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	<title>Smart and Healthy Kids</title>
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	<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca</link>
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		<title>Great ideas for cycling tip planning</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/health-fitness/great-ideas-for-cycling-tip-planning.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/health-fitness/great-ideas-for-cycling-tip-planning.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:23:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health & Fitness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=448</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Biking is a popular sport among many people. Pleasant cycling trips are good for lungs and the heart, can make people more fit without monotony and are a great way to get places where no paths or roads have been laid out before. In Canada biking tourism is becoming to boom with plenty of great <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/health-fitness/great-ideas-for-cycling-tip-planning.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Biking is a popular sport among many people. Pleasant cycling trips are good for lungs and the heart, can make people more fit without monotony and are a great way to get places where no paths or roads have been laid out before. In Canada biking tourism is becoming to boom with plenty of great breathtaking places to visit and see. Recreation paths for bikes are springing up everywhere but accidents still may happen when you are on the road. That is why it is imperative for people to know numbers of legal advisers helping with <a href="http://www.speedingticketstoronto.ca/">speeding tickets toronto</a> and other issues that may arise on the road when you travel. Making sure you are on top of your game s possible if you follow the advice of <a href="http://www.trafficticketsintoronto.ca/">traffic tickets in toronto</a> specialists who can clear you of any issues with the authorities. Before you biking trip, make sure you know all the numbers.</p>
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		<title>How to make money out of money?</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/business-products-services/how-to-make-money-out-of-money.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/business-products-services/how-to-make-money-out-of-money.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:32:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Products & Services]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=440</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The way people invest in shares is different. Indeed, if you have a lot of money and you do not know what to do and where to invest you would definitely hire a trader who will so all the work for you in case you want to enter the stock market. When you enter the <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/business-products-services/how-to-make-money-out-of-money.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The way people invest in shares is different. Indeed, if you have a lot of money and you do not know what to do and where to invest you would definitely hire a trader who will so all the work for you in case you want to enter the stock market. When you enter the stock market you will be shocked to find out the number of companies that trade, you will know about blue chips and how to make revenue out of financial gossip. But if this constant battle is not for you you still have a nice opportunity to make money from investments. We are talking about real estate and the ways people can make money out of flipping real estate. You may ask agents from <a href="http://condos.ca/">Condos.ca</a> and you will be surprised to find out that hundreds of thousands of people have already invested in real estate in Toronto and now are making profits out of this. So do not stay in the shade when you can make money.</p>
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		<title>Gift baskets for easy gifts</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/smart-kids/gift-baskets-for-easy-gifts.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/smart-kids/gift-baskets-for-easy-gifts.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:24:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smart Kids]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=429</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Gift baskets for easy gifts If you are looking for the fastest deliver on Canadian gift baskets then it is high time to visit custom gift baskets online shop – the faster gift baskets shop in Canada. The store is made for customers who have little time but want to get something truly special. It <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/smart-kids/gift-baskets-for-easy-gifts.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3>Gift baskets for easy gifts</h3>
<p>If you are looking for the fastest deliver on Canadian gift baskets then it is high time to visit <a href="http://www.giftbasketcanada.com/">custom gift baskets</a> online shop – the faster gift baskets shop in Canada. The store is made for customers who have little time but want to get something truly special. It is easy to browse through a wide variety of products by price or category. There are plenty of baskets to go around at different prices and for different occasions that can make a difference to the way you interact with your friends and family. So make sure you know what you are doing and get ready to reap the results of your work in no time. It is essential to choose the basket with the knowledge of personal tastes and preferences in mind. Make sure you include a personal message too.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Take the help of lawyers for claiming against the employer</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/healthy-kids/take-the-help-of-lawyers-for-claiming-against-the-employer.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/healthy-kids/take-the-help-of-lawyers-for-claiming-against-the-employer.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:20:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Healthy Kids]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=386</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you also suffering from mesothelioma and do not know how severe this disease could be? Then go out and search online for the doctors who can give you counseling online on how serious this disease is. It is required by you to cure it immediately. As a patient of mesothelioma I suffered many symptoms <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/healthy-kids/take-the-help-of-lawyers-for-claiming-against-the-employer.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you also suffering from mesothelioma and do not know how severe this disease could be? Then go out and search online for the doctors who can give you counseling online on how serious this disease is. It is required by you to cure it immediately.<br />
