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The Five Keys to Success in Education:

In a recent article, former New York Senator Daniel Patrick Monyihan, was quoted as saying that there are five factors that influence success in education:

1. Number of days in school.

2. Pages of homework read.

3. Hours of TV watched.

4. A love of reading.

5. Two parents in the home.

It should come as a surprise to no-one that children do better in school when they attend class, do their homework, and read a lot. It should also be self evident that turning the television off, will help with this. As for having two parents in the home, as a father of six daughters, some times it is essential to double team the little rascals!

These are the rules; there are of course exceptions.

A friend of mine, a very talented and dynamic single mother (with 5 straight "A" children), recently said: "The schools would have driven me nuts, if it were not for the fact that I always considered it my responsibility to educate my children. I was grateful for what ever help I received along the way from the schools." 

The schools can only "set the table" they cannot force the children to eat. Some children have huge appetites, and cannot get enough. Others are picky eaters, and will not eat a well-balanced meal. Still others are inclined to start food fights. These activities are largely beyond the control of the schools, but usually fully within the control of parents. 

Holding teachers accountable for student achievement is as ludicrous as holding a dentist responsible for the number of cavities his patients receive. 

Educational performance will not improve until parents realize that every home is a school, and that they are the teachers.  

The only thing that the schools can do is to attempt to improve the quality of the meal being served, however, this is problematic. I consider the "new and improved ed-reform meal" to be poison, and will not permit my children to partake of it. Others do take the opposite view. 

There is no substitute for freedom.