Are you worried that your child
won't get a good education?
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Do you wonder just how
you can help your children
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to achieve academically
when you may not have done
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so well in school yourself.
Well, stay tuned to find out
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just what to do...
My name is Yvonne Lewis
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and you're watching Urban Report
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Hello and
welcome to Urban Report
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Recently I attended the
National Action Networks
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Convention in New York City.
While there, I met today's guest
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and after speaking with
her I decided that she had some
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great information to share
with our Urban Report viewers.
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My guest today is Mabel Griar
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Founder of Academics
Learning Solutions, LLC
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Hello Mabel...
Welcome to Urban Report
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Hello, how are you? I'm great...
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it's so good to have you,
thank you so much for doing this
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No problem... So,
Mabel when I met you
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at the National
Action Network's Convention,
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what were you doing
there, what was your purpose
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in being there?
Well, actually I attended
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because I saw the Panels
and a couple of the people
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in particular... Arne
Duncan, some of the News,
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folks that were there
looking for ways to get everyone
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connected with
education and Arne Duncan
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seems to have done a good job
with the Common Core Standards
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which is going to be good
for students... and I said
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I needed to get a
little closer to him
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to find out what we could do
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because I have some
ideas and I've worked with
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a lot of students... so
I really just wanted to get
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closer to get more upfront
as far as what's going on...
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Tell us a little bit about your
experience in educating children
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Well, I was the Director
of an After-School Program
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for 18 years... pretty much...
and I work with all types
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of students...
students in the areas of
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Math and Reading... and I had
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phenomenal results
with those students...
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but it was mainly
because of the parents...
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So I've decided to go
back to School to get a
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Masters in Education I
had, formerly, a background in
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Math and Engineering and
I just thought that maybe if
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I got credentialed in education
that I could fit into the
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Public Schools and do
a little bit better...
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I mean... give them
some ideas but that...
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sometimes is a little more
difficult to do than said...
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Yes... and so...
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I just decided that... you know,
we'll work on some things...
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one of my partners that
I work with in the Business
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decided to take that part on
and I decided to do some more
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research as far as
education was concerned
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to see how we could reach more
families... for the most part...
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Tell us what's going
on... what's going on
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in the families now as
far as education is concerned
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especially in the inner
city... What's happening
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with the
children in the inner city
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as far as
education is concerned?
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Well, one of the main problems
with the inner city is that
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for the most part... a
lot of the parents are not
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they did not have good
K through 12 experiences
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in School and so they're not
familiar as far as what to do
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with the
students... with their own kids
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and then... for the
most part... now I think
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the biggest problem is
there are too many programs
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there are so many programs
that we're taking the parents
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out of the picture and
they are dropping their kids off
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but when the kids go back home,
the parents really don't know
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what they are supposed to
do... so I think that we've had
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the best results
because we're actually working
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with the
parents... So, I think now,
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what needs to happen
with the Schools is that...
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we've got to pull
those parents back in...
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back into the
picture... Mabel, that is such a
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critical
piece... and I think that
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that is one of the main pieces
that's missing in terms of our
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children's achievements...
you hit the nail on the head
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some of the parents themselves
might not have done too well
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in School... or might have not
had a good experience in School
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and so... they
can't really assist...
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or they don't feel
competent enough to assist...
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or many times...
they're overwhelmed themselves
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with life and so
they're not actively engaged
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in the children's lives. I
notice that... on your website
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you said something about
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"The Road to College
beings in Pre-School"
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tell us about
that... because that's a very
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important point
too... and I think that the
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parental-involvement
piece is critical
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tell us about that...
Well, looking at it...
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I actually have... my
daughters have graduated
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from College for the most part,
I have one that's still in now
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and my nephews... and
then a lot of students
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that I've worked
with... and I've worked with
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over the course of years...
and you see those students
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and you see what
has happened with them
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and it doesn't just
start when they go to school
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a lot of the interactions
that they have with people
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in the environment,
people in the families...
