As I chewed through three years worth of newsclips, columns and Internet printouts this week, I came across two columns that I had saved. Both were written by men with much experience in working with children.
The first, by David Brooks with the New York Times, can be found at http://select.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/opinion/07brooks.html?_r=1 .
The second, by Leonard Pitts with the Miami Herald, can be found here:
http://m.reporternews.com/news/2007/Aug/27/always-keep-your-eyes-on-the-prize/
Each writer discussed a certain, critical skill that every child must possess if he or She is to grow up to be a successful, happy member of society. One is the ability to delay gratification. The other is the ability to focus, to keep "one's eye on the prize."
Perhaps they are more or less the same thing.
Both columns discussed how children who were not taught or did not develop these skills, had a much higher rate of later failure in life, including incarceration.
Something to think about. Parenting is more than providing food, clothing and shelter.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Keys to Success
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2 comments:
Your last sentence says it all. Being a parent is to become a jack-of-all-trades.
I know that I teach my students more than just the curriculum. There are important life lessons that every student should have.
Kids should get these lessons from home but unfortunately, this isn't always done. That's why teachers need to step up and deliver these messages as well.
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