Educators like to tell the story of a social worker who asked a five-year-old to explain the colors of the traffic signal.
"Green is for go," the child answered, "red is for stop, and yellow is for speed up."
"Yellow is for speed up?" asked the social worker.
The child nodded vigorously. "Whenever the light turns yellow, my daddy speeds up!"
Eighty percent of education takes place at home. Whatever children may learn through homework, lectures, and academic awards, their parents' models of behavior will shape them far more profoundly in adulthood.
Most of us understand intuitively that children raised in an atmosphere of crime will likely grow into criminals, that children exposed to violence will likely grow up as aggressors. But we conveniently overlook and dismiss the more subtle behaviors our own children learn from us, behaviors that, with a small measure of introspection and self-discipline, we could correct in our children by correcting them in ourselves.
What lessons do we teach our children about the importance of education if we don't get them to school on time and neglect to supervise their homework, if we schedule vacations when school is in session and let them miss classes for birthdays and major league baseball games?
What lessons do we teach our children about responsibility if we never require them to clean up after themselves and never require them to work for their pocket money, even if we can afford to indulge them?
What lessons do we teach our children about accountability if we excuse their poor schoolwork or poor behavior by blaming classmates, teachers, and principals, or if we refuse to impose consequences for our children's misconduct by withholding privileges?
What lessons do we teach our children about self-respect if we never set standards for them and praise them whether or not they have done anything worthy of praise, if we are so eager to program every moment of their lives to be fun that we eliminate all challenge?
What lessons do we teach our children about civility if we shout obscenities at other drivers on the highway, if we malign our neighbors and co-workers at the dinner table, if we answer our cell phones in the middle of conversations or allow our pagers to sound off during the symphony?
What lessons do we teach our children about family commitment if our only time with them is spent staring into the television?
What lessons do we teach our children about moderation if we spend twice as much on a Lexus when really a Camry would do, if the cost of our new suit or dress or stereo system could support an entire family for a month?
What lessons do we teach our children about compassion if they hear us ardently discussing our stock portfolios but only hear about our donations to charity as impositions or tax deductions?
What lessons do we teach our children about family commitment if we work late nights at the office, if our only time with them is spent staring into the television?
What lessons do we teach our children about devotion if we regularly skip synagogue for golf or tennis, or, if we do attend, we arrive late, chatter through services, and sleep through the sermon?
And, on the other hand, consider the lessons that we can teach our children when we talk with them about school and supervise their homework, when we plan age-appropriate activities around their schedules, when we turn off the TV and the internet to read a book or go for a walk, when we volunteer for school trips or soup kitchens or visiting the sick, when we speak softly and listen attentively, when we limit the luxuries that clutter our lives so that we can focus better on the things that really matter.
Of course, none of us is perfect; we all have our human failings. But we could all be doing better than we are. By resolving that we will not be slaves to habit, to greed, or to ego, by committing ourselves to raise up the standard of discipline, refinement, and integrity that our duty as parents demands of us, then we will see the changes we have made in our children by having made them in ourselves.
(13) Dr. Mrs. NEERU JOSHI, September 21, 2015 8:28 AM
God can not be physically present everywhere therefore he made parents...
Designation as a parent is the most responsible and most challenging as we are preparing the future Nation.Home is the first school and Mother particularly is the first teacher of a child.Every single moment in the growth of a child is counted and we cannot afford missing a single activity of them as if it is good activity , we need to praise & if it is not in a way as is to be done then very intelligently we need to make them understand. this is called accountability which is the foremost ingredient in the growth of a child. So be decisive for your children and carry out this responsibility laid on us by Almighty for the pride of our Nation
Dr. Mrs. NEERU JOSHI
PRINCIPAL, BBPS,MODINAGAR
(12) rehbar, December 10, 2014 5:48 AM
The Article is really good and helpful for children/parents
(11) Anonymous, November 26, 2012 10:46 AM
show a child the right way to go; that is a lifelong investment
nice write up!
(10) Chana, December 8, 2010 12:07 AM
I am a teenager, and the article was great. I only had a problem with the line about late nights at work. My parents work long and hard hours to give me and my siblings the gift of attending a Jewish school and getting a good jewish eductaion. This is one of the most valuable lessons that they could give me and I am very grateful to them.
(9) Mark A Bello, March 18, 2005 12:00 AM
Mirror dosen't lie
The principle of your article will sure help me become a better role model. Thank you
(8) Anonymous, July 29, 2002 12:00 AM
When Parents Fail ...
When a kid in a dysfunctional family reaches the teen years, he or she needs alternative guidance so that by legal adulthood s/he isn't unprepared for life. It's insane that one day a kid is helpless in the grasp of emotionally disturbed people, and the next day is fully accountable for his/her survival and actions. Mental health outreach to teens, informed by true Jewish knowledge, should be widespread and assertive.
(7) Anonymous, April 16, 2001 12:00 AM
Excellent Article!
I am a girl scout leader for 14 six years olds. It is very discouraging to see the lack of parental role models for these girls. I am going to include this article in our next newsletter. We are working on earning daisy petals for "respect myself" and "respect authority". Parents can learn just as much, if not more, as the girls from the suggestions in this article. Thanks!
(6) Michael Stein, February 16, 2001 12:00 AM
We parents certainly are the model for our child(ren)
We certainly provide the modeling for our moldable child(ren) - we are the largest focus in their young lives.
(5) Tzippy, February 16, 2001 12:00 AM
well, im only 14, but ive been thinking about all this alot- because i see how things work in my parents' home and i'm learning from it and observing how their behavior trickles down to my sisters and me. when i work on my character, i'm working so i can teach those traits to my children... thanks for the article- this issue is very important to me.
(4) Anonymous, February 7, 2001 12:00 AM
required reading!
As a teacher, I feel this should be required reading for every parent. I sometimes wonder whom I'm supposed to be teaching - the parent or the child!Kudos to the author for saying what needs to be said but few want to hear.
(3) Patrick Honea, February 5, 2001 12:00 AM
Too, too true.
As the light turned green, my granddaughter Sophie said "I'll do it for Papa." Then she yelled "Move it moron!" My face burned in shame. We all know better.
(2) Rosalind Newman, February 4, 2001 12:00 AM
Excellent advice.
(1) Anonymous, February 4, 2001 12:00 AM
right on target
Unfortunately, the article is right on target, and we have heartache in our family to prove it.