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and they're just getting...
starting to build futures
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for themselves... it
begins when you're young
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you know... the
exposure... so a lot of times
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people think that, "Oh
you can... when you get
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to be a Senior... you
can figure out what you like
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to do... "
Well, no, you can't...
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you can't wait that
long... so... we look at...
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when kids are in pre-school
that we work with students
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starting at 3
years old... and so...
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when you get the
students that young...
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they actually.. love
learning... they have...
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it's a part of who
they are... and then...
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we help with the
parents... I think that parents
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who have
them... in the household
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they can take them out to,
you know, the parks, the museums
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vacations... they
become more of a part of it
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and each year...
there's something
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that the child has to,
you know, they have to do...
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every day is a
learning experience
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in the life of a child...
well, actually, in anyone's life
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you know, we learn
every day... That's a...
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You know... we have
a little delay here...
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so I don't want
to talk over you...
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finish your
sentence... and then...
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I'll ask another question...
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OK, no, but, you know, I
think that when we look at it
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as far as...
students go along the way...
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parents think that, you know,
you just send them to school
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and that's the only
place where they're learning
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but since we have changed...
learning now takes place
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24 hours... 7 days a week...
so it seems as though there is
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more learning that goes
on outside of the classroom
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than inside...
so... that's why...
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everyday is important
in the life of a child...
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That is so... so... good...
because... another thing...
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you know... again.. the
parental involvement piece
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is critical... I
think... a lot of times...
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parents just drop the
children off at School
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and think that the
teacher is going to be
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responsible for
all of the education
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of the student... and
what you're telling us today
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is that... the parent...
when that child comes out
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of school... the
parents should be more engaged
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in the learning
process and there are various
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other things that
a parent can do...
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to enhance the learning
process with that child...
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such as... take
the child to museums...
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or to the Library...
where they have, you know,
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free story hour... it
doesn't have to cost money
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a lot of times...
parents don't have money...
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to do various things...
but there are a lot of things
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that you can do for
free... do those things and
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get engaged with
the student more...
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What other
things can parents do to
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to kind of foster
learning within the home...
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Well, a lot of times,
parents can just, you know,
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as far as their Community
Centers in the neighborhood
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Churches... a lot of Churches
have programs and they need to
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get their kids around any
type of structured program
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and as far as I'm concerned...
I think, even, you mentioned,
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National Action Network...
that was another reason
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I went was because
Churches were represented there
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and I think... that if we...
you know... we're re-directing
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our resources... in
too many different areas.
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If the Churches would
really focus on socialization
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and those types of
social interactions
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that would be a plus for them...
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and they'll leave the
academics to other areas...
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because I think right
now there are too many places
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to take the kids...
and even for the parents...
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they don't know
where to take them...
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But if they can go to a
Church or a Community Center
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and then the kids can
learn how to be team players
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learn how to
interact with other people
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learn about different
cultures, that will be good...
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and then... if they would...
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parents could actually
connect more with the teachers
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You know... I think
that's something that we
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really missed out on... is
connecting with the teacher
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because the
teacher sees the child,
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the parents see the child...
if they connect together
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they can find out
what that child needs
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and then the parent can use the
Library or use other resources
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you know... to help them...
So that's what we do more...
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Right... that parental-teacher
connection is also critical
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going to the different
meetings for the students
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like the PTA meetings... and
the Parent-Teacher Conferences
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you know... I know
that sometimes parents...
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they happen in the evening...
and sometimes parents are tired
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or whatever... but
it's so important to
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find out who is
teaching your children
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what kind of an
environment is it...
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and also... how
you can work together
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for the good of that child...
to enhance their educational
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experience... so... I
think that parent-teacher
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connection... is critical...
What role do you think that
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technology plays in
educating our children?
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Oh my! I say now that
technology is the new intruder
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in the home... you
know... the Bible says
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that a thief comes to
steal, kill and destroy...
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and I think that's exactly
what the Internet is doing
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and computers are doing because
children... when they come home
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they have the video
games that they're playing
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they're on the Internet...
on Facebook... MySpace...
