Archive for the ‘Featured education’ Category
Rural Schooling
Posted on Jan 2, 2012 04:08:53 PM
A rural school is defined by having fewer than 600 students in its district. Rural institutions dot every state in the country but are often overlooked. Follow these tips to see things a parent should consider before enrolling his/her children in a country school as well as the challenges and advantages of a rural education.
Challenges
In structuring the American education system, the focus is generally put on large urban schools. Only one in five students attend a rural school. Because improvements to these make a more noticeable impact, the needs of small rural schools can often be neglected. “Frontier Schools” found in extremely remote areas are doubly affected. These areas are often wrestling with poverty. If the school is relying on the taxation of its local citizens, then it might fail.
A smaller school may also not be able to cover the needs of every student. Schools with less than 100 students may not be able to fill up classes in certain grade levels. Students in less represented age groups will find themselves pushed up or back a year to remain with a crowd. Their distance from urban schools often carries over into technology. In such a tech savvy world, an education that can’t expose your child to the newest technology could set them up to be left behind.
Advantages
With a smaller school comes individualized attention. A teacher with 15-20 students to educate—opposed to 35—will be able to create closer, more nurturing relationships with his/her students. And the first step to a good education is a qualified, passionate teacher. Attending a rural school won’t guarantee a great teacher, but parents will certainly have a closer relationship to their child’s education.
Rural schools are often safer. The metal detectors, barbed wire fences and extensive surveillance systems of an urban school can resemble a minimum-security prison, while the average rural school is pleasantly more on par with home security or ADT. A child can’t learn in an environment where they don’t feel safe.
Things to Consider
Rural schools are less consistent than urban schools for both good and bad qualities. Because of this parents and guardians should examine a few key factors before enrolling their child in an institution. Despite the level of facilities a school may possess, it is the leadership in a school or school district that will most directly affect your child. Fantastic and unimpressive schools alike can be turned around by a group of passionate educators.
Get friendly with the administration of your child’s potential school. Find out the principal’s job history and views on what makes a good education. You should also check-in with the teachers. Don’t just see which teacher your child would have this year, look down the line as well. Will your child have several years of strong teachers? How do they feel about the school? Do they seem to come and go or be shuffled around frequently? You should look for a balance where the educators are encouraged to regularly update techniques but still have time to be familiar with their grade level/subject. If you find a host of balanced leaders, the school you’re looking at may just be perfect.
Things Good Parents do That Unintentionally put Their Young Children at Risk
Posted on Nov 16, 2011 09:35:36 AM
Despite their best intentions, parents can make unwise choices on their children’s behalf. The dangers that children can encounter are often less insidious than obvious dangers, like playing too close to the street. Keeping your children safe while they’re inside the home is also paramount. Here are some strategies that can help parents raise their children without putting them at needless risk.
Stay safe in the kitchen
Microwaves are wonderful and efficient tools in the kitchen but they should not be used for heating up your child‘s bottle. Doing so can cause the liquid to heat unevenly, resulting in cold and hot spots that can cause your child discomfort. The American Academy of Pediatrics also advises parents to heat liquids in microwave-safe containers before transferring to a child’s bottle due to concerns about Bisphenol A leaching into foods and beverages.
Don’t placate the palate
It’s no secret that children need foods that will nourish their growing bodies. Children can easily form picky eating habits, which can make mealtimes stressful. Rather than only feeding a toddler fish sticks and macaroni and cheese because he refuses to eat anything else, sneak vegetables into foods he will eat, such as spaghetti sauce or smoothies. Numerous foods like soups and hamburgers can disguise the appearance and taste of vegetables. Be patient as you discover what your child will and will not eat; tastes can and do change during a person’s life. Make sure as well that you are leading by example and eating the foods you are serving your child.
Curb TV time
It’s very easy to spend too much time in front of the television. Adults are advised to watch fewer than two hours of TV each day but generally watch a minimum of four hours an evening. Watching television distracts parents’ attention from their children and provides no intellectual stimulus for children under two, despite the prevalence of videos that are marketed as being educational in nature. While you’re not always going to be able to keep kids from plopping down in front of the TV, you can reduce the amount of time they spend watching it. Fill your newfound free time with age-appropriate interactive play, such as tumbling or art activities.
Don’t brush off conflict
Though small children are unlikely to fully understand a lecture from their parents about manners, it’s still important to teach them about boundaries and acceptable behavior. Whether at daycare, school, or at home during a play date, your child needs to learn about responsibility and accountability. Activities that cause hurt feelings or physical injury, however minor, should not be brushed off with a “kids will be kids” excuse. This does not mean resorting to corporal punishment to discipline a child. It is important to curb bad behavior before it becomes an issue that might take considerably more time to correct down the line.
Being a parent isn’t an easy job but it doesn’t have to be the toughest endeavor you’ve ever experienced either. Make your job as protector as easy as possible by teaching children often and well, from proper eating habits to accountability. Your efforts will pay off in the short- and long-term.
Danielle, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, enjoys reading parent-authored blogs and those that keep her apprised of trends in education for Generation Z.
