Adults blame parents for education problems

[The Straight Story]

Adults blame parents for education problems

SEATTLE – Blaming teachers for low test scores, poor graduation rates and the other ills of American schools has been popular lately, but a new survey wags a finger closer to home.

An Associated Press-Stanford University Poll on education found that 68 percent of adults believe parents deserve heavy blame for what's wrong with the U.S. education system — more than teachers, school administrators, the government or teachers unions.

Only 35 percent of those surveyed agreed that teachers deserve a great deal or a lot of the blame. Moms were more likely than dads — 72 percent versus 61 percent — to say parents are at fault. Conservatives were more likely than moderates or liberals to blame parents.

Those who said parents are to blame were more likely to cite a lack of student discipline and low expectations for students as serious problems in schools. They were also more likely to see fighting and low test scores as big problems.

"Nobody is too busy to raise a child for a successful future," said Wilfred Luise Vincent, 65, of Coppell, Texas. Vincent worked early or late shifts for Delta Airlines during most of his career so his two daughters would have a parent at home after school.

http://tinyurl.com/24th2ab

[Gator_Matt]

1. I went to a poor, "minority" school and did just fine

I absolutely agree with this, and I'm a liberal guy. The school that I attended was a dump, and I'm sure that it was underfunded. I did just fine, nonetheless. Why? I cared about education (thanks to my parents), unlike most of my peers. They'd act up in class, get into fights (including with the teachers), etc. If a kid isn't interested in learning, the school can only do so much.

[seabeyond]

2. i am right there. i see it. i put it on the parent also.... and that includes myself

with my kids...

[krabigirl]

3. Meh..typical, blame other citizens rather than the institutions. More

If you look at other countries, their school days last all day, even saturday mornings in some cases. Working parents are not expected to cough up money for after-school care. Also, parents are not expected, almost not even allowed, to volunteer like crazy in the schools. And the schools are performing better. It is because they are funded properly and held accountable.

[HereSince1628]

5. This site says formal German school day is 7:30 am to 1 PM

http://www.german-way.com/educ.html

I don't really know enough to be able to generalize school days across the planet and don't to suggest I do. I do think that while some countries may have longer school days than Germany (and the US is one of them) but it's hard to make non-specific "other countries" stand as evidence.

[LostInAnomie]

4. Sadly, there's no money to be made blaming the parents...

... so the schools and teachers will be targeted.

Parents should bear most of the blame without a doubt.

[senseandsensibility]

6. k and r

Thanks for posting.