[wintertime]

If every government school were permanently padlocked tomorrow, the same children who are educated today would be the same children who would be educated tomorrow!

Why? Because it is parents in the early years, and children as they grow older, who are doing 99.99% of the work IN THE HOME!

[mbynack]

The parent's attitude toward education is a big factor. That's why many second generation Vietnamese students from families that came here in 1975 became outstanding students. The parents were adament that their children take advantage of the educational opportunities in this country.

If the parents attitude is, "I didn't get no schoolin' and I did okay" the student is likely to drop out.

My dad's attitude was - "drop out and I'll kill you. I will drive you to school myself and chain you to a desk before I let you drop out." We had that discussion one time and I never brought it up again. I credit him with anything I ever achieved after that.