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all of these types of
things that really rob them
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of doing productive
things on the Internet
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and a lot of parents have lost
track of them.. by doing this...
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Yeah... you know... we tend to
think that technology is always
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such a big help...
but in many ways...
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it can detract from the
whole learning experience
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if... you... and
even the social experience
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you know.. instead of conversing
kids are texting and...
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so... it is very,
very important to utilize
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technology in a way
that enhances the educational
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experience not detracts from it.
Tell us some more about that...
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if you would...
OK... and you're right to
00:12:06.56\00:12:10.00
say that because...
everywhere you go...
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it's acceptable to use
technology but I think...
00:12:13.44\00:12:17.75
unless we
re-direct the students...
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that we're actually pushing
them into doing the wrong thing.
00:12:21.49\00:12:25.08
So... I do think that technology
00:12:25.11\00:12:28.88
can be used effectively in
education.. for the most part...
00:12:28.91\00:12:33.34
I have started to use
some computer software packages
00:12:33.37\00:12:37.94
with students... however,
it's with extended practice
00:12:37.98\00:12:42.48
but I have worked with them
to know exactly what they need
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so that's the
part that's missing...
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you can't just sit a
student in front of a computer
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and expect them
to know what to do...
00:12:50.87\00:12:53.22
They need to be
directed... and then...
00:12:53.25\00:12:55.40
there needs to be
some accountability
00:12:55.44\00:12:57.86
and if that
accountability isn't there...
00:12:57.89\00:13:00.25
there's nothing...
Absolutely... that's a critical
00:13:00.28\00:13:04.30
piece too... you need to know
00:13:04.34\00:13:05.91
what your child is
doing... you even need to know
00:13:05.95\00:13:09.75
who their friends are... on
some of these social networks
00:13:09.79\00:13:12.53
because there are predators
that are on there... sometimes
00:13:12.56\00:13:15.26
so parents still have to
play a very active role...
00:13:15.30\00:13:19.24
and I think... this
is a critical piece...
00:13:19.28\00:13:21.53
the parental
responsibility here...
00:13:21.57\00:13:23.88
the educational
experience for the child
00:13:23.92\00:13:28.56
depends upon... and
I'm summarizing what you're
00:13:28.60\00:13:32.22
saying... depends upon the
00:13:32.25\00:13:34.18
parent's involvement...
the parent-teacher connection
00:13:34.21\00:13:39.46
and also... channeling
technology properly...
00:13:39.49\00:13:44.22
utilizing technology properly...
what effect do video games
00:13:44.26\00:13:48.39
have on a child's
learning? Oh my! tremendous...
00:13:48.43\00:13:52.78
and I think the
studies state that, you know,
00:13:52.82\00:13:57.14
that there's not
a lot of impact...
00:13:57.17\00:14:01.20
but I think there is...
because when you're sitting
00:14:01.23\00:14:04.23
and you're looking
at the computer screen
00:14:04.26\00:14:06.93
you're working on a video
game or, you know, just playing
00:14:06.97\00:14:10.80
you're basically in a
passive mode... you know
00:14:10.83\00:14:14.45
all the work is being
done in front of the screen...
00:14:14.49\00:14:17.75
you're just pushing buttons
and that's not actual life...
00:14:17.79\00:14:21.00
you know... you
don't think through
00:14:21.03\00:14:23.01
situations and they do
sometimes on these games
00:14:23.05\00:14:25.53
to go from one level to another,
but these students can spend
00:14:25.57\00:14:29.91
hours and hours on
something that's fun
00:14:29.94\00:14:33.01
and something that they
don't really have to think about
00:14:33.04\00:14:35.64
and so... when it comes time
for them to sit down to actually
00:14:35.68\00:14:38.88
read a book or
even read a paragraph...
00:14:38.91\00:14:42.87
they can't do it...
they can't focus enough
00:14:42.91\00:14:45.72
because they don't know
how to how to sit down and
00:14:45.76\00:14:49.53
form that mental picture...
so I've seen students change
00:14:49.56\00:14:54.21
over the past seven years...
it's amazing... even with the
00:14:54.24\00:14:58.32
young kids... how
they change... because
00:14:58.36\00:14:59.94
they're not able to
read, black and white words
00:14:59.97\00:15:02.54
and turn them into
a colorful picture...
