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This nation is in deep trouble if we don't turn around the miserable education system and parents are the key.

I wonder what it would be like if parents cared more about their kids than their own wants and needs. What a revolutionary idea now days. Our post-modern, hedonistic society is the "what about me" society. A majority of parents are "too busy" to volunteer in the school library or to go visit their child's classroom. Latch-key kids, drop outs, drugs and depression are rampant in our government school system. Something besides more dollars thrown at the situation has to be done. Parents must get involved or the future generations of this country are in real trouble.

Why should parents care? Well hopefully they love their kids more than their jobs or Guicci bags. I would also hope they care about the future of this Republic that is deteriorating because of the lack of educated voters who participate in civic life. Active parent participation in education is the linchpin for turning around our educational system that is failing our nation. I ask parents to please consider the idea that your kids are more important than your wants and needs; love requires sacrifice. You will have to work less or different hours; go without that extra car or huge house; be involved in less sports activities or whatever you have to do in order to give time to your children's education at home and at school. It goes way past just helping them with homework after school. Are you reading them books? Are you teaching them your political views of history as opposed to what they are being spoon fed by the government school? Are you teaching them ethics and morals at home? Are you watching news together and critiquing stories, teaching them the difference between facts and propaganda?

My son is now 27 and he has told me on numerous occasions that he really learned more at home from us than at school. I used to make him read Shakespeare and study real history. We used to study physics because he was interested and his science teacher at school didn't even know what a "quark" was (a part of an atom). Teachers are not required to have a degree in the subject they teach; then you wonder why your child isn't learning well. He is a well educated kid because I took the time to invest in his education apart from the school system. I also went to the school and sat in on classes; I went to PTA meetings and kept in touch with the counselors. I also voted intelligently for Education Board Members. I would hope parents wake up soon and quite being self-absorbed and intellectually lazy. The dumbing down of America is rampant and the parents are the answer to turn it around.

Here are some great web sites with ideas on how to participate in your child's education. The NCPIE is the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education in Washington, D.C. and the site is an excellent source of information. The "kidsource" article has a lot of ways to help parents participate. Make a difference - turn off the TV and read.

http://www.ncpie.org/

http ://www.kidsource.com/kidsource /content2/how.involved.html

Learn more about this author, B. Ann Moran.
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