THE EDUCATED CHILD: A PARENT'S GUIDE FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE; by William J. Bennett, Chester E. Finn Jr., John T. E. . Cribb Jr.; Free Press; 666 pages; $30.
Five years in the making, this substantial "back-to-basics" book is intended as a reference work, a book to be placed on the shelf at home and browsed for specific information. It is not intended to be read from cover to cover. And it is likely to be a popular work among many parents, especially those who have been disenchanted with the direction schools have taken their children in recent years.
The consistent theme is that parents should play a major role in the education of their children. "Raising your child is your number one job," say the authors. "Seeing that he gets a good education is, in many respects, the crux of that task.
"For good or ill, you are always your child's most influential teacher. Even when he reaches school age, you are still the dean-at-home, the chief academic officer. The more involved you are, the better your child's chances of getting a good education."
The lead author, William J. Bennett, was U.S. secretary of education under Ronald Reagan and is author of several best sellers, including "The Book of Virtues," a popular treatise on the values of character in everyday life. He is currently co-director of Empower America, a national conservative group.
Chester E. Finn Jr. is a professor of education at Vanderbilt University, writes for "The Wall Street Journal" and has authored a dozen books, including "We Must Take Charge: Our Schools and Our Future." John T. E. Cribb Jr.'s experience with education is less substantial. He is a free-lance writer and founding partner of the "Bulletin News Network."
They are united in their goal of making character and values prominent in public schools. "For most moms and dads, faith is a crucial part of education. Believing that children are moral and spiritual beings, they want their loved ones to be educated in a way that reflects those beliefs."
The authors present a "solid core curriculum," based in values, and recommend it for home-schoolers or school districts that may not have an organized plan. The academic core, they say, consists of five subjects: English, history and geography, the arts, math, and science. It is essential, they say, that the curriculum spell out exactly what students should know in each subject before graduation.
Every self-help book these days includes a top 10 list or two, and this book is no exception.
"Ten Signs of a Good School" are presented, with an emphasis on "a safe and orderly atmosphere, a clear academic mission, attention to character, fine teachers, strong leadership, high expectations, homework, evaluation and feedback, parent involvement and a sense of community."
The authors also spend considerable time explaining desirable teaching methods for each subject, what ingredients constitute good teachers, the roles that parents should play i n schools, as well as methods to deal with "temptations and troubles" besetting schools, such as drugs and alcohol, the use of television and sex education.
Basically, the authors believe television should be soft-pedaled but that sex education can be wisely practiced if it is done within a moral framework.
"Quality sex education," they say, "has to do not only with how people treat each other and themselves, but also how they should treat each other and themselves. It is about character. A sex education course in which issues of right and wrong do not occupy center stage is evasive and irresponsible. Schools do have a role in helping teach 'the facts of life.' Youngsters should know where babies come from and how their bodies work. But educators should place this information in a moral context."
This useful volume provides a strong, common sense approach to education, and it is easy to use.
Any parent can look up subjects such as school uniforms, computers in the classroom, teachers unions, self-esteem, home schooling, religion and schools, grades and report cards, gifted children and numerous other subjects, and study those sections.
Readers may agree with many positions and disagree with some, but they are sure to consider the information invaluable.