00:15:02.58\00:15:04.57
to answer a question you know...
00:15:04.61\00:15:07.01
So the video games then
interfere with critical thinking
00:15:07.05\00:15:11.30
Yes... they do...
00:15:11.34\00:15:12.45
So, you have difficulty with
critical thinking and also focus
00:15:12.48\00:15:19.17
because things are happening
really quickly with the
00:15:19.21\00:15:22.36
video games and so, you
know, you're playing with it
00:15:22.39\00:15:25.51
but focus.. for
extended periods of time...
00:15:25.55\00:15:29.61
is a difficult thing on
concepts... versus... just...
00:15:29.64\00:15:34.62
it's easy to play video games
00:15:34.65\00:15:36.60
for hours... we're not talking
about that kind of focus...
00:15:36.63\00:15:38.76
we're talking about
focus on concepts...
00:15:38.80\00:15:42.07
and being able to
conceptualize and read and do
00:15:42.11\00:15:45.62
critical
thinking... is that correct?
00:15:45.65\00:15:47.27
Yes... I mean... you
know when I look at it...
00:15:47.31\00:15:50.67
students think that they
only need to come to school
00:15:50.71\00:15:53.37
to learn what they want
that it's... like it's selective
00:15:53.41\00:15:56.57
and that's because of, you
know, them playing these games
00:15:56.61\00:15:59.74
and doing all these
things that are fun...
00:15:59.77\00:16:01.85
that's not life...
life is... you're going to
00:16:01.89\00:16:03.93
come up against
things that you don't know...
00:16:03.97\00:16:05.95
or things that
you're not familiar with...
00:16:05.98\00:16:07.90
and you have to apply the
skills that you learn in school
00:16:07.93\00:16:11.44
to those things... and
so... a lot of times...
00:16:11.47\00:16:15.08
they get very
frustrated... now on...
00:16:15.12\00:16:17.40
and so many kids, you know,
00:16:17.43\00:16:19.62
they have short fuses...
00:16:19.66\00:16:21.78
and that's because, you
know, with the games and...
00:16:21.81\00:16:23.96
it's fun... but when
it's not fun and you have to
00:16:23.99\00:16:27.81
really think... they
really aren't used to that...
00:16:27.84\00:16:31.62
so... and I'm
seeing it so much more now
00:16:31.66\00:16:34.49
with the younger
students and that's not good
00:16:34.52\00:16:37.05
it's not good.
For sure... OK so...
00:16:37.09\00:16:40.11
I am a parent and I
have a little 3-year-old
00:16:40.15\00:16:43.47
and I bring my
3-year-old to your program
00:16:43.51\00:16:46.63
what are you going
to teach my 3-year-old
00:16:46.67\00:16:49.72
in your program... why
should I bring my child to you?
00:16:49.76\00:16:52.68
Well, the first thing that we
do especially with a 3-year-old
00:16:52.71\00:16:57.63
is to look at... now I use the
00:16:57.66\00:17:01.54
National Common Core Standards,
that starts in Pre-School
00:17:01.57\00:17:04.86
so I look at that
and I tell the parents
00:17:04.89\00:17:07.83
how they can look
at these standards
00:17:07.87\00:17:10.74
no matter where they
are... because a lot of times
00:17:10.78\00:17:13.37
parents transfer from,
you know, State to State
00:17:13.40\00:17:15.97
and things like that,
00:17:16.01\00:17:17.05
so I start with the
parent and I tell them that
00:17:17.08\00:17:19.33
"You're going to need
to work with them everyday"
00:17:19.36\00:17:21.58
for the most part
students come to us
00:17:21.61\00:17:23.60
maybe... or we might see
them once or twice a week
00:17:23.64\00:17:27.31
and those other days...
