Fathers and Education
by
Aaron J. Griffen, Ph.D. @DrAaronJGriffen and Solomon J. Griffen
Prosperity Educators, LLC
@DrAaronJGriffen
Here are my responses about fathers and education. As I began thinking through these, I solicited my son's response first to see his thoughts and then I added to his context.
1) How should fathers model the importance of education to their children?
Children see fathers thinking, collaborating, reading, writing, and negotiating life, for life is an education. A father should model the importance of education to their child by showing the child how education has impacted their own life, and how fathers see this potential for education to impact their life, in their children. Children follow their parents. When education is important to parents, it is important to children. For fathers, advocating for education while modeling education speaks volumes to children who examine every move their father makes. Exemplars should be established that showcase how education has made an inroad, a difference, and removed barriers to access and availability. Using the daily lessons learned is a prime example, where children are taught that education is not conditioned only behind school walls or in books, but education exists in nature, through interactions and discussions, and with every failed risk. Dad's may spend time with their children outside with their children. Whether it's grilling hamburgers or going to the park. All of these activities can still be educational experiences. Like learning the science of grilled beef or why we sunburn. A father may model to their children that even everyday activities can be education and that education is in every aspect of our life. That is essential about modeling the importance of education, its impacts, and how it will impact the children.
(2) What is the father's role in a child's education?
A father's role in education is to be a mentor and to help a child stay motivated in all things. A father should also be there to help a child learn about things outside of Academics and Theory. Like the importance of self-confidence, or what their child's goals in life are and how they may achieve them through education. But, what counts as education varies. A child could be educated by reading the pages in a book, but can also be educated from something they see their friends doing at school. Both can be the moment to be educated, however, they both look very different. Therefore, it is the father’s role to help their children learn from their experiences and to treat every experience as education. This includes bans on what can be taught in schools or what can be discussed in schools. That is an education in the oppression of minds and the silencing of voices and histories. A father’s role is to supplement their education in the home, while driving, during grocery visits and when at the car wash – for example, showing children that education matters whether you are the salesman, the custodian, the teller, or the CEO.
(3) Why do fathers matter in the education of children?
Fathers can give children a sense of support and safety to grow and to learn. Support and safety are important because it's hard to grow and learn in an environment where one doesn't feel like they are accepted or heard, or when one doesn't feel safe. When children feel like they don't matter or are not respected it is hard to see, hear, feel and speak. It can essentially disconnect children from their reality, making education nearly impossible. The ban on teaching about the history of racism in the United States and the history of oppressed groups is where our children need us as fathers. We are there to help them navigate this reality of now in addition to the scope of the future. The questions and answers that children bring to us help us stay open and clear on what is in their minds. So, it is an education for us as well. Remember, education is reciprocal, meaning as I am teaching, I am learning; As I am learning; I am teaching. Fathers represent the polarity of courage and fear, having the courage to address things we fear we do not know how to address. This helps when our children begin to take on tasks in the learning environment that are difficult to conceive and even harder to navigate. It is the confidence that rules the day, having had the practice of being challenged in their thinking and providing the safety to be wrong, and the grace to improve.
Aaron J. Griffen, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer, Prosperity Educators, LLC
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Consultant | Author | Speaker | Urban Education Policy & Analysis
Solomon J. Griffen
Operations Intern
Prosperity Educators, LLC
1) How should fathers model the importance of education to their children?
Children see fathers thinking, collaborating, reading, writing, and negotiating life, for life is an education. A father should model the importance of education to their child by showing the child how education has impacted their own life, and how fathers see this potential for education to impact their life, in their children. Children follow their parents. When education is important to parents, it is important to children. For fathers, advocating for education while modeling education speaks volumes to children who examine every move their father makes. Exemplars should be established that showcase how education has made an inroad, a difference, and removed barriers to access and availability. Using the daily lessons learned is a prime example, where children are taught that education is not conditioned only behind school walls or in books, but education exists in nature, through interactions and discussions, and with every failed risk. Dad's may spend time with their children outside with their children. Whether it's grilling hamburgers or going to the park. All of these activities can still be educational experiences. Like learning the science of grilled beef or why we sunburn. A father may model to their children that even everyday activities can be education and that education is in every aspect of our life. That is essential about modeling the importance of education, its impacts, and how it will impact the children.
(2) What is the father's role in a child's education?
A father's role in education is to be a mentor and to help a child stay motivated in all things. A father should also be there to help a child learn about things outside of Academics and Theory. Like the importance of self-confidence, or what their child's goals in life are and how they may achieve them through education. But, what counts as education varies. A child could be educated by reading the pages in a book, but can also be educated from something they see their friends doing at school. Both can be the moment to be educated, however, they both look very different. Therefore, it is the father’s role to help their children learn from their experiences and to treat every experience as education. This includes bans on what can be taught in schools or what can be discussed in schools. That is an education in the oppression of minds and the silencing of voices and histories. A father’s role is to supplement their education in the home, while driving, during grocery visits and when at the car wash – for example, showing children that education matters whether you are the salesman, the custodian, the teller, or the CEO.
(3) Why do fathers matter in the education of children?
Fathers can give children a sense of support and safety to grow and to learn. Support and safety are important because it's hard to grow and learn in an environment where one doesn't feel like they are accepted or heard, or when one doesn't feel safe. When children feel like they don't matter or are not respected it is hard to see, hear, feel and speak. It can essentially disconnect children from their reality, making education nearly impossible. The ban on teaching about the history of racism in the United States and the history of oppressed groups is where our children need us as fathers. We are there to help them navigate this reality of now in addition to the scope of the future. The questions and answers that children bring to us help us stay open and clear on what is in their minds. So, it is an education for us as well. Remember, education is reciprocal, meaning as I am teaching, I am learning; As I am learning; I am teaching. Fathers represent the polarity of courage and fear, having the courage to address things we fear we do not know how to address. This helps when our children begin to take on tasks in the learning environment that are difficult to conceive and even harder to navigate. It is the confidence that rules the day, having had the practice of being challenged in their thinking and providing the safety to be wrong, and the grace to improve.
Aaron J. Griffen, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer, Prosperity Educators, LLC
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Consultant | Author | Speaker | Urban Education Policy & Analysis
Solomon J. Griffen
Operations Intern
Prosperity Educators, LLC