Customer Reviews

Family Matters : How Schools Can Cope with the Crisis in Childrearing

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Evans discusses many of the pressing issues confronting teachers and parents in an interesting way. He pre-emptively admits that there is no "golden age" of parenting, and acknowledges the hard-won freedoms of last century. However, as the book goes on, it becomes clear that he blames student failure on the disintegration of the illusory 50s nuclear family in which the mother stayed home and in which there was somehow less stress and more time for nurture. Evans also consistently cites conservative theorists to back up many of his assertions. My own hard-won experience as a teacher and a parent (and as a child in the 50s, remembering how all the parents seemed much less concerned with nurturing than Evans thinks they were) convinces me that consumer culture rather than increased freedom has more to do with the troubles our students have than whether or not their mothers are working. Ultimately this book is a one-sided, if enjoyable, read, with some flaws in its reasoning.

In this book, Rob Evans focuses clearly on troubles in families which interfere with childrens' readiness for school and learning. The book is filled with thoughtful reflections on how families have changed, with special attention to the many ways in which parents' energies have been drawn away from home and family. The book is thoroughly researched, extremely articulate, and a very entertaining read. Evans does not shy away from provocative assertions to support his diagnosis. He is a compassionate advocate for children and their families, and while he respectfully declines from offering simple solutions to complex dilemmas, parents will find much to use here, and educators at all levels will look at their challenges in a new light.

According to the author, if we would just get back to those good old mid-twentieth century American values, all would be well. It has absolutely no substantive information.

As an example, in writing of the rise in time children spend in daycare, Evans insists that most of the "several thousand educators" he meets each year are "deeply dismayed by the numbers of young children who spend long hours in day care." Somehow he manages to immediately couple that with a quote from Sylvia Hewlitt by writing that "the massive increase in the time adults spend in the workplace means, for youth, 'little contact with parents and large quantities of time badly spent.'" Where did "time badly spent" come from? There is nothing in the author's text to support this. In fact, he immediately follows by admitting that many studies have concluded that there is no evidence that quality day care harms children. He goes on to admit that, in fact, daycare is more advantageous in some cases.

Administrators, teachers, and conservatives who like to blame parents (especially working parents) and children for all things negative happening in schools today may find this book useful in attempting to support their views. Of course, since the book does not actually substantiate its claims, that support will only be an imaginary soapbox on which to stand.

Even one star is too high a rating, but Amazon does not allow less.

In Family Matters Rob Evans offers an insightful, respectful perspective of childrearing today and the resulting challenges faced by schools. Practical solutions are offered to benefit the social and emotional well being of our children and strengthen home-school partnerships. This book offers intuitive, essential information for both parents and school faculty.