The Importance of Parents in K–12 Education

In today's Seattle Times, columnist Jerry Large interviews University of California education professor W. Norton Grubb. Grubb, an economist and author of The Money Myth: School Resources, Outcomes, and Equity, notes that although a variety of factors—such as money, class size, and teacher experience—can have small effects on academic achievement, family is a strong predictor of outcome. This finding, Large reports, points to "a need for more emphasis on early education and parent education" and for "shifting focus from what's easy to count to what really counts."

That parental involvement is important to children's educational achievement has, for many parents, long seemed self-evident. It makes sense intuitively that children who have parents actively supporting and helping to foster their educational progress would have better outcomes.

Exactly why parents have such a big effect, however, isn't as simple as it might seem. New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell, for instance, argues compellingly in his book Outliers: The Story of Success that who one's parents (and grandparents) are has a huge effect on achievement (as do one's birthdate, culture, and class). Success is not, as we like to think, simply a product of an individual's effort; rather, it is largely determined by factors beyond a person's control.

So although focusing on early education and parental education is certainly, as Large says, "a good first step," we must also recognize that any widespread change will likely take years—even generations—to effect and, consequently, to measure.

Public University or Private College? Top 10 Tips for Deciding Which to Attend

As college admissions decisions roll in, some students may find themselves facing a particularly difficult decision: Should they attend their state university with all expenses paid for four years, or should they (and their parents) spend thousands of dollars and/or take on massive debt to attend a top-tier private college or university? Although at first glance this choice may seem simple—and, in some cases, may be dictated by family circumstances—in actuality, it can be very complex.

The decision will affect students and their families not just for the next four years but, in varying degrees, for the rest of their lives. Imagining or attempting to predict the personal and financial ramifications of this choice 10, 20, or even 30 years down the line is a daunting task, but failing to do so increases the risk of making a poor decision.

So what factors should you weigh before choosing? Here is a list that can help make the decision easier:

1. Consider your goals for college. Are you mainly looking to get a degree in a certain subject, or do you view college more as an opportunity for expanding your horizons and personal growth? Although both can be accomplished in either setting, the former may tip the scales toward the state university, whereas the latter might lead you to choose the private college.


2. Does the school's size matter to you? A large state university may have many more offerings in all areas but also usually has many more students—meaning larger classes and more competition to get into popular courses or majors. But a small college could seem limiting and, if your interests change (as they do for many students), may not even offer the major you ultimately choose to pursue.


3. Whom do you want to attend college with? If you go to your state university, most of the other students—some of whom will likely become lifelong friends—will come from your home state, and many even from your high school. If you'd like more geographic diversity, attending an out-of-state school may be the way to go.


4. Where do you want to be? If staying close to home is important or you want to develop and solidify local personal and professional relationships, the state university may be your best choice. However, if you feel you've outgrown your location and want to experience something completely different, the private college in a far-off state may make more sense.


5. Which school do you want to "take with you" for the rest of your life? Either way, you'll be listing that school on your resume, receiving that school's alumni publications, and otherwise hooked into that school's personal and professional network for years to come.


6. What near-term financial effects will attending the school have on you? An all-expenses-paid four-year stint at the state university will free you from having to take part-time jobs during the academic year and full-time employment in the summers; you'll also graduate debt-free. Attending the private college, however, may put significant financial pressure on you while you're in school and burden you with thousands of dollars in debt by the time you're done.


7. What about long-term financial effects? Graduating from college debt-free means you'll have more options when it comes to subsequent employment or education. You won't be forced to take a less desirable but higher paying job after graduation to make your monthly payments, and you'll be freer, if necessary, to take on debt if you decide to pursue an advanced degree. You also may be able to do such things as buy a house or start a business sooner. The converse is true if you already have major debt from your college education.


8. How will your choice affect your parents' financial situation? Your parents may be more than willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars so you can attend whatever college you choose, but can they really afford to? Some parents will seriously compromise their own financial futures for their children, but what will this mean down the line? They may not have enough money to live on, and you may find yourself wanting or needing to help support them later on.


9. In terms of your professional future, will it really matter which school you attend? Although many people still believe that attending a prestigious top-tier college is the ticket to personal, professional, and financial success and the only way to get into top graduate and professional schools, this is an outdated misconception. Success is much more a function of your personal qualities, effort, and luck than of where you decide to go to school—and highly competitive graduate programs regularly admit students from state universities.


