A Parent’s Guide to Education in the Real World explains what works best for children at school and at home. American education is far from perfect, but with diligence and savvy, parents can make the system work for their children (not against them). Here's three charts and text from the introduction.
Figure I-2: Income and relative happiness
Figure I-3: Education and unemployment (2020)[17]
15 strategies for education in the real world
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney General’s Office discovered that a group of rich parents had been bribing admissions officers and coaches at high-prestige universities so that their children could gain admission.[1] Over fifty people were charged in the investigation, nicknamed Operation Varsity Blues, and a few parents went to prison.
A national furor erupted over the idea that rich people might try to secure the best possible education for their children.[2] While bribery and deception are not particularly admirable traits, the impulse to want the best education for your child is not only understandable—it is human nature. Perhaps the parents trying to gain entrance for their children to prestigious universities had discovered the U.S. Department of Education database of degrees and examined the high salaries of Ivy League grads. If so, they would have found out that the top 10 percent of Ivy League grads earned “$200,000 or more” after graduation while the top 10 percent from non-Ivy League schools earned less than $70,000.[3]
The connection between a high-quality education and a high quality of life are undeniable and explainable in graphic terms—as shown in Figures I-1, I-2, and I-3 at the top of this page.[4]
Figure I-1 shows the positive correlation between level of education and income.[6] In general, individuals who get more education make more money. Experts expect differences in income due to educational attainment to grow exponentially over the next decade.[7] Those with only a high school diploma and those who did not graduate from high school will have few options--limited jobs and low wages.[8] At the same time, the well-educated will have numerous options, meaning good jobs at generous salaries.[9]
The aphorism is that “money cannot buy happiness.”[10] However, recent research has found that money can make you happier, at least in relative terms, as indicated in Figure I-2.[11] Although it is difficult to attribute causation solely to one variable (money brings happiness), people who have lots of money tend to be much happier than people who have little money.[12]
A little over twenty years ago, a group of behavioral economists got together and calculated that an annual income of $75,000 was the “sweet spot” for happiness.[13] As one of the researchers noted, "Not having enough money to live a decent life really gets in the way of doing the ordinary things that make people happy."[14] For example, anxiety over bills due at the end of the month would disappear if sufficient funds were in the bank. In this way, money acts as a stress reducer.
Considering the cost of inflation, $75,000 is the approximate equivalent of around $90,000 in 2021 dollars.[15] Subsequent studies have found that, while higher income might not translate into greater life satisfaction, money continues to promote a sense of “well-being” beyond the $75,000 mark.[16] So, while a billionaire might have no greater quality of life than the person who earns $90,000, she/he would have a greater monetary cushion and so, perhaps he/she would possibly enjoy a higher sense of security.
Figure I-3 confirms that employees with the most education are typically the last to lose their jobs while those with the least education are among the first.[18] Not only is a good education a smart choice financially, it leads to countless, non-monetary, intrinsic benefits. As my wise uncle always told me, “They can take away everything you have, but they can never take away what you know.”
The power of a great education
America was built on high ideals, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”[19]Despite good intentions, the benefits of American citizenship are not uniformly distributed. For some, the pursuit of happiness can be a fun, enjoyable quest; for others, it can be a horrific nightmare. Part of the motivation for writing this book was to explain how to work the system to your advantage. With knowledge of “how things really work” and a little focused effort, the best that America has to offer can be accessible to any child.
Horace Mann, the staunch advocate for universal, free public schools, wrote that education “is not only a moral renovator, and a multiplier of intellectual power, but that it is also the most prolific parent of material riches.”[20]
Everyone knows that the development of character, intellect, and future success is dependent upon the quality of education; knowing how to ensure a quality education is the real challenge.
When I first realized that I was going to be a daddy, I read scores of books, but most seemed to try to sell something—a theory, practice, belief system, or particular perspective. Baines’ practical guide to education in the real world has no agenda other than to forthrightly communicate what I have found to be true through close examination of years of research studies and firsthand experience.
