Education for Parents: Who is to blame for your child’s Failure?

Who is to blame for your child’s Failure?

(postponed end of June)

We send our children to the best schools we can afford to give them the brightest possible future. But when a child struggles academically or socially, many schools automatically, as a matter of policy, attribute the poor performance to defects in that student’s intellect, study skills, upbringing or family life.

To be sure, there are times when those issues are justified, but it is interesting that the school will inevitably leave itself out of the equation.

Can a school contribute to a child’s failure?

Certainly the answer is yes.

A big campus with lots of facilities, well-educated teachers, international standards, a comprehensive curriculum, these are all wonderful things. But in a way they obscure the main question: “Can you teach my kid?”

There are more than 8 identified learning styles; most schools can only accommodate 2 or 3 of them.

Social stigma

What if your child has a non-traditional learning style? Does that make them dumb?

There are few things more humiliating to families than when a child fails at school. Their classmates are merciless at pointing them out as the stupid kids who had to leave.

Ironically, studies have shown that there is a 50-50 chance that the kid who failed out will grow up to be the boss of the kids who did the pointing.

How can that be?

That’s because many of the kids who don’t do well are unconventional thinkers. It’s only later in life that the world discovers just how valuable they really are. Provided, of course, that they don’t lose faith in themselves because of all the ridicule.

Learn What You can do!

Jerome Castro, formerly of Ateneo de Manila University and currently Head Master of Reedley International School speaks out about the accountability of schools for results, how to find the real cause of your child’s school difficulties, and what to do about it.

Education for Parents is an ongoing series of talks designed to give you the tools you need to raise happy, successful children.

This talk is brought to you by Reedley International School : A committed partner for academic accountability.

DATE: 24 May 2008, Saturday
TIME: 9am
VENUE: Club Filipino, San Juan Metro Manila
SPEAKER: Mr. Jerome Castro