10. Will you regret your decision? Some people are more prone to regret than others; if you're one of them, you may want to choose the school that you believe, in your heart of hearts, is meant for you. Studies have shown that in later life people regret their inactions (the road not taken) more than their actions, so forgoing that expensive dream college in favor of the more prudent state university may set you up for major regrets when you're older—but then again, so could going thousands of dollars into debt.

In the end, deciding where to attend college can be extremely difficult, especially when no choice seems ideal. If, after carefully considering all the factors and consulting with your parents, you find that you still can't choose, flip a coin. Decision theorists say that when two options seem equally desirable, allowing heads or tails to determine the choice is not only reasonable but rational.

Celebrity Educational Activism: Spotlight on Clay Aiken

These are difficult times for K–12 education, with the economy and state budget cuts jeopardizing what were already severely compromised programs. Although active parent communities can help keep some offerings afloat, few have the financial resources to effect change on a larger scale.

Many celebrities, however, include education in their philanthropic activism. A relatively recent newcomer to this arena is former American Idol singer Clay Aiken, who has been unusually active in furthering educational missions. As he explains on his website, "My music career has allowed me to do the same thing I was doing before—work with kids. It has just given me a bigger stage, so I can enact change on a grander scale."

Before Idol, Aiken was pursuing a degree in special education and tutored a boy with autism. After successfully launching his singing career, Aiken quickly formed the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which "serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with special needs and the world around them" through inclusion and other programs. The foundation has been awarded grants to "create, test and launch a national model for an innovative K–12 Inclusive Service Learning curriculum which teaches social and life skills to children of all abilities while helping to dispel stereotypes and stigmas about disabilities."

From 2006 to 2008, Aiken served on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.  Since 2004, he has also served as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF,  enabling "all children in the world to obtain a primary education" and helping children who have survived disasters, live in deplorable conditions, and must have education restored quickly. "School provides stability and hope when little else can," Aiken explains on his website. "Just to have someplace safe and meaningful to go can mean so much to children in tragic circumstances."

Through the generosity and activism of celebrities like Clay Aiken, important aspects of and initiatives in education can progress. As our schools continue to struggle with shoestring budgets, assistance from celebrities and others with the wherewithal to effect change and galvanize people into action may increasingly be key to the survival of important educational programs.

(NOTE: Original comments on this post could not be transferred but may be viewed by clicking here.)

Top 10 Tips for Choosing a Summer Camp

It's the middle of February, and most summer camps already have their glossy brochures in the mail and interactive web sites on line. If you're like many parents these days, your preschool-age or older child may never have known a summer without at least one camp to add some interest to and help break up the long 10- to 12-week break.

Camps have responded to this trend with an ever-increasing variety of offerings. If you live in a major metropolitan area, the sheer number of choices can seem overwhelming. So here are 10 tips to help you navigate the daunting process of choosing a camp—or, more likely, series of camps—for your child this summer.

1. Ask yourself whether your child really wants or needs to go to camp. This may sound obvious, but with today's rushed and overscheduled lives, sometimes we're on autopilot when it comes to activity scheduling. Some kids may have no desire to attend camp and be perfectly capable of entertaining themselves for the entire summer.


2. Think about your goals for camp. Are you just looking for a fun way to keep your child occupied over the summer, or are there specific things you'd like a camp to accomplish? These could include, for instance, more training in writing, further practice in a particular sport, exposure to a subject not offered during the regular school year, or a structured time for interaction with kids from the neighborhood or your child's school.


3. Figure out how much you want to spend. If you have a limit in place before starting the planning process, you'll be less likely to get carried away by all the great offerings and go overboard.


4. See what's out there. In some geographical areas, there may literally be hundreds of possible courses and activities, so if you have the time, familiarize yourself with what's available. Attending a camp fair is a convenient way to do this, but since some camps won't be there, check on line at places like MySummerCamps.com and with nearby organizations and schools as well. Most local parenting magazines put out summer camp issues, so keep an eye out for those, too.


5. Go through brochures and web sites with your child. School-age children are old enough to have preferences—and a say—in their summer activities. Though you may not be able or want to accommodate every choice your child makes, try to schedule at least one camp he or she is really excited about.