we try to tell the parents
00:17:27.34\00:17:30.98
what they need to
do... so we will work
00:17:31.02\00:17:32.71
with the students and say
a 3-year-old really needs to
00:17:32.75\00:17:37.97
work on counting, trying
to obtain a dominant hand
00:17:38.00\00:17:43.19
whether left hand or right hand
00:17:43.23\00:17:44.81
you know, reading...
understanding that there are
00:17:44.85\00:17:48.87
sounds associated
with letters and vowels
00:17:48.90\00:17:51.80
those types of
things and children now
00:17:51.83\00:17:55.08
learn a lot quicker
than kids in the past
00:17:55.12\00:17:58.34
if they're
directed the right way
00:17:58.37\00:18:00.58
so we give them as
much as they can handle
00:18:00.61\00:18:04.44
so it's even sitting down
for those few minutes a day
00:18:04.47\00:18:08.00
and then you start to move
into larger periods of time
00:18:08.04\00:18:12.36
but... that is important
for the parent to see what they
00:18:12.40\00:18:16.69
can work... with them...
and then we tell them too
00:18:16.72\00:18:18.79
activities that are going
on... you know... in the area
00:18:18.82\00:18:21.97
to expose their children to.
00:18:22.00\00:18:24.49
Oh, that's great... so
some of the core skills,
00:18:24.52\00:18:27.41
and you have a standard
against which you're working
00:18:27.44\00:18:33.09
the National Core...
00:18:33.12\00:18:35.26
what was that...
that you called it?
00:18:35.29\00:18:37.56
It's the National
Common Core Standards
00:18:37.59\00:18:39.83
and actually a lot
of schools right now
00:18:39.86\00:18:42.55
it was adapted in June 2010
and under Secretary Arne Duncan
00:18:42.58\00:18:47.36
and that is a
standard that's going to be
00:18:47.39\00:18:50.54
used all over the United States,
it used to be that every State
00:18:50.58\00:18:54.53
had their own Standard
00:18:54.56\00:18:55.78
and that's where we
were running into problems
00:18:55.82\00:18:58.43
with "No Child Left
Behind" but now that we have a
00:18:58.46\00:19:01.00
National Common Core Standard,
that Standard is the same
00:19:01.04\00:19:06.01
across all States
and so whether a parent
00:19:06.04\00:19:08.96
or a student is in Florida,
00:19:08.99\00:19:12.09
or Illinois or Ohio
00:19:12.13\00:19:14.33
the Standard is the
same... and so I think that's
00:19:14.37\00:19:17.06
phenomenal because that
gives parents... a way in...
00:19:17.09\00:19:20.90
you know... that gives
parents that connection
00:19:20.94\00:19:23.47
instead of saying, "I
don't know if my child is
00:19:23.50\00:19:25.96
working on what they need to do"
they can look... and see that...
00:19:26.00\00:19:29.67
That's great... that
is a big, big help...
00:19:29.70\00:19:33.09
and again... this is a way
in which technology can be used
00:19:33.13\00:19:36.99
positively because a parent
can go on-line and find out
00:19:37.03\00:19:40.86
where... they can look
at where their child is
00:19:40.90\00:19:45.47
and then... have a standard
against which to measure
00:19:45.51\00:19:48.65
you know... their
child's development
00:19:48.69\00:19:51.50
so that's
really, really important.
00:19:51.53\00:19:54.28
Who else has impact on
the child academically?
00:19:54.31\00:19:59.59
We have the parent, the teachers
00:19:59.62\00:20:01.98
who else can impact that child?
