Dec 23 2008
Poor Parenting Has an Impact on a Child’s Success in School
Well, this seems like a pretty obvious finding that may not need explanation. Home life does have an effect on school performance according to a study on ability gaps among students in the US and the UK . But, how much does poor parenting impact a child and what does ‘poor parenting’ mean?
It may make more sense to answer the second question first. In this study, led by Professor Jane Waldfogel of Columbia University, New York, the research looked at ability gaps in children based on different income levels. For the first question, I will throw out some statistics found in the study. Waldfogel found that in the United States, poorer children scored a 34 out of 80 on literacy tests. In the UK, the results were similar, with lower social class children scoring 32 out of 80 points. The more affluent children scored 69 out of 80 n the US and 63 out of 80 in the UK.
So, what does this mean? Is income the only variable? The study attributed these low scores to lack of access to educational materials and time spent with children at home. Many of the lower income families are not educated themselves and that can be a factor. However, the study also found that it is not just income that plays a role, but parenting styles. For example, how much time is spent reading or other educational activities with the child and the amount of positive interactions with the child? This can also be considered ‘poor’ parenting whether a family has money or not.
Considering the results of this study and probably many others, it is important for parents to see that educating children is not solely the schools responsibility. It should start in the home, and the earlier, the better.
Reference: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7795540.stm
Educating a child is not the responsibility of a school, a church, a community, or a government. That function rests completely with the parent. If parents choose to place a child in school rather than educating her solely at home, then it is their duty to follow up and ensure that adequate progress is being made.
Furthermore, to make a blanket statement that lower income families are less educated is to draw a conclusion not evidenced by the research data as above described. Did these researchers survey the families to determine their level of formal or informal education and correlate that with the family’s income, or did they simply assume that lower income families must necessarily have less formal education, and must therefore be less involved in their children’s lives?
As long as parents have someone else willing and eager to shoulder the responsibility for their children, as long as we have “experts” telling us that parents are not adequate teachers of their own children, as long as we have compulsory education, then the problem of children not receiving the education they deserve will continue.
Appreciate you comments.
Yes, it is parent’s responsibility to play a role in educating their children. That was the point of this article. However, it is also the school’s job, too. Why else would children go to school? Not all parent’s can home school and most schools are capable of provide a good learning environment. Of course, parents should be involved and follow up.
For the most part, lower income families are less educated and higher income families are more educated. Of course, there are always exceptions to this rule. This is not really news. I think the article was just expressing that there is a correlation between income and school performance. As the article also states, they found that not only is income a factor, but how much time is spent with the child on learning, etc.