6 Responses to President Trump at ‘Bring your kid to work’ day at the White House

1. Tafur says:

   April 26, 2019 at 10:09 am

   My thoughts on taking your kid to work day.

   I never liked the idea because it was one more reason for a kid to miss school. It joins a lengthy list of other reasons for missing school.

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   • stella says:

     April 26, 2019 at 10:25 am

     My dad used to take me to work with him on Saturdays sometimes. I loved it. I think it’s a good thing for the most part, and if it’s a regular work day, they get a better idea of what it’s like. One of my coworkers used to bring his boys in on a regular basis on the weekends and gave them work to do (we were the IT department).

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     • Tafur says:

       April 28, 2019 at 6:18 pm

       IT is where the action is. It is also my greatest weakness. I take care of some of my IT problems with my grandsons. I am a former educator, teacher, high school principal, and superintendent. A lot of my time had to be spent on absences authorized and unauthorized. I think the take your kid to work is great, but there are summers or other times to do it. Almost anything parents do with their kids is great.

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       • stella says:

         April 28, 2019 at 6:34 pm

         As I said before, when it is a regular work day, kids get a much better idea of what the job and work atmosphere is about. I have always believed that experience is part of your education. After all, education is mostly about learning how to navigate life. Helping your dad to build something or your mom cook something teaches you about the practical application of mathematics, for example.

         Frankly, the experience at home has more to do with how well a child will do in school than the interaction between child and teacher. I was good at math, but my dad taught me more than I learned in the classroom, and the attitude towards education by both of my parents helped me to succeed in a formal classroom setting.

         Furthermore, speaking about IT, much of what you do and learn is self directed rather than formal training, although both play a part. You can’t imagine how many times we were confronted with a problem that didn’t have an obvious answer. The willingness and ability to look for an answer, and the guts to do things that you aren’t sure will work, are both essential.

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     • Tafur says:

       April 28, 2019 at 6:31 pm

       Some states limit the number of days a student can miss school for school activities. As an administrator, I would try to limit the addition of activities students would do on school days. I do not believe I was ever successful. Once was about county band day, the band director said if students to get out of school for track, the should be able to get out for music. I complimented him on his mature reasoning in making his case. My argument was many of the same students would be out for both activities. Another time one of my volunteers at the school wanted to speak to and teach the students to properly address an envelope. We got along fine and she also worked at the post office. I said No. A couple of days later she asks again, this time she said, “If I cannot do this, it will hurt my chances at the post office. I said yes, but I was pissed that the postmaster found a way to get to me.

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       • stella says:

         April 28, 2019 at 6:39 pm

         Those are administrative problems having very little to do with education or with students! The examples you give deal with teachers, volunteers, and state law.

         Somehow kids are well educated in a home setting without the administrative function of a formal school setting. Not all, of course, but most.

         I’m a strong believer in self-directed learning with a light touch on the guidance end of things.

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