It appears that Obama is worried about education a great deal lately. He was speaking to a group of parents in Missouri this past week and he referenced that he knew the standard of teaching and education was rising, due to recent changes he had made in funding and incentives.
Also, he mentioned that he was concerned about the lack of enthusiasm for learning in students in general. He was not seeing the overall genuine love of going to school and being at school that he had witnessed himself as a child. The very fact that 30 to 50 years ago was a different society didn’t seem to creep into his talk about education.
I can remember going to school and thoroughly enjoying every day. That was my job! To attend school, do my homework afterwards and come home with good marks. School provided me with all of my friends and comrades, a joy of learning although it was under a very strict teacher or principal. The work never seemed to be overwhelming even though in secondary school I had 8 subjects with homework in each every night.
Today, children have to be driven or bussed to school, taken to the doctor for every malady, given every excuse for being late or not doing their homework and not getting along with someone on the playground. The school becomes the enemy and the teachers become the pawns when the parents cannot do enough to keep their child happy.
There is very little joy in attending school when a child fears a bully, more teasing and taunting, little help from the teacher and nowhere to turn. Headaches and stomach aches are cues that something is going wrong at school and parents should be vigilant. Don’t be overly-protective but make every school day as joyous as you can. Ask your child to bring home a friend for a meal and a play date. Live in an area which is family-oriented and close to the school for activities.
School can be a happy place to attend!