What I have learned is that success or failure in education is almost always due to wholly controllable phenomena. Following the 15 strategies will help prepare your child for life at home, on the playground, in the classroom, and in the workplace.
The 15 strategies
Home
School
10. Choose the best school
a. For public schools, follow the money
b. For private schools, do your due diligence
c. Avoid charter schools
11. Select the right teacher
a. Actively seek out the best teachers
b. Insist on enthusiasm and honesty
c. Consider the teacher’s education and experience
12. Get into gifted
13. Encourage participation in non-contact activities; no team sports before age ten.
14. Take advantage of school services.
15. Attend school functions; act wisely in interactions with administrators.
[1] Richer, A., & Binkley, C. (2019, March 12). TV stars and coaches charged in college bribery scheme. Associated Press News. https://apnews.com/article/2450688f9e67435c8590e59a1b0e5b47.
March 12, 2019
[2] Golden, D., & Burke, D. (2019, October 8). The unseen student victims of the “varsity blues” college-admission scandal. New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unseen-student-victims-of-the-varsity-blues-college-admissions-scandal
[3] Ingraham, C. (2015, September 14). This chart shows how much more Ivy League grads make than you. Washington Post.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/09/14/this-chart-shows-why-parents-push-their-kids-so-hard-to-get-into-ivy-league-schools/
[4] Aristotle (2020). Nicomachean ethics. Internet Classics Archive. http://classics.mit.edu//Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
[5] Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020, May). Learn more, earn more: Education leads to higher wages, lower unemployment.Washington, D.C.: BLS. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2020/data-on-display/education-pays.htm
[6] Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020). Occupational outlook handbook. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
[7] World Economic Forum (2020). The future of jobs report 2020. Cologny, Switzerland. WEF. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2020.pdf
[8] Brewlow, J. (2012, September 21). By the numbers: Dropping out of high school. Boston, Massachusetts: Frontline. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/by-the-numbers-dropping-out-of-high-school/.
[9] Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2009). P21 framework descriptions. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED519462.pdf
[10] Futrelle, D. (2021). Here’s how money really can buy you happiness. Time. https://time.com/collection/guide-to-happiness/4856954/can-money-buy-you-happiness/
[11] Data based on Twenge, J. M., & Cooper, A. B. (2020). The expanding class divide in happiness in the United States, 1972–2016. Emotion. Advance online publication. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-43605-001. The y-axis in this chart represents self-reported happiness on a 3-point scale.
[12] Twenge, J. M., & Cooper, A. B. (2020). The expanding class divide in happiness in the United States, 1972–2016. Emotion. Advance online publication. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-43605-001..
[13] Kahneman, D., & Deaton, A. (2010, September 21). High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being. PNAS 107 (38), 16489-16493. https://www.pnas.org/content/107/38/16489
[14] Deaton, A., cited in Robison, J. (2011, November 17). Happiness is Love -- and $75,000. Gallup Business Journal. https://news.gallup.com/businessjournal/150671/happiness-is-love-and-75k.aspx.
[15] Inflation Calculator (2021). $75,000 in 2010 is worth $89,589.60 today. https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/2010?amount=75000
[16] Killingsworth, M. (2021). Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year. PNAS 118(4). https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2016976118
[17] Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020, May). Learn more, earn more: Education leads to higher wages, lower unemployment.Washington, D.C.: BLS. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2020/data-on-display/education-pays.htm (citation is from the chart option).
[18] Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020, May). Learn more, earn more: Education leads to higher wages, lower unemployment.Washington, D.C.: BLS. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2020/data-on-display/education-pays.htm (citation is from the chart option).
[19] United States Courts (2021). The U.S. Constitution: Preamble. Washington, D.C.: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/us
[20] Mann, H. (1842). Fifth annual report of the Board of Education. Boston, Massachusetts: Board of Education. https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/bitstream/handle/2452/204724/ocm07166577_1841.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Citation on p. 100-101.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney General’s Office discovered that a group of rich parents had been bribing admissions officers and coaches at high-prestige universities so that their children could gain admission.[1] Over fifty people were charged in the investigation, nicknamed Operation Varsity Blues, and a few parents went to prison.
