| Once, as a Learning Support Teacher, I made | | | | chat with her mum.This made me think again |
| my way down to | | | | of the two I'd overheard on the way |
| | | | |
| the annexe that housed the school's History | | | | down. Unlike their 13th century |
| Department.The annexe was about 100 metres | | | | counterparts, they could |
| from the main school | | | | |
| | | | walk safely on a dry, tarmac surface and |
| building, down an attractive, leafy hill.On | | | | enjoy the benefits |
| the way I was irked by two girls in front of | | | | |
| me | | | | of a good education. Yet they moaned and |
| | | | groaned . . .Yes, teaching - and parenting - |
| complaining about the | | | | teenagers brings its |
| | | | |
| hill, the wind ruffling their hair, the | | | | challenges!But if raising confident children |
| | | | is our goal, |
| distance from one classroom to another, and | | | | |
| so on.I joined the History class with the | | | | why not start early, and help them develop a |
| moans and groans still | | | | sense of awe |
| | | | |
| ringing in my ears. However, the topic of | | | | and wonder. Help them realise how far we've |
| the lesson | | | | progressed.Stress the benefits growing |
| | | | families enjoy today - benefits |
| soon gripped me:Life in Thirteenth Century | | | | |
| Scotland.The ordinary people in those days | | | | unavailable to our predecessors, for whom |
| lived in squalid huts, | | | | life was hell.Make your kids aware of the |
| | | | changes even since they were |
| unlike the nobles with their heavily | | | | |
| fortified castles. But | | | | infants:iPods, mp3s, DVDs, multiplex |
| | | | cinemas, online bookings, video |
| even they faced many challenges. Fighting | | | | |
| was a way of life | | | | cellphones - when you think about it, the |
| | | | list is |
| and the fear of attack preoccupied | | | | |
| everyone.In the cold, draughty, | | | | impressive!And the downside: in a world |
| disease-ridden castles people who lived to | | | | saturated with resources |
| forty were considered old.Not much scope for | | | | |
| personal development and parenting projects | | | | and abundance, millions starve. Yet all |
| there!Bumpy dirt tracks served as roads and | | | | could be put right |
| the trees that covered | | | | |
| | | | so easily!Your children are young and |
| most of the land made travel difficult. | | | | impressionable, so true-life |
| Schools and child | | | | |
| | | | stories will absorb their insatiable |
| education did not exist.After the lesson I | | | | interest. Make this |
| made my way back up to the main | | | | |
| | | | part of your home education program, working |
| building. This time I overheard another | | | | hand-in-hand with their special school |
| conversation - or to | | | | projects.And it will pay dividends. Informed, |
| | | | appreciative |
| be more precise, one side of a | | | | |
| conversation.A girl behind me chatted to her | | | | children become confident, tolerant, |
| mum, many miles away | | | | fair-minded and |
| | | | |
| on the outskirts of the city. The small | | | | determined young people.Personal development |
| cellphone clamped to | | | | all round . . .Happy parenting!Why do some |
| | | | parents and children succeed, while others |
| the girl's ear made it possible.Times had | | | | |
| certainly changed since the 13th century!Not | | | | fail? |
| only could this girl travel many miles by | | | | |
| comfortable | | | | Frank McGinty is an internationally |
| | | | published author and |
| transport every day, but at the touch of a | | | | |
| button she could | | | | teacher. |
| | | | |