By offering encouragement, reading to their children and limiting television viewing, parents can help close a generation gap that is hampering America's schoolchildren, Education Secretary Richard Riley says.
"There is a disconnection . . . so pervasive between adult America and the children of America that we are all losing touch with one another," Riley said in a State of Education address Tuesday at Georgetown University."Public education does have problems," Riley conceded. But, he said, "the time has come to move from the negative crisis of education to a positive solution. All children can learn if we have higher expectations of them and give them opportunities for a real education."
Riley's speech to about 500 students, parents, educators and civic leaders came a week after the Senate passed legislation designed to set voluntary national standards for education and prepare students who don't attend college for the job market.
It also follows reports that U.S. students still trail their counterparts overseas in math and science, while holding their own in reading.
Riley challenged all adults to take an interest in young people and try to instill a love of learning.
"I believe all parents, regardless of their station in life or even their level of education, have the capacity and obligation to teach their children a love of learning," he said.
As part of his "family involvement campaign," Riley offered some specific ways parents can help their children learn:
- Schedule daily homework time.
- Read with younger children and listen to older children read.
- Use television wisely, helping your child choose programs and limiting viewing time.
- Keep in touch with the school.
- Be generous with praise and encouragement.
- Talk to teenagers.