PARENTING FOR EDUCATION

BY

Vivian W. Owens

“Nanette Slipped Through The Tracks”

Nanette reached her junior year in high school before discovering she could really learn, after all. Throughout her school years poor grades flagged every report card, and teacher expectations diminished with each passing year. At home, her parents resolved to accept her poor performance.

Because her friends attended another school, they knew nothing of “dizzy Nanette,” the name given to her by her classmates. Actually, nothing much had ever interested Nanette. Books, computers, new educational technology and teachers bored her.

Accidentally, she was assigned to an honors math program. In this class the teacher assumed Nanette knew theorems and how to apply them. New classmates assumed she fit into their think tank of learners. Too embarrassed to dispel the myth of a Nanette who could learn, Nanette saved face. She actually opened her textbook and worked. Fortunately, first term ended before counselors realized poor Nanette slipped through some tracks. Expecting to hear horror stories but prepared to apologize and set things right, they sent for Nanette. Nanette appeared, smiling. Good Grades!

We hate to think of our children as passengers on a school train with a destination of failure, but sometimes it happens. We cannot always prevent its occurrence, but we can try. Two major tactics to use as we parent for education are the following:

• Set clear, realistic expectations of each child regarding learning performance. Usually, children quickly cultivate success habits, if their major goal is to learn.

• Expose children to varied learning opportunities at an early age, allowing them to accept academic challenges and to meet new ideas. In this way, they become accustomed to thinking and planning in situations where there are no quick, easy answers. They gain confidence in their own abilities.

Vivian Owens wrote the book, PARENTING FOR EDUCATION, and is presently writing a companion book that will include the above article.

Vivian W. Owens is an educator and workshop developer who also writes books for children. Her latest book is HOW OSWA CAME TO OWN ALL MUSIC , published by Eschar Publications, P.O. Box 1196 , Waynesboro , VA 22980 .