As a patient of mesothelioma I suffered many symptoms like cough, fever and breathing problems. I wanted it to be cured immediately. My doctor suggested me with specialist who can cure this disease. I visited him for the treated. He wanted me to go through series of medical tests again to study my case in detail. Once, he went through the case he found out that I was affected by the disease due to inhalation of asbestos particles. I realized the place where I work is surrounded by asbestos. Then I understood why I was affected by mesothelioma. I felt my company was responsible for it which could not provide me with enough protection from exposure of asbestos. The doctor asked me to undergo a treatment and also told me the cost of it. By which I got puzzled! Understanding my situation doctor gave me a suggestion of claiming the amount at the company. When I did apply this claim I was unsatisfied with amount that they had issued. Then through mesotheliomalawyers.com I came to know what kind of amount I can get if I claim at my company.  For this all I needed was to have a <a href="http://www.mesotheliomalawyers.com/">mesothelioma attorney</a>  who can effectively fight a case and win for me. By this I can easily pay my hospital expenses and compensate the loss.</p>
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		<title>Boys Names: A Difficult Task To Be Performed</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/smart-kids/boys-names-a-difficult-task-to-be-performed.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/smart-kids/boys-names-a-difficult-task-to-be-performed.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:56:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smart Kids]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=384</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a common thinking among the people of today’s world that the popular names of the boys which we hear today are the best ones. And to a certain extent this is a wrong concept which is been performed. The common question which is been asked by most of the parents is what suitable <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/smart-kids/boys-names-a-difficult-task-to-be-performed.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There is a common thinking among the people of today’s world that the popular names of the boys which we hear today are the best ones. And to a certain extent this is a wrong concept which is been performed. The common question which is been asked by most of the parents is what suitable <a href="http://www.babynames.co.uk/Baby_boy_names.htm">Boys Names</a> should be kept in order to bring out the correct meaning of the family.</p>
<p>In actual there are several websites which provides us with suitable Boys Names but it is our responsibility to choose the correct one so that they may carry out the responsibility of the family on their shoulders. There are several sites which reveal the names which should be kept, and among them it is the responsibility of the parents to select the correct one.<br />
There are many cases where the name is been kept in a very funky manner and in the near future the name did not bring out any information regarding the family. Therefore the basic thing which one has to understand is that the name of the son reflects the correct story of the family knowing <a href="http://www.babynames.co.uk/">meaning of names</a>.. Not only that, Boys Names also helps in getting several other benefits like the family gets a firm ground, due to good names the reputation of the family also increases and many other benefits. According to the U.S. survey in the year 2005 the best name which was kept there was Jacob.</p>
<p>Therefore these were some of the most essential points which should be kept in mind before naming a baby boy.</p>
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		<title>Buying A Nicorette Invisi Patch Online</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/smart-kids/buying-a-nicorette-invisi-patch-online.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/smart-kids/buying-a-nicorette-invisi-patch-online.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:27:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Smart Kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[: Online chemist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nicorette invisi patch]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=389</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you trying to quit smoking? There have been many studies done that show certain products such as nicorette invisi patch can greatly aid smokers who are trying to quit. So if you want to buy some of these products at an online chemist, you’ll find here at Morningside Pharmacy we offer some great deals <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/smart-kids/buying-a-nicorette-invisi-patch-online.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you trying to quit smoking? There have been many studies done that show certain products such as <a href="http://www.morningsidepharmacy.co.uk/catalogue/healthy-living/stop-smoking">nicorette invisi patch</a> can greatly aid smokers who are trying to quit. So if you want to buy some of these products at an <a href="http://www.morningsidepharmacy.co.uk/">online chemist</a>, you’ll find here at Morningside Pharmacy we offer some great deals on quit-smoking products.</p>
<p>We have the invisi patch in 10, 15, and 25 milligram dosage, and we also offer the regular Nicorette patch at 5 milligrams or 15 milligrams in a 7 pack box.</p>
<p>We also offer a wide variety of other products including Nicorette Quickmist mouth spray, Nicorette Freshmint gum, and Nicorette inhaler starter packs and refill packs.</p>
<p>If you are also looking for NiQuitin products, we carry a good variety of those as well, including lozenges and patches.</p>
<p>Besides quit-smoking products, we also carry a wide variety of other pharmaceudical products including medicines, skin care, baby and child products, family planning products, and more.</p>
<p>We are a registered UK pharmacy with more than 20 years of experience. You can trust us to offer only the best high quality products. We are a family run business and we always give great attention to detail and customer service. You can even use us as an online chemists to order your prescriptions.</p>
