what's wrong with schools these days

[Dixie Belle]

I remeber starting school, I knew my ABC's, how to count, how to write my name, and my colors. I was so bored in kindergarden until they tought us how to read. But my neice and nephew didn't start learning to read until first grade.

A lot of it is parents. I have an perfect example. My husband has a three year old brother. Our oldest son is two. Our child was talking, learning his ABC's, how to count, and his colors. It wasn't until we moved closer to them and they were around him a lot before they realized that he could do a lot of stuff their son couldn't. Now they are putting in a little time with him and he is catching up. It's not that hard to sit down and spend five minutes with your child. We plan on sending our kids to a really good private school when the time comes.

[popcornbird]

I would just have to add, "what is wrong with PARENTS these days...".

The schools only have the child for 7ish hours, and not all of that is instructional time. The parents have them the rest!

Turn off the TV! Read (and otherwise interact) with your children. Don't leave it up to the schools to do it all.

Absolutely! My mom taught me to read well before I started kindergarten. I remember my teacher being surprised about my ability to read when I started kindergarten...perhaps because not every parent bothers teaching their children before school. I agree. A child's mother is his/her FIRST SCHOOL! Parents need to take more of their children's responsibility in their own hands.

[WolvesRawk]

It really is sad. When I was in kindergarten, I was the only one who could read, write, and type. My teacher HATED me for it! I could ave easily skipped 1st and 2nd grade. I could do 5th grade math in 1st grade. None of this is a lie. But, now the kindergarten kids can't even spell their own names. Some don't know their abc's untill the END of 1st grade! It's sick how no one is teaching their kids a thing!

[MariaM]

I learned to read in Kindergarten. I remember the teacher taking us aside in Kindergarten, and asking us to count as high as we could. Most kids never made it past 20, while the teacher told me to stop once I hit 100. I don't think 100 in Kindergarten is that much to ask. Now I look back on it, I'm surprised the other kids couldn't count higher. (There were about 7 others). They had all went to preschool as well, and I hadn't. My mom never really taught me anything, I just always caught on quick. I agree though that parents should start teaching their children before school starts.