"Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness;

but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” Plato

My apolitical thought for the day to temper the heightened emotions. Be well my friends.

But I don't know what's apolitical about your post.

It sounds like a good quote for the opening chapter of a book named "How to Raise a Liberal Kid."

“I know not how I may seem to others, but to myself I am but a small child wandering upon the vast shores of knowledge, every now and then finding a small bright pebble to content myself with” Plato

:)

but there's a fair amount of mathematics used in communications traffic analysis.

And terminating high profile communications traffic by knowing when and where to squeeze a pickle is a lot safer than pounding the streets and alleys of foreign towns and villages hoping the bad guys will shoot to reveal their position.

because my father was pretty good at it, and he had a wickedly fast backhand to the side of my face.

Not surprisingly my college entrance scores in math looked just like I had avoided that homework.

I was in my doctoral studies and interested in ecological stability when I actually started enjoying mathematics again.

And screaming, if it must out, should also be quick, short-lived and followed by apologies on both sides and a patient discussion of a plan as to how to avoid a recurrence of the underlying problem.

You would not hit or scream at a co-worker on the job because you know you would be fired. So why should you do that to a family member? The family member can fire you too. Just remember that.

I also know that for millions of kids, that's not their reality.It takes only one parent in an impulsive moment to hurt a child.

Child Abuse Prevention requires parents and non-parents to act to enforce civilized expections of society.

The big mistake that parents make is to scold their children for not learning, for not doing their homework.

The right thing to do is to sit with the child and play and teach them as you play with them.

Fault for the failures of our children in the schools cannot be laid at the feet of teachers but must, rather, be laid at the feet of parents who would rather watch sports on TV than play math or word games with their children.

Parenting is a full-time job. So if you are working and have children, you have two full-time jobs. Don't forget it.

I raised two kids. They did very well in school and are doing well in life. I speak from my experience. Don't blame anyone but yourself if your child is not doing his best in school.

I'm sick of parents who always think their kid's problems are caused by someone else.

Don't punish your child for bad grades. Sit with them and learn with them and teach them. Don't expect someone else to do your job.

Education comes in a myriad of forms.

Emily is very smart. she is her own person and i love that about her. but she tests me to no end. i guess i deserve that as i am sure i tested my mom's patience plenty when i was emy's age. emily is very good at making friends. she always has a smile and has such a great imagination. a few days ago we were making up stories. i'd tell one and then she'd tell one. i wonder if she'll be my writer. i always wanted to be a writer. abby.... well at 13 months she's good at getting into things and dumping them on the floor. and putting them in baskets too. and she loves to climb on the step of the bathtub in the bathroom too. and then wave at herself in the mirror.