<p>For more information, or to ask us about any of our products, send us an email at: info@morningsidepharmacy.co.uk, or  click the Contact tab to fill in our contact form. We’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Fitness apprenticeship with Lifetime Fitness</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/healthy-kids/fitness-apprenticeship-with-lifetime-fitness.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/healthy-kids/fitness-apprenticeship-with-lifetime-fitness.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:28:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Healthy Kids]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=380</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are between 16-18 and are looking to become a fitness trainer then you are in luck because now with government approved fitness apprenticeships you can train to be a certified fitness trainer within 17 days in Lifetime Fitness academy. If opening up a new fitness business or just looking to be a certified <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/healthy-kids/fitness-apprenticeship-with-lifetime-fitness.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you are between 16-18 and are looking to become a fitness trainer then you are in luck because now with government approved<strong> <a href="http://www.lifetimetraining.co.uk/fitness-academy" target="_blank">fitness apprenticeships</a></strong> you can train to be a certified fitness trainer within 17 days in Lifetime Fitness academy. If opening up a new fitness business or just looking to be a certified fitness trainer to avail jobs, now it is easy and quick to get apprenticeships in desired category. Fitness apprenticeships and other such apprenticeships have short period of time because of the role specific programmes provided by Lifetime Fitness.</p>
<p>There are many different apprenticeships available with different levels, hence it is best to find out which programme is best suitable for you and till how many levels you want to upgrade yourself. Since these apprenticeships are government approved the quality of the certificate is commendable. Throughout the programme in-class education as well as on the job training will be provided. Once the apprenticeship is completed a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), a key skill qualification and a technical certificate will be given.</p>
<p>Many businesses and gyms have started to approve the Lifetime Fitness apprenticeship and now getting a job can be easy and quick. Nearly 4000 adults who availed apprenticeship through Lifetime Fitness are currently working with employers around the UK. People who are already working can also avail fitness apprenticeship<strong>s</strong> for work based apprenticeship to further upgrade their credentials. <a href="http://www.lifetimetraining.co.uk" target="_blank"><strong>Lifetime Fitness</strong></a> does not only provide apprenticeships but also guidance and support to help you get your first job as a fitness instructor. The fitness apprenticeship is divided into 3 levels however one can obtain the first level and start their job immediately. Once a job is secured you can upgrade up to the 3 levels while you are on the job and can become a certified fitness trainer.</p>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Ipage hosting Report</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/homeschooling/ipage-hosting-report.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/homeschooling/ipage-hosting-report.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:10:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Homeschooling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=378</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ipage was launched with new management and control systems and it is a leading hosting company which provides hosting company which provides quality hosting service at affordable cost. The file transfer speed is exceptionally with ipage in a few minutes, as the registration needs less than 5 minutes. The control panel of ipage comes with <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/homeschooling/ipage-hosting-report.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ipage was launched with new management and control systems and it is a leading hosting company which provides hosting company which provides quality hosting service at affordable cost. The file transfer speed is exceptionally with ipage in a few minutes, as the registration needs less than 5 minutes. The control panel of <a href="http://discounthosting4u.com/ipage-review-coupon/">ipage</a> comes with rich look user interface and smooth user menu navigation. Ipage is promoting their web hosting solution with unbelievable offer of 55%. With only $2.99 per month, you can enjoy lot features like unlimited bandwidth, disk space, MySQL databases, free domain for life, free site builder tools etc.</p>
<p>Fatcow is one of the veteran web hosting providers in the market which has been in the industry since 1998 and it has gained a lots of experience and suits better for the clients those who are looking for reliable hosting solution. Fatcow’s name itself indicates that it is a unique hosting provider in the industry among others. <a href="http://discounthosting4u.com/fatcow-hosting-report/">Fatcow</a> hosting provider also has remarkable reliability that can be proved from its strict daily back up policy.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Home School Education Comes Full Circle</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/homeschooling/home-school-education-comes-full-circle.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/homeschooling/home-school-education-comes-full-circle.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:55:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Homeschooling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=198</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Home School Education Comes Full Circle The face of schooling has changed over the years. From learning at home from one&#8217;s family, to one room school houses that served as the classroom for children of many ages, to schools housed in massive buildings where students have access to resources that used to be reserved for <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/homeschooling/home-school-education-comes-full-circle.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Home School Education Comes Full Circle</strong></p>
<p>The face of schooling has changed over the years. From learning at home from one&#8217;s family, to one room school houses that served as the classroom for children of many ages, to schools housed in massive buildings where students have access to resources that used to be reserved for the finest universities, schools have constantly evolved throughout contemporary history. Today we are witnessing a reversal of that trend as more and more students find themselves out of the public schools and back at home receiving a home school education. </p>