A national furor erupted over the idea that rich people might try to secure the best possible education for their children.[2] While bribery and deception are not particularly admirable traits, the impulse to want the best education for your child is not only understandable—it is human nature. Perhaps the parents trying to gain entrance for their children to prestigious universities had discovered the U.S. Department of Education database of degrees and examined the high salaries of Ivy League grads. If so, they would have found out that the top 10 percent of Ivy League grads earned “$200,000 or more” after graduation while the top 10 percent from non-Ivy League schools earned less than $70,000.[3]
The connection between a high-quality education and a high quality of life are undeniable and explainable in graphic terms—as shown in Figures I-1, I-2, and I-3 at the top of this page.[4]
Figure I-1 shows the positive correlation between level of education and income.[6] In general, individuals who get more education make more money. Experts expect differences in income due to educational attainment to grow exponentially over the next decade.[7] Those with only a high school diploma and those who did not graduate from high school will have few options--limited jobs and low wages.[8] At the same time, the well-educated will have numerous options, meaning good jobs at generous salaries.[9]
The aphorism is that “money cannot buy happiness.”[10] However, recent research has found that money can make you happier, at least in relative terms, as indicated in Figure I-2.[11] Although it is difficult to attribute causation solely to one variable (money brings happiness), people who have lots of money tend to be much happier than people who have little money.[12]
A little over twenty years ago, a group of behavioral economists got together and calculated that an annual income of $75,000 was the “sweet spot” for happiness.[13] As one of the researchers noted, "Not having enough money to live a decent life really gets in the way of doing the ordinary things that make people happy."[14] For example, anxiety over bills due at the end of the month would disappear if sufficient funds were in the bank. In this way, money acts as a stress reducer.
Considering the cost of inflation, $75,000 is the approximate equivalent of around $90,000 in 2021 dollars.[15] Subsequent studies have found that, while higher income might not translate into greater life satisfaction, money continues to promote a sense of “well-being” beyond the $75,000 mark.[16] So, while a billionaire might have no greater quality of life than the person who earns $90,000, she/he would have a greater monetary cushion and so, perhaps he/she would possibly enjoy a higher sense of security.
Figure I-3 confirms that employees with the most education are typically the last to lose their jobs while those with the least education are among the first.[18] Not only is a good education a smart choice financially, it leads to countless, non-monetary, intrinsic benefits. As my wise uncle always told me, “They can take away everything you have, but they can never take away what you know.”
The power of a great education
America was built on high ideals, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”[19]Despite good intentions, the benefits of American citizenship are not uniformly distributed. For some, the pursuit of happiness can be a fun, enjoyable quest; for others, it can be a horrific nightmare. Part of the motivation for writing this book was to explain how to work the system to your advantage. With knowledge of “how things really work” and a little focused effort, the best that America has to offer can be accessible to any child.
Horace Mann, the staunch advocate for universal, free public schools, wrote that education “is not only a moral renovator, and a multiplier of intellectual power, but that it is also the most prolific parent of material riches.”[20]
Everyone knows that the development of character, intellect, and future success is dependent upon the quality of education; knowing how to ensure a quality education is the real challenge.
When I first realized that I was going to be a daddy, I read scores of books, but most seemed to try to sell something—a theory, practice, belief system, or particular perspective. Baines’ practical guide to education in the real world has no agenda other than to forthrightly communicate what I have found to be true through close examination of years of research studies and firsthand experience.
What I have learned is that success or failure in education is almost always due to wholly controllable phenomena. Following the 15 strategies will help prepare your child for life at home, on the playground, in the classroom, and in the workplace.
