In a recent article George Will suggested that the reason blacks do so poorly in school, with jobs, and with crime, is that 70% of the families have no fathers.
Simply put, single mothers in high poverty areas, are usually unable to provide high quality stimulating learning environments to her children. This poor early learning environment effects the ability of the child to learn throughout life and also results in negative social impacts like gangs, crime, and prisons.
Mr. Will may be correct, but it is difficult to see what can be done about the situation. I certainly wouldn't want Big Government conducting shot gun weddings!
The solution lies in long term education which will in time change cultural values. The best way is to start by helping the youth while they are still young. "From the age two to three a child will learn more than at any other time in their life. A stimulating home learning environment at age 3-4 years is linked to long-term gains in children's development. Pre-school also helps to combat social disadvantage -- Good pre-schools benefit all children but high quality is especially important for children who have special educational needs, mothers with low qualifications or come from unstimulating homes."
Primary schools affect development -- The overall quality of teaching affects children's social behavior and intellectual development.
http://www.physorg.com/news147359760.htm...A recent study indicates that a good Kindergarten teacher, would be worth a salary of $320,000 based upon the benefits to the children.
http://www.care2.com/causes/education/bl..."A British study released Monday by the Centre for Spatial Economics says funding full-day schooling for four- and five-year-olds, when coupled with extended child-care options, provides a greater economic benefit than any other government spending."
The study found that "every $1 million spent on early learning and childcare creates 29.3 jobs – a third more than created by $1 million spent on roads and infrastructure. "Every $1 million spent on building or renovating classrooms creates 20.1 jobs, according to the study".
It also found that every $1 invested in early learning would generate $2.42 in benefits for the community through increased earnings, improved health and reduced social costs. The study estimated that every dollar invested in early learning and child care increases the State GDP by $2.02.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/2010083...So it is possible for the school system to compensate for the unstimulating home environment in high poverty areas, and for every dollar we invest in this education that investment is more than doubled in the community with more jobs, a better educated work force and less crime.
A similar situation results every summer. While the children of affluent parents can afford camp, vacations or other stimulating activities in the summer time, those stuck in high crime, high poverty areas, are probably stuck in their homes from fear of violence.
Tests have shown that while all students improve their learning skills at a similar rate during the school year, during the summer the well off continue learning while the poor slip behind. Every year the differences accumulate so that by the end of grade school, the children from disadvantaged neighborhoods are a full two grades behind their more affluent counterparts. Time Magazine makes the case that if the summer break was eliminated, that almost all of the educational disparities between the rich and the poor (or white/minority) would disappear.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/...Early education is very important because the young are like sponges and can easily learn other languages, math, science, or whatever we deem important, but it is not all Cognitive learning going on. The other two domains of learning are just as important.
Affective: growth in feelings or emotional areas (Attitude) or how to get along with others is also being learned. It is important to allow kids to interact with others and learn acceptable social behavior. (No fighting or Bullying). This is a good argument against home schooling.
Psychomotor: manual or physical skills (Skills) are also being developed. The young child is trying to learn how to use their young new bodies, how to gage their strength, volumes, distances, and how things interact. It is important to have a lot of creative playthings and hands on learning activities.
The Montessori educational system has had good success in mixed ages using hands on activities. Learning becomes an exciting process of discovery, leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. Perhaps the public system could learn from this and other systems.
http://www.montessori.edu/FAQ.htmlEvery parent knows that the constant physical activity, social interactions, and intellectual curiosity can drive a parent nuts (Why? Why? Why? Why?)
It can also drive teachers to distraction. Children need more individual attention at this age, yet they have very small attention spans. One teacher handling 30 young kids each wanting to do something different is an almost impossible situation. Volunteers from the community are often utilized to read to the kids or just to monitor their constant play.
I recently wrote a blog about how the most promising anti bullying efforts brings in infants to the child's classroom so students can learn empathy.
http://www.rantrave.com/Rave/How-to-Stop...A better way to teach empathy and also future parenting skills would be to require upper level primary students to participate in closely monitored and tutored care for preschool children. This would be a win-win situation for all. The preschool kids would benefit from more individual attention. The primary school kids would learn parenting (and baby sitting) skills and would also require that they reinforce their own learned skills by teaching. They would read and teach basic concepts to the younger children. The preschool teacher would double up with the regular upper grade teacher to teach the parenting skills, so it would be easier for both.
If education is done correctly, earlier education should be emphasized more. Learning the basics will make later education easier. With more use of technology and more cooperative learning, kids will learn how to teach themselves, so by the time kids get into the upper levels of high school, they would only need to go to school for the laboratory work or other hands on learning activities, and for physical and social activities.
This would free up classrooms so they could be used for adult classes. Education should continue all year long every year throughout life.