Published in 2011, Push Has Come To Shove by Dr. Steve Perry delivers a raw & honest view of the state of education in our country.
Interesting points Dr. Perry states…:
- nothing improves student performance as much as quality of instruction
- parents are neither the cause nor the solution for the problems in our schools
- many schools don’t know how to make parents useful partners
- most good teachers don’t want anything to do with teachers’ unions
- students know who the good teachers are
- schools & educators derive some of their greatest growth from a sincere question
Additionally, Dr. Perry offers parenting thoughts from what is the best home atmosphere in promoting life-long learning to the challenges, including his own, of the 24/7 world of parenting.
- “What I see in all successful parent-child relationships is humility & respect.”
- 5 things parents can control (pg 95): early reading, early numeracy, setting high expectations, curiosity, discipline
- being a parent means putting your kids’ needs above your compulsions of adulthood while simultaneously keeping the you in you
- “from the middle class up, we give our kids too damn much.”
- successful students’ parents don’t do the studying for their kids, even if they do it together
- successful kids are not perfect
- create a shrine to learning in the home – read, watch what money is spent on as it reflects values, find educational toys supporting intellectual growth
“There’s always a price for what you want.” ~ Dr. Steve Perry