The 15 strategies
Home
- Make home not only loving and safe, but also fun and interesting
- Pay attention
- Have plenty of print materials and toys on hand
- Limit screen time
- Get moving
- Engage with the arts
- Help your child choose a musical instrument
- Seek out diverse experiences
- Promote resilience
School
10. Choose the best school
a. For public schools, follow the money
b. For private schools, do your due diligence
c. Avoid charter schools
11. Select the right teacher
a. Actively seek out the best teachers
b. Insist on enthusiasm and honesty
c. Consider the teacher’s education and experience
12. Get into gifted
13. Encourage participation in non-contact activities; no team sports before age ten.
14. Take advantage of school services.
15. Attend school functions; act wisely in interactions with administrators.
[1] Richer, A., & Binkley, C. (2019, March 12). TV stars and coaches charged in college bribery scheme. Associated Press News. https://apnews.com/article/2450688f9e67435c8590e59a1b0e5b47.
March 12, 2019
[2] Golden, D., & Burke, D. (2019, October 8). The unseen student victims of the “varsity blues” college-admission scandal. New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-unseen-student-victims-of-the-varsity-blues-college-admissions-scandal
[3] Ingraham, C. (2015, September 14). This chart shows how much more Ivy League grads make than you. Washington Post.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/09/14/this-chart-shows-why-parents-push-their-kids-so-hard-to-get-into-ivy-league-schools/
[4] Aristotle (2020). Nicomachean ethics. Internet Classics Archive. http://classics.mit.edu//Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
[5] Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020, May). Learn more, earn more: Education leads to higher wages, lower unemployment.Washington, D.C.: BLS. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2020/data-on-display/education-pays.htm
[6] Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020). Occupational outlook handbook. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
[7] World Economic Forum (2020). The future of jobs report 2020. Cologny, Switzerland. WEF. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2020.pdf
[8] Brewlow, J. (2012, September 21). By the numbers: Dropping out of high school. Boston, Massachusetts: Frontline. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/by-the-numbers-dropping-out-of-high-school/.
[9] Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2009). P21 framework descriptions. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED519462.pdf
[10] Futrelle, D. (2021). Here’s how money really can buy you happiness. Time. https://time.com/collection/guide-to-happiness/4856954/can-money-buy-you-happiness/
[11] Data based on Twenge, J. M., & Cooper, A. B. (2020). The expanding class divide in happiness in the United States, 1972–2016. Emotion. Advance online publication. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-43605-001. The y-axis in this chart represents self-reported happiness on a 3-point scale.
[12] Twenge, J. M., & Cooper, A. B. (2020). The expanding class divide in happiness in the United States, 1972–2016. Emotion. Advance online publication. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-43605-001..
[13] Kahneman, D., & Deaton, A. (2010, September 21). High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being. PNAS 107 (38), 16489-16493. https://www.pnas.org/content/107/38/16489
[14] Deaton, A., cited in Robison, J. (2011, November 17). Happiness is Love -- and $75,000. Gallup Business Journal. https://news.gallup.com/businessjournal/150671/happiness-is-love-and-75k.aspx.
[15] Inflation Calculator (2021). $75,000 in 2010 is worth $89,589.60 today. https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/2010?amount=75000
[16] Killingsworth, M. (2021). Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year. PNAS 118(4). https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2016976118
[17] Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020, May). Learn more, earn more: Education leads to higher wages, lower unemployment.Washington, D.C.: BLS. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2020/data-on-display/education-pays.htm (citation is from the chart option).
[18] Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020, May). Learn more, earn more: Education leads to higher wages, lower unemployment.Washington, D.C.: BLS. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2020/data-on-display/education-pays.htm (citation is from the chart option).
[19] United States Courts (2021). The U.S. Constitution: Preamble. Washington, D.C.: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/us
[20] Mann, H. (1842). Fifth annual report of the Board of Education. Boston, Massachusetts: Board of Education. https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/bitstream/handle/2452/204724/ocm07166577_1841.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Citation on p. 100-101.