Education Matters: Child's learning depends mainly on parents, family

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It never stops. Learning never ceases.|ret||ret||tab|

School is out and much of America may think that learning can take a holiday simply because, for most, the formal educational process is on summer break.|ret||ret||tab|

Not true.|ret||ret||tab|

There is no holiday or break in the learning process.|ret||ret||tab|

Brain research has taught us that the child begins learning prior to birth and that learning continues as long as the person's brain can function normally.|ret||ret||tab|

From birth to 3 or 4 years of life the brain is developing and the child is learning at a rate which is still, with all our increasing knowledge about child growth and development, unfathomable. We have no idea the extent to which the young brain is processing new data, feelings and attitudes. |ret||ret||tab|

The young brain cries out for stimulation and it is up to the parent and caregiver to provide the atmosphere within which learning proper learning can take place.|ret||ret||tab|

A serious misconception in our society is that the school is solely responsible for the education of the child. It is true that we in the school business are responsible, and therefore duty-bound to agree on what our society expects of the schools. That is done with the support of the family and community and with the cooperation of the children.|ret||ret||tab|

But learning goes on before school, during school and after school. Learning goes on all summer.|ret||ret||tab|

The alert parent will acknowledge this fact and plan and execute a great learning experience for her child. This will include frequent trips to the library, reading several books throughout the summer, visits to museums and other cultural centers where the child can gain valuable experience, camping activities under the direction of first-class adult supervision, and many family discussions allowing the child to enter as a full-fledged family member. |ret||ret||tab|

It is fiction to believe that a small amount of "quality time" can ever take the place of lots of parent/child time on task. The most important task of the family is to raise the child. That requires the parent be a hands-on supervisor of the child's development. If the parent won't, then someone else will.|ret||ret||tab|

Summer is fun for children. It should be. Friends sleep over, individual and group sports are valuable and time in the pool is great. A good work schedule will aid the child in learning the lesson of responsibility.|ret||ret||tab|

The most important summer educational experience a child can have results when the parent shows the child that the family values education and helps the child set some goals for summertime learning. Learning never ceases and in the final analysis, the parent is the most responsible person in the child's life to see that learning takes place.|ret||ret||tab|

Take a look at the above simple and very realistic suggestions, then look around at the families in our community and evaluate how effectively you believe the families here and throughout America are taking care of the task of being the child's first and most important teacher. |ret||ret||tab|

Does it make you wonder? Is this an issue that should concern the business and professional communities? |ret||ret||tab|

These children will be the "responsible generation" soon enough. Are they properly prepared? Our society's future is in their hands.|ret||ret||tab|

(Arthur L. Mallory, EdD, is a former president of Southwest Missouri State University and former commissioner of education who resides in Springfield.)[[In-content Ad]]