The Community and any relative
00:20:02.02\00:20:07.84
adult... and I just
say responsible adults
00:20:07.87\00:20:11.78
basically... I've
been doing some studies
00:20:11.81\00:20:15.68
and looking at the time...
the time that the student is in
00:20:15.72\00:20:19.73
a school... whether it's
Pre-School or Elementary School
00:20:19.76\00:20:23.35
or High School compared to
the time that they are at home
00:20:23.38\00:20:27.70
and when you look at summers,
vacations... a student spends
00:20:27.73\00:20:31.75
approximately 71% of their
time at home or in the Community
00:20:31.79\00:20:35.77
as opposed to
School which is 29%
00:20:35.81\00:20:38.54
so, when you look at that,
their neighbors, their friends,
00:20:38.57\00:20:45.20
relatives like I said
that come over, friends,
00:20:45.24\00:20:48.63
they have a definite
impact on the students
00:20:48.66\00:20:51.99
and so... it's
important to really look at that
00:20:52.02\00:20:54.96
because a lot of times
students come to School
00:20:54.99\00:20:57.85
they are using improper
language they are singing songs
00:20:57.89\00:21:02.01
that they shouldn't sing...
and that comes from home.
00:21:02.05\00:21:06.14
That comes from
being out in the Community.
00:21:06.17\00:21:09.12
So, we need
everyone... everyone involved...
00:21:09.15\00:21:12.06
and that's why
we have a saying now
00:21:12.10\00:21:14.45
that "The world
is our Classroom now"
00:21:14.49\00:21:16.77
it's basically flipped...
the world is our Classroom
00:21:16.81\00:21:19.69
because everyone's
running outside... so you can...
00:21:19.73\00:21:22.57
wherever you are...
in the grocery store
00:21:22.61\00:21:24.36
there's a child that is looking
00:21:24.45\00:21:26.36
how are you going handle
the situation when someone
00:21:26.40\00:21:28.71
gives you incorrect change...
you know, there's someone that's
00:21:28.74\00:21:32.80
looking at you when
you're driving down the street
00:21:32.83\00:21:34.75
and a car pulls in front of
you, so... all of these things
00:21:34.78\00:21:38.34
really have an
impact on students...
00:21:38.38\00:21:40.99
That is very true...
children look and see what we do
00:21:41.03\00:21:45.82
and they model
themselves after what we do...
00:21:45.85\00:21:48.96
so... that 71... 29... that's
a very interesting percent
00:21:49.00\00:21:56.40
those are
interesting percentages
00:21:56.44\00:21:57.70
71 percent of the child's
learning takes place outside
00:21:57.74\00:22:02.52
of the School... that's
a very interesting thing.
00:22:02.56\00:22:06.46
What effect did
"No Child Left Behind"
00:22:06.49\00:22:10.19
have on students academically?
00:22:10.22\00:22:13.71
I think... when they came out
00:22:13.75\00:22:17.17
with "No Child Left Behind"
basically it gave carte blanche
00:22:17.21\00:22:21.40
to anyone that thought
they could help students
00:22:21.44\00:22:25.50
but not necessarily...
I think that I saw so many
00:22:25.53\00:22:29.56
programs created but
there was no accountability
00:22:29.59\00:22:33.30
for those programs...
and, you know, when you really
00:22:33.34\00:22:36.84
look at it...
teachers are having
00:22:36.88\00:22:40.48
a difficult time
trying to introduce concepts
00:22:40.52\00:22:43.47
and get those
concepts into students...
00:22:43.50\00:22:45.60
so, every program that opens up
they're not experienced enough
00:22:45.64\00:22:50.39
to actually help these
students and I'm not saying...
00:22:50.42\00:22:53.85
all programs
because there are a lot of
00:22:53.88\00:22:55.55
phenomenal programs... out there
00:22:55.59\00:22:57.19
however, when you start
seeing all of these programs
00:22:57.22\00:22:59.77
everyone is looking at
the dollars and they are not
00:22:59.81\00:23:02.55
looking at "Are you truly
impacting these students?"
00:23:02.58\00:23:05.28
and, I think, that
that opened the door to
00:23:05.32\00:23:08.66
a lot of
variability in education
00:23:08.69\00:23:12.82
and a lot of students
really felt the effects
00:23:12.85\00:23:16.32
they really did...
00:23:16.35\00:23:17.50
That is a very sad thing...
so how does a parent know
00:23:17.54\00:23:21.39
when you take
your child to a program
00:23:21.42\00:23:23.58
how does that parent know
that this is a reputable program
00:23:23.62\00:23:26.92
that's going to do... what
it claims it's going to do?
