Research

How About Better Parents?

Columnist Thomas Friedman seeks to lighten the burden of teachers to give students a great education. In his column "How About Better Parents?", Friedman illustrates how parents give a significant influence in a student's education. Parents who are more active in the school life of their children produce children who score higher as opposed to parents who are more indifferent to their child's daily learning. Active participation can include asking how a child's day was a school, reading with the child at an early age, monitoring homework and rewarding their efforts. Showing a genuine interest in the wellbeing of a student can seriously boost their academic achievements. Regardless of socioeconomic background, parents who value the social connection between parent and student will see an average of 25 points higher in the PISA test, the "equivalent of well over half a school year".