by Dossie M Terrell

Created on: July 31, 2008   Last Updated: March 20, 2010

Education is a process or journey that goes far beyond what is taught in the class room. Children begin their education at home; it is never too early for parent to teach them the ABCs of protocol in socializing with others in all situations. By the time children enter kindergarten, they should have some idea about how to comport themselves and interact with others.

Many Americans believe our educational system is broken because too much is expected from it. Too many parents leave the responsibility to schools to educate their children in all areas of their lives, including sex and moral education. Conversely, there are parents who believe public schools can teach their children nothing. What we are missing is balance.

Education is a life-long process, but until children reach eighteen, parents must seize every opportunity to teach them everything they can that will benefit them in the larger world. Eventually they will go out on their own and will have to navigate their way through life and their success or failure will depend largely on what they have learned at home.

Parents and educators, rather than bicker, should concentrate on their shared responsibilities and negotiate the differences of overlapping duties.

Educational mavens contend learning comprises of what is seen, heard, and spoken, which is all encompassing. Below are some components of that argument and when practiced, should ensure children have a good or even a great education.

Support knowledge.
Children should strive to be well-informed about current wordly events as well as text book materials. They should be able to discuss intelligently what they read and apply its application to reality. This is an area where society look to schools to lead the way by teaching students how to read and analyze complicated material, how to interpret it, and how to apply it.

Parents can help schools by reinforcing what is taught in school. Each night they can have their children reiterate what they learned during the day. Unless parents use this system or one similar, they are in no position to criticize schools for not educating their children adequately because school officials will have an equally logical argument that they aren't parenting their childrenadequately . Parents should never be too busy for their children. Work will be around for as long as there is life, but their parental influence on children is only for

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