6. Have your child rate all the options. Although the prospect of reading through a huge stack of brochures can be intimidating, spreading the task out over a week or two can make it more manageable. Recycle the brochures of any camps neither of you is interested in, then have your child rate all the "keepers" on a scale from 1 (low) to 10 (high).


7. Plot out the options onto a calendar or into a spreadsheet. After you've narrowed down the choices to those either you or your child feels most strongly about, putting them onto a calendar or into a spreadsheet can help you visualize how they stack up and what sorts of compromises you may have to make. A good way to do the former is by jotting down the details of each camp—name, dates, times, cost—on a Post-It(R) and sticking it to the camp's starting date. As you eliminate camps, simply discard the yellow stickies.


8. Talk with other parents. See if their kids have ever gone to the camps you're considering—or, if your child is friends with theirs, explore the possibility of the kids attending a particular camp together.


9. Look for camp reviews on line. In addition to getting input from other parents, check out reviews on line at places like CampRatingz and Epinions.com to see how others have liked the camp.


10. Check for early-bird discounts and cancellation penalties. Many camps offer incentives for signing up early, so if you're able to register far enough in advance to take advantage of these discounts, be sure you don't miss the deadlines. Also, before signing up for a camp, take a close look at any cancellation penalties. For day and enrichment-type camps, these are usually nominal, but be aware that some camps offer no refunds or charge stiff penalties for any changes.

No matter what you decide, keep in mind that when it comes to finding good camps, there's always a big element of luck. Sometimes the best-sounding camp with great reviews turns out to be a dud, while the one that seemed iffy ends up being terrific. A lot depends on the staff, and there's usually no way of knowing in advance who will be there or whether your child will end up with that perfect counselor or teacher.

Ultimately, the best we can do is to choose a camp that sounds good, interests our kids, fits in with our schedules and budgets, and, last but not least, has an acceptable daily commute. By taking the time to think through your goals and research your options, you'll have done what you can to maximize the odds of your child having a fun and rewarding summer camp experience.

(NOTE: Original comments on this post could not be transferred but may be viewed by clicking here.)

Are Today's Students Uneducated and Unfit for College?

Today on Joanne Jacobs's blog, she reports on Penn State University accounting professor J. Edward Ketz's op-ed arguing that today's students are "uneducated and unfit for a college education." Although at first glance one might be tempted to dismiss this assertion as extreme, the author draws upon 30-plus years of teaching experience and convincingly supports his conclusions.

Ketz doesn't believe there are differences in "native, raw intelligence" between today's students and those of previous generations. Rather, the discrepancies lie "in their educational backgrounds, analytical thinking, quantitative skills, reading abilities, willingness to work, and their attitudes concerning the educational process."

As an accounting professor, Ketz's observations focus on deficiencies in mathematical preparation for the requirements of an accounting major. However, the problems he sees aren't restricted to this area but are much broader, encompassing not only an inability to read but also to think well and work hard. He blames this situation—and today's students' high self-esteem, which appears unwarranted—on K–12 education.

Is Ketz right? And if he is, can anything be done to rectify the situation, or has our society evolved (or deteriorated) to the point where previous assumptions about the preparation for and purpose of a college education are no longer relevant? Cast your vote in the poll to the right and feel free to add your comments. (This poll is now closed—thanks for voting! The poll asked whether today's students are less fit for college; out of 32 respondents, 71.9% said yes, 12.5% said no, and 15.6% were not sure.)

College Admissions: Making the Most of Your Opportunities

Yesterday a former admissions officer at Harvard spoke at a local school about college admissions. One of her main points was that what Harvard and other selective schools want to see is that applicants have made the most of whatever opportunities have been available to them. This means that where you've gone to high school doesn't matter nearly so much as which classes you've taken and your level of involvement with any extracurricular activities you've chosen, given the particular resources of your school.

As an admissions interviewer I've met with countless students from well-endowed top private prep schools to underfunded, languishing public schools. Although I'm always struck by the range of experiences students from the former often present, I'm just as impressed with what students from the latter have been able to achieve despite much more limited options.

In a very real sense, students who've had relatively few possibilities open to them and little personal attention over their high school careers may actually be better prepared for the real world. Because they've essentially had to forge their own way in high school, from appropriate course planning and selection to the entire college admissions process, they may well be more able to cope with the challenges of independent adulthood in college and beyond.

