The Original is Still the Best

In the beginning, there were the 13 colonies, that would one day make up an entirely new nation far different than its beginnings in the 17th century.
One thing that did not change was the colonial attitude towards education.  Puritan law dictated, over time, that each town must have a school...where young people were taught to read and write, as well as add and subtract. 
We've come a long way, baby.
Public schools funded by tax dollars still exist, but today parents want more input in their child's education.  We now have options such as home-schooling, cyber-education, private schools, and other options.
Most of the complaints I hear from parents is their fears of bullying by out-of-control youngsters who are improperly parented, attitudes of indifference from teachers, and apathetic administrators.
The bottom line is this...education is education is education.
The public school education system in our country works, with standards set by the U.S. Department of Education and other standards set at the state level.  If your child doesn't progress properly, they fail. 
Fail...as in 'flunk'.  Not 'held back' as some parents like to say.
No one other than the child determines his or her progress.  A child won't learn if she or she doesn't want to.  This begins at home.
Take an active role in your child's education and learning process.  Don't ever assume that just because you excelled in school, your child will do likewise.
Many parents make the mistake of forcing education on their children, metaphorically doing things like shoving flash cards down their throats the moment they come out of the womb, and woe to them if they don't demonstrate an immediate interest and desire to learn.
Children will learn better when their achievements are celebrated, rather than derided.  They may excel at reading and writing, but may fall short in math and science.
While the latter two are important, it's important to choose your words carefully when telling them that improvement is needed in these areas.
RIGHT:  "Good work on your reading and writing...I'm glad you're making progress.  Is the work coming easy to you?  I did see that we need a little work in your math and science studies.  Is there anything I can do to help you with that?"
WRONG:  "I can't believe your failing in this...what's so hard for you to understand about it?  I never had any problem in those subjects."
And of course, always avoid name-calling and negative sounding adjectives.  Your child needs to know you love them unconditionally, and they need to know they're not stupid.
Academic failure does not automatically label one as stupid.  We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and some students learn differently than others.  Poor aptitude and an inadequate foundation in the affected subject matter are the building blocks to better progress.
Talk to your child's principal or guidance counselor about it.  Alternative education is available from most Intermediate Units that assist schools in providing a better foundation to promote student focus.
And the beauty of it is, these services are already paid for by your tax dollars.  You don't have to pay a fortune for tutors or private schools to help your child do better.
All you have to do is listen to your child.  Who knows, you might both learn something.

NEXT WEEK:  Potty Party