Cognitive Development
A Fresh Perspective - Cognitive Development
You must see your child’s dilemma from a fresh perspective. No one has the level of interest you do! It’s ultimately the parent’s responsibility to take charge of their child’s educational path. Your child can learn -- you must believe this! You should also accept the truth that no one else will shoulder the ultimate responsibility to make sure he or she has the tools needed to achieve learning success.
You may ask, “Why should I have to take charge? I pay plenty of taxes. Isn’t it the teacher’s job to see that my child succeeds in school? I’m no expert on learning. Why should I have to take this responsibility? Give me a break!”
In a perfect world, you’re right -- someone else, like a specialist or an educational institution, would step up and give your child the specific help needed. Practically, however, if you don’t own this issue, your child could face a long, steep road of frustration and even academic and career failure.
The truth often hurts, but an awareness of this reality gives each of us a chance to respond and change our child’s life.
Cognitive Development –A rationale for taking charge
A rationale for taking charge
There are many compelling reasons why you should take charge of your child’s cognitive development. Here are two primary reasons:
First, it makes sense to depend on public or private schools to provide qualified and concerned teachers, a safe environment, and a balanced curriculum. Education systems work hard to insure that the children they serve have these three things.
This environment, as important as it is, does not guarantee that your child will have a successful learning experience. Educators are well intended, but schools simply are not designed to build a child’s cognitive skills base.
In other words, if your child is lacking important underlying skills, the reality is that without your intervention, learning struggles are likely to persist for life. Morally and practically then, as a parent, you cannot neglect to take personal responsibility for your child’s education.
Yes, you can legally delegate the responsibility for your child’s education to a school, public or private. But do you dare do this?
Second, the price you and your family will pay for neglecting to take charge of your child’s cognitive learning foundation could be very steep. The emotional, psychological, academic, and future career or occupational costs can be staggering -- if you wait for someone else to do the job. (see figure 6)
Cognitive Skills Ranking and its Impact on College success and Career Earnings
The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life.1 (Salary estimates adjusted to 2005 dollars.)
If your child’s learning skills are inadequate, you simply cannot afford to wait for someone else to intervene. Time will work against your child’s recovery and progress -- lifelong damage could result.
Improve Learning - Return to Topic List
Excerpts of the book Unlock the Enstein Inside by Dr. Ken Gibson
1 Hernstein, R. and Murray, C. The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life. The Free Press. 1994.
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