Reading, Education, and Parents, Cox’s Corner by State Representative Doug Cox, M.D.
I was fortunate to get to attend the “Top Seniors” awards banquet at Oklahoma State University a couple of weeks ago. Driving around the beautiful OSU campus gave me cause to reflect on Oklahoma’s investment in higher education.
We can be proud of our two major research universities (OSU and OU), all of our four-year universities and our network of two-year colleges. In addition, we have one of the nation’s best Career Tech systems, where earning a trade certificate can give one the skills to make a great living.
Basically all Oklahomans, with the exception of the sparsely populated areas in the Panhandle, live within 40 miles of a higher educational institution.
It should be a source of pride that every Oklahoma student whose family has an annual income of $50,000 is entitled to free college or Career Tech tuition. All of these facts illustrate the priority that past and present governors, Legislatures and the citizens of Oklahoma have placed on education.
Federal and state education loans at low interest are readily available.
With all of this accessibility to and affordability of education why doesn’t every Oklahoma student end up with a Career Tech certificate or college diploma? Why do we have so many who do not graduate high school?
We know that in the United States the greatest predictor of educational and life success is the ability to read well and command of the English language. Why then do so many schools and parents resist passing a third-grade reading test as a prerequisite for promotion? We must ask ourselves, what is wrong with an educational system that allows students to progress, many with excellent grades who then have trouble passing the eighth grade reading level assessment required to get a driver’s license at age sixteen?
It starts at home. Reading to young children on a daily basis is critical, exposing them to the world opened by books. It helps their vocabulary, develops their imagination and strengthens the parent-child relationship. Parental involvement must continue with school-age children. Talk to their teachers and heed their recommendations for home reading programs.
Parents must be parents and set rules for kids as they grow older. Less time in front of the TV and X-box and 30 minutes a day reading. Talk about what they read or have them write a book or magazine report to be sure they are doing the reading. There is no substitute for a family meal and discussing current events, school activities, friends, etc. By age 12 kids should be exposed to reading the local newspaper every day at home or online.
Parents must set expectations for reading skills as well as school grades and not be afraid to enforce consequences if these goals are not obtained. Frankly, phone, computer and car privileges are powerful motivators. Parents are role models and kids emulate role models, so when they see the parents reading it helps them understand its importance.
There are a lot of single-parent families in our state. That is no excuse. Nothing discussed above requires two parents.
Reading is important. The key to success in life. The state knows it, the schools and teachers know it and businesses know it. Come on Oklahoma parents, step up!
Thanks for allowing me to serve as your state representative. I can be reached at dougcox@okhouse.gov or 405-557-7415.
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