| Education has always been vital to one's survival, | | | | (and they are signals that your life is not fulfilling). |
| even long before formal schools were established. | | | | If you tell your children that school is important so |
| Imagine how long prehistoric man would survive if | | | | that they can attain a good job, but you do not |
| he did not learn how to hunt or to protect himself | | | | like your job, a student has no motivation to |
| against the elements. In American culture, we | | | | achieve such a dubious reward. Perhaps your teen |
| have witnessed the increasing demand for formal | | | | is smarter than you give him or her credit for, |
| education as a means of survival. As a parent, it | | | | rebelling against meaningless labor. |
| is your duty to provide your young students with | | | | When conversing with your teen, where do you |
| the skills and resources necessary for them to | | | | place your emphasis? If you express greater |
| succeed in school and in life. | | | | interest in your teen's sports than upon his or her |
| Valuing education is a fundamental prerequisite. | | | | academic work, your actions are contradicting |
| You cannot complain that your child is not taking | | | | your words that school is important. How much |
| school seriously if you do not demonstrate its | | | | attention do you pay to what your student is |
| importance. It is not enough to repeatedly say to | | | | actually learning rather than upon his or her |
| your teen, "School is important" or "You have to | | | | grades? Ask about that book being read for |
| do better at school." What are your attitudes | | | | English. Ask your teen to teach you to do that |
| towards education? Do you manifest a desire in | | | | math problem. Discuss with your teen how the |
| your life to learn and to undertake challenges that | | | | chemistry lesson applies to daily life. Your interest |
| may be difficult? Consider your response when | | | | in your teen's learning will convey the value of his |
| you are offered or required to participate in | | | | or her education. |
| training related to your job. Parents must foster a | | | | Seek learning opportunities in your life. This does |
| value of education in themselves before they can | | | | not mean that you have to continually be enrolled |
| expect their children to adopt it. Maybe the | | | | in college courses, but that you pursue learning |
| workshop or conference you attended was | | | | eagerly. Explore something on the internet: learn a |
| boring, but can you not find at least one thing that | | | | new word or recipe, name that bird that you see |
| might help you in your occupation? Get excited | | | | every morning, get golf tips or gardening tips, |
| about that one piece of information, new | | | | research health issues. Take up a new hobby. |
| approach, or to just reflect on your occupation. If | | | | Read an article or a book and discuss it. Wonder |
| the training was ineffective, think about why it is | | | | about where that road goes and then find out. |
| not more interesting - what do you need to | | | | Learning is about discovery; be curious about |
| increase your interest and motivation? What can | | | | things and follow up on your curiosity. |
| you do differently at work to promote positive | | | | Your enthusiasm for learning and your practiced |
| change? Share positive attitudes with your family; | | | | expectation that your teen also engage in learning |
| get excited about work, learning, and growth. | | | | will instill a value that will benefit him or her |
| Consider your attitude towards your job. School is | | | | through life. Attitudes are learned and you can |
| your teen's primary job; it should be his or her | | | | teach your teen to be successful. You can |
| priority. Do you model the perspective that work | | | | cultivate an aspiration for learning within your |
| is an activity to which you give your best? Or do | | | | home that will reap rewards, not just for your |
| you promote an attitude of "getting by"? Killing | | | | teen, but yourself as well. Valuing education is a |
| time and waiting impatiently for the work day to | | | | prerequisite for your teen's success. |
| end are not effective messages for your children | | | | |