<p>&#13;There are many reasons that parents may opt to provide their children with a home school education. Some parents prefer a home school education because public schools are not legally allowed to provide religious guidance and instruction. Other parents may believe that a home school education can provide higher and more stringent academic standards, or a safer learning environment than the public schools can offer. For others, a home school education is the best option because the parents travel extensively, or the child has special needs that are best met at home. For those reasons, and many more, home school education is a booming business that is gaining momentum with each passing year. </p>
<p>&#13;For those who are considering home school education, and those who are already engaged in that endeavor, there are several factors on which to focus. Public schools offer more than just academic instruction, and a good home school education needs to fill those gaps in order to be most effective. </p>
<p>&#13;Socialization is a primary concern of many parents who provide a home school education for their children. While students can learn the &#8220;Three R&#8217;s&#8221; at public school or at home, they also need to learn how to share, listen, take turns, and get along with others. Students who are receiving a home school education are often enrolled in clubs, sports, and other extra curricular activities that will help develop the child&#8217;s socialization skills. </p>
<p>&#13;Educational resources are another element of education in which home school education must strive to match the level of the public schools. Public libraries, internet, and specialized home school education publishers and curriculums can help parents provide an adequate and effective home school education for their children. </p>
<p>&#13;Ultimately what matters most is that our children are educated. Recent studies show that children receiving a home school education perform as well, and in many cases better, than their counterparts in public and private schools on standardized tests. That success has continued even after students leave the comfort of a home school education and move on to colleges and universities. Parents who feel that their education options are lacking might consider a home school education. It could be the best fit for their child and their family&#8217;s needs.</p>
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		<title>PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS</title>
		<link>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/children-education/parental-involvement-in-the-education-process.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/children-education/parental-involvement-in-the-education-process.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:58:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Children Education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/?p=168</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS Parental involvement in the educational process of their children is of paramount importance. From elementary to high school, children in New York City (NYC) are tested so as to ensure preparedness and mastering of the fundamentals that they&#8217;ve learned. However, the question that <a href='http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/children-education/parental-involvement-in-the-education-process.html'>[...]</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS</strong></p>
<p>PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS</p>
<p>Parental involvement in the educational process of their children is of paramount importance. From elementary to high school, children in New York City (NYC) are tested so as to ensure preparedness and mastering of the fundamentals that they&#8217;ve learned. However, the question that comes to mind is: Is testing a process only for the children taking examinations, or, is it a process that involves students, teachers, and parents? The answer lies in the latter where each entity has its own unique role to play.</p>
<p>The measure of success that students achieve in classroom examinations is a function of the teacher-parent relationship coupled with student preparedness.  Parents and teachers are equal partners where the student acts as a catalyst between both entities.  Both groups must formulate a symbiotic relationship for the common good of the students involved.  This relationship must begin when a child first enters into a new class and continue throughout the students&#8217; duration at school. During the academic school year children are tested periodically in all subject areas.  The better prepared students are, the better they will perform on examinations.  Conversely, the less prepared students are for examinations, the less confidence they will have, which in turn can result in their low performances.</p>
<p>The 2010 data on fourth and eighth grade English Language Arts (ELA) and Math Competency scores issued by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) revealed that children who attend schools in low socioeconomic environments perform worst than children from a higher socioeconomic background. This was most evident throughout the inner city and the suburbs where test scores for children who attend schools that were predominated by Black and Hispanic children were in many instances lower than their White counterparts in similar grades.  One can argue that the disparity in performance levels is due to better preparedness and more parental involvement in their children&#8217;s academic process, hence better performance. The 2010 data is similar to 2009 data published by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a congressionally authorized clearinghouse for collecting and publishing data on performance levels of students across the contiguous United States. The NAEP 2009 report shows that White and Asian/Pacific Islander students in general outperform their Blacks and Hispanics counterparts in the 4th grade Reading by an average of 25 points. In addition, the report also showed that students who were eligible for free lunch (usually low income) scored on average 32 points lower than students who were not eligible (usually high income) for free or reduced lunch. On the other hand, the 2009 NAEP report showed those scores for lower and middle performing students in eighth grade increased by 1 point in 2009 than what it was in 2007. Overall performances of all ethnic groups showed a slight increase for all eighth graders, but Black students performances were the lowest of all groups from a low of 3 points when compared to Hispanic students to a maximum of 27 points when compared to Asian/Pacific Islanders.</p>
