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Posted on Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : noon

Parenting links: Colbert takes on the Tiger Mother; will schools start grading your parenting?

By Pam Stout

AnnArbor.com's Parenting Links offers you a look at the most talked about parenting stories around the Web.

Florida Representative's Bill Would Grade Parents' Role in Child's Education
Students, schools and districts are routinely graded based on their performance. Now, it's time to start rating parents, a Florida state lawmaker says. Last week, State Representative Kelli Stargel filed House Bill 255, called the Parent Involvement and Accountability in Public Schools bill.

The bill states that each prekindergarten through third grade student's report card will include a section in which the teacher grades the parental involvement in the areas of communication, homework completion, physical preparation and attendance.

What do you think? Is it time to start grading parents for their role in education?

Colbert Vs. Tiger Mom — Stephen Takes on Amy Chua For Big Laughs
Since Amy Chua, a Yale law professor, wrote about the superiority of Chinese mothers and released her new book, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," the online community has been reeling, with our own Frances Kai-Hwa Wang serving as a resource for several media outlets. Last night, Stephen Colbert interviewed Chua and found some humor in the 'Tiger Mom' controversy. Chua even sent Colbert to his room at one point.

Watch the clip below, and then tell us your take on the whole firestorm:

The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Amy Chua
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog</a> Video Archive


Comments

treetowncartel

Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 3:58 a.m.

Easier to become responsible for raising a kid than it is a puppy from the humane society. I've been through both expereinces and know it to be a fact. I am always amazed to see the same parents day in and day out bringing their kids to school after the final bell has rung in the morning.

J. A. Pieper

Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 1:20 a.m.

There is absolutely nothing in No Child Left Behind related to the responsibilities of parents when it comes to the education of their children. Every bit of responsibility is placed on the teachers and the school system. It IS time for parents to be held responsible for some of the gaps children come to school with already, and for those which are fostered (however unintentionally) as the child proceeds through school. A child who comes into the public school system and has never been read a story, held a pencil or crayon, has no idea what a letter is, or a number, does not know colors, (this list can go on and on) is immediately compared with the child who has had all these experiences, and attended some kind of nursery school. Some parents who have these more capable children have been made to feel they are responsible for the educational gap among children in the classroom. Then, the public wants to hold teachers responsible for this educational gap. Once the children are in school, the family can own several different video gaming systems, which occupy the child so effectively that the parents never have to interact with their children. YES, people, it is time every state needs to start holding parents more responsible!

dotdash

Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 3:35 a.m.

I sympathize with the idea that kids who've never been read a book cannot/should not be compared to well-prepared children. But what will a report card do? Can a report card solve poverty or generations of illiteracy? Maybe the focus is right, but the solution is not a solution.

John of Saline

Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.

What would be nice is for there to be actual discipline possible in classrooms. Teachers are at a severe disadvantage because they cannot simply toss disruptive students, and parents are often no help.

treetowncartel

Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:31 p.m.

I am just waiting to here from all of the bashers of the public school school teacher and merit pay for performance of kids who are not your children supporters now. Kudos to to the Representative from Florida for putting this issue forward.