job” is often stated. Not ALL parents, but an alarming amount of parents openly state these opinions.
I have a great fear for our future, because parents are no longer parents – they appear to be more baby makers that want the “state” to raise their children, at the same time screaming to keep government out of their lives. Accountability is lost, and the “brain trust” of this country is in serious jeopardy, NOT because of funding, but because of parents. Parents YOU are responsible for your child, and insuring their education – stop asking the government to raise them, feed them, and baby sit them – Please!
Thanks for the post!
Beth
Thanks for the comments Beth. I agree that parents need to take and active role in their child’s homework, etc. ~ most do not. Frankly, it is hard work.
For the most part, that is nothing new. The sad thing is that now the “babysitter” (school) is cutting back on how much they will teach the kids. As Rachel said, “They don’t have a chance.”
Thank you for this Beth. Very appreciated and I applaud you!
This story wouldn’t bother me very much if I knew that the parents spent a considerable chunk of their evenings educating their child. But the fact that they aren’t even a little bit concerned about the decreased time at school LEARNING, tells me that education isn’t a priority for them.
These poor kids, where are their advocates? They don’t have a chance.
I am sure that those parents are VERY active with their child’s day to day homework and such….yeah, right…they don’t have a chance.
I would like to say: parents from time ago didn’t educate their children.The first/oldest vision was only for survive.
Now a days parents let cildren’ education only from school.It’s more important for parents to time expended in school and cared by teachers instead the benefits of education….sorry my English
These kids will all be our leaders in about 15-20 years. How many people and current budget cutters are going to complain about the undereducated individuals running our country. They will place blame I assure you. Imagine this…our population will be filled with individuals with chain link fences in their faces, and educated by MTV and x-BOX. They will know a great deal about violence, teen pregnancy and junk food, but little about the health and wellness or the well being of the human race. These individuals will continue to have more kids. It is time we stand up and demand parents to be parents. What happend to the family unit? What happend to the family code of love, honor, courage and grace? Common people, you are creating our future here! Be accountable. Our kids are our legacy. It isour duty to provide them the tools to keep this world moving FORWARD.