<p>The shift in the educational paradigm nationwide implies that there is little room for failure.  Failure, especially on city and statewide examinations will prevent the promotion of children from one grade to another.  As a result, it is imperative that parents familiarize themselves with the nuances of standardized examinations months in advance.  Quite often, it is observed that a number of parents are unacquainted with the contents of the fourth and eight grades standardized English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum, the high school Regents examinations that their children must take, or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). As a result of their lack of acquaintance, the onus lies with the child and the teacher. But, should this be the modus operandi for parental involvement in their children&#8217;s education? The answer is no. Parents need to be more proactive and directly involved with their children education all steps of the way. Parents need to work closely with their children because the children&#8217;s report card is also theirs. The grade that the children receive is also the grade that the parents receive; this known fact is sorely underscored.  Parents need to get to know their children&#8217;s teachers not merely from picking up and dropping off their children, but, through being acquainted with their child&#8217;s needs. In so doing measures addressing deficits in the child&#8217;s learning can be immediately resolved since what the child learn at school should be reinforced at home. In addition, a closer relationship between parents and teachers compels the child to be more cognizant of his or her behavior, which can sometimes interfere with the teaching and learning process in the classroom.</p>
<p>The argument made for parental involvement in their children&#8217;s educational process is not a new one. Many academic scholars have been calling for parental involvement to have a higher prominence in k to 12 children&#8217;s education.  Epstein (1992) developed  a six point outline for parent involvement, which includes but is not limited to communicating, volunteering, learning at home, and collaborating with community, to name a few. Her main reason for developing such an outline stemmed from her belief that parental partnerships with schools, which includes teachers, helps children to succeed not only in the time spent at school, but later on in life. Similarly, a 2001 article published by the Michigan Department of Education (MDOE) titled, What Research Says About parental Involvement in Children&#8217;s Education In relation to Academic Achievement stressed how parental involvement, or lack thereof,  can impact children both positively and negatively.</p>
<p>Not only was the view shared by educators that parental involvement in their children&#8217;s education have more positive than negative effect which can aid in the improvement of schools, but a survey conducted by Rose, Gallup and Elam (1997) showed that 86% of the public also believe that one of the most essential ways to improve the schools is to have more support from parents. This is quite evident in the performance of students from a higher socioeconomic background whose parents in most instances is more involved and aware of the educational processes, tends to perform better not only in the classroom, but on statewide examinations as well. Hence, the argument must be made and demonstrated for parents in the low socioeconomic backgrounds that their children&#8217;s performance can improve, albeit their involvement in their children&#8217;s educational process.  The converse is that children, who continue to perform poorly on class and statewide examinations, are at a higher risk of dropping out of school (Wood, 1994).</p>
<p>The 2005 to 2010 New York State Education Department (NYSED) State Performance Plan (SPP) indicates that a student is counted as a dropout if on the last day of required attendance for the school year, that student has 20 consecutive unexcused absences. An interesting correlation was shown in a 2010 National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) survey which showed that drop-out rate for White and Black native-born children were higher than their foreign-born counterparts. On the other hand, the trend was quite the opposite for Hispanic children. Foreign-born Hispanic children were three times more likely to drop out (34.3%) than their native-born counterparts whose drop-out rate is 11.5%. Of all the Hispanic speaking countries that were mentioned in the survey, foreign children from El Salvador and other Central American countries had the highest drop-out rate 41.1% and 40.8% respectively.</p>
<p>A 2004 report published by two non-partisan groups, the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University and the urban institute noted that in New York, White students were 25% more likely to graduate from high school than Blacks or Hispanic students. White students averaged a 75% graduation rate as compared to Black students whose average is 50% and Hispanic students whose graduation rate is 51%. These numbers do speak volume. Unfortunately, as a result of the low graduation rates for both Blacks and Hispanics, there is a deafening silence in both communities, as to these abysmal numbers.       To address the undeniable low graduation rates and poor performance in the Black and Hispanic communities, calls for the role of parents in their children&#8217;s education process to be of higher prominence, similar to the framework outlined by Epstein (1992). Furthermore, there is also a need for parents to be major partners in the decision making process that affects their children. This formula should be fully embraced by school districts all throughout the state of New York. If we are to observe any measurable changes in the education gap between White, Black and Hispanic students, the one indicator that May studies have shown to improve children&#8217;s academic performance is parental involvement and expectation.</p>
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<p>This great five-volume series, by Guido Knopp, examines the naivete of German youths in the 1930&#8242;s and 1940&#8242;s. This is the only documentary I have seen that focuses on the way the Nazis used children to conduct their war. In this third volume, we get a front-row seat to the indoctrination and reprogramming of the minds of German children, as they are transformed from kids to Nazis in the new school system of the Third Reich.
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<p>Related <a href="http://www.smartcitieshealthykids.ca/category/children-education">Children Education Articles</a></p>
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