[KevinTheOmnivore]

Once again, I'm really, REALLY glad that we have Perndog here to clear all of these matters up for us.

Originally Posted by El Blanco

When I grew up, I was plopped down at the kitchen table next to an adult who made sure I was doing it. Every couple of weeks, my parents actually called my teacher, with out the scheduled conference, to see how things went. And they both worked full time and ran a small family bussiness.

You're right, a lot of this has to do with poor parental involvement. However, despite your humorous comment on a parental mandate, I think you can agree that if parents can't/won't get involved at a sufficient level, then we need to go another direction, right?

Take my job for instance. I am serving one year with an AmeriCorps program geared towards helping young children with reading. The goal is to have them better prepared for the standardized testing that will hit them in SECOND grade. Now, clearly, I'm here subsidizing a void or a need. What is it? Is it financial? Is it governmental? No. I realize that I, to a great extent, get payed (very little, mind you) to do the things that parents should be doing. In fact, for example, here in Texas, Kindergarten age children are expected to gain a reading level betwen K and 1st grade. For many of these kids, juding their parents, this will not happen.

But we need to be careful of the Perndog evaluation of our education systen, in my opinion. I have been surprised by parents. Those that looked like the biggest thug gangsters turned out to be jugling 2 jobs, going to night school, and on top of that working with their child somewhere in the free space. I agree, Blanco, that we have some parental issues, but that can't be the entire problem. And if it is, then what do we do? My school does have parental services, programs, staffers, who help "teach" parents basically how to be educators in the home. But that takes funding, that takes bureacracy, that takes stuff that conservative critics all seem to be opposed to.

I don't get that feeling now. The people I've met and work with seem to think kids are a fashion accessory. They get off telling each other how liberated they are and how many different activites their kids are in.

Or worse yet, they view the public education system as one big daycare center (and a bad one at that).

While I do get what you saying, Kev, and think you do make good points, I think the problem doesn't lie in funding or goverement evaluations. It is in the home and the lack of personal responsibility I've perceived from parents.

I agree-- so what then is President Bush talking about in his new campaign ads, when he says "setting high standards, so our children can blossom," or whatever.....? Standards for whom?? And how do we properly administer these "standards" so that they accomplish their purpose...?