Students who have attended high schools with abundant academic, extracurricular, and personnel resources, however, have often been able to go further academically. Moreover, because of the wealth of their personal experiences, such students frequently offer a broader, more contemplative (as opposed to pragmatic) perspective on life.

The best thing about college is that students from diverse types of schools and dramatically different walks of life end up there together. No matter how limited or plentiful the opportunities were at your high school, the entire playing field is leveled once you arrive at college. And having to interact with students from very different backgrounds than your own is just as much of an education—and, often, stretch—as the classes themselves, regardless of where you went to high school.

5 Quick Ways to Improve Homework Habits

In today's digital age, doing homework can involve many distractions. As reported in the American Psychological Association's Monitor on Psychology this month, a Kaiser Family Foundation study found that nearly two-thirds of students ages 8 to 18 who use a computer for homework do something else simultaneously, such as texting friends, surfing the Web, and listening to music. Though students may claim otherwise, this "media multitasking" interferes with their concentration and productivity.

So what's a parent to do? The following strategies will go a long way toward improving your student's homework habits (and, with any luck, not instigate major battles):

1. Distinguish between "homework time" and "media time." For many students, there's no distinction between the two, but clarifying what the differences are can help. An example: Writing a report may involve research on the Internet, but after the research is complete, there's no need to be on line to do the writing.


2. Keep the computer in a public area of the house. Although this tactic won't be necessary for some students, most will benefit from it. They'll be less inclined to spend unnecessary time on line if a parent is around or siblings can see what they're doing.


3. Restrict "background" music and iPods. Though some students claim they can't study without music, explain how their attention is divided between the two when they do so. Have your student try studying without music for a trial period—perhaps a month—to see if he or she notices a difference.


4. Turn off cell and other phones. Nothing interferes more with studying than constantly being interrupted, and phones are a major source of unnecessary interruptions. If your student balks, ask how many text messages or conversations are so urgent that they can't wait for an hour or two.


5. Track homework time. Have students keep a log of how long completing their homework takes and how well they do on it, with and without media interference. If students can see for themselves how much better their studying goes, they'll be much more likely to go along with any changes to their routines.

By managing the homework environment and making your student more aware of multitasking's counterproductive effects, you'll go a long way toward ensuring not only that studying is actually taking place but that your student is learning and progressing as efficiently as possible.

School Choice: Evaluating On-Line Reviews (Part 2)

In my last post, we took a close look at a school review from the Great Schools website.  website. As we saw, although such reviews can be very helpful, they frequently don't tell the complete story. Important, relevant information may be omitted, and although some reviews may seem more "objective" than others, they always reflect the idiosyncratic opinions and biases of their authors.

Still, parent and student reviews are a valuable resource when read critically. One of the first things to look at when evaluating a school review is its date. Usually, the more recent a review is, the more germane it will be. A school's conditions and staff change over time, often dramatically, so although older reviews can provide useful information and suggest trends, focusing on more recent reviews is a good strategy.

Here is another review, written in June 2007, of the same school:

We have been at Turtle Rock for a year having attended several different schools over the years as we have moved about. Our experience at Turtle Rock has been very positive, we have found the teaching to be excellent and the activities challenging, innovative and interesting. The atmosphere is nurturing and positive. Our daughter has responded very well to the high expectations and encouragement.

In contrast to the previous review, this one is positive. It, too, offers perspective—the reviewer's daughter has attended other schools, so the comments presumably reflect comparisons the author has made among them. Moreover, although the reviewer isn't able to address changes over time (a key feature of the previous review), the student has been at the school long enough—one year—for the impressions to be meaningful.

Unfortunately, the review doesn't contain enough details for the reader to do more than simply make note of it as a positive review. We don't know what grade the student was in, and without specific examples of the "excellent" teaching, "challenging, innovative and interesting" activities, and "high expectations and encouragement," getting a real sense of the school is difficult.

Although reading all the reviews for a school can provide a general indication of parent and student satisfaction or lack thereof, ultimately on-line reviews are most useful as red flags and springboards for further research. If possible, that research should take the form of in-person visits to the school and conversations with as many other parents and students as possible. Armed with these personal and on-line data, parents will have a much better chance of choosing a school that offers the qualities and features they're seeking—and is a good fit for their child.