00:23:26.96\00:23:30.23
Well, you know, I think...
one thing that I looked at
00:23:30.26\00:23:35.34
is that... a lot
of parents look at
00:23:35.38\00:23:37.69
"Well, this is a program
that I can to put my child in
00:23:37.72\00:23:41.30
they're going to
keep them for two hours
00:23:41.34\00:23:43.38
they are out of my
hair for two hours"
00:23:43.41\00:23:45.42
and that's
it... and so, you know
00:23:45.45\00:23:48.39
they started giving them snacks,
they do all of these things
00:23:48.43\00:23:51.99
except for look
at what they're doing
00:23:52.02\00:23:54.98
and a lot of times the
programs are just helping
00:23:55.02\00:23:58.09
with homework... and
that's good but you're
00:23:58.12\00:24:00.83
still not getting
to the core problem
00:24:00.86\00:24:02.62
if they need help with
homework a lot of times
00:24:02.66\00:24:05.87
it goes back deeper
than that particular concept
00:24:05.91\00:24:09.26
and so... that's the
part that I see is a problem
00:24:09.30\00:24:12.62
it's OK to help a
child with homework
00:24:12.66\00:24:14.19
but if you're trying to
help a child with fractions
00:24:14.22\00:24:17.79
and they don't know
how to add or subtract
00:24:17.82\00:24:19.86
you're going to have a hard...
you know... difficult time
00:24:19.90\00:24:22.47
working with
them... Absolutely...
00:24:22.51\00:24:25.02
So I think parents
need to have an idea
00:24:25.05\00:24:27.96
of keeping, you know,
the communication lines
00:24:28.00\00:24:31.60
with the
teacher... they need to know
00:24:31.64\00:24:33.49
at the end of the
school year, you know,
00:24:33.53\00:24:35.41
we try to connect
parents that way...
00:24:35.44\00:24:37.25
and talk to the teacher to see
what concepts they can work with
00:24:37.28\00:24:40.82
their child over the summer
on, so that they get prepared
00:24:40.85\00:24:44.17
for the next school year...
00:24:44.21\00:24:45.45
You know... that's a
very interesting point too...
00:24:45.49\00:24:48.18
What happens over
the summer... you know...
00:24:48.22\00:24:52.50
kids get out of school in
May or June... and then...
00:24:52.53\00:24:56.59
they go back in
August or September...
00:24:56.63\00:24:59.99
what should
happen over the summer...
00:25:00.02\00:25:03.31
and tell us a little
bit about summer vacation...
00:25:03.34\00:25:05.68
OK... what should
happen over the summer
00:25:05.72\00:25:08.42
and the program we franchise
that we're affiliated with
00:25:08.46\00:25:11.98
was year-round,
because learning takes place
00:25:12.02\00:25:14.68
year round... and I
always tell the students,
00:25:14.72\00:25:17.00
"Well, what if
your... the pilot of the plane
00:25:17.03\00:25:19.88
you are flying in...
decides to take a vacation
00:25:19.91\00:25:22.69
you know... his brain
takes a vacation mid-stream
00:25:22.72\00:25:26.90
when you're taking off...
so when you look at that...
00:25:26.93\00:25:30.63
it's just a matter
of the learning isn't...
00:25:30.67\00:25:32.91
you don't learn because
the school bell rings or...
00:25:32.94\00:25:35.74
you know... it rings
for you to come in or to end
00:25:35.77\00:25:38.53
so it's important
for students to see that
00:25:38.57\00:25:41.00
you have to learn all the time
00:25:41.04\00:25:44.56
learning is all the time
00:25:44.59\00:25:45.82
so... for parents... if
your child struggled with
00:25:45.86\00:25:48.78
some concepts
during the school year...
00:25:48.81\00:25:50.68
summer is a phenomenal time
to really work with your child
00:25:50.71\00:25:54.03
to make sure... in a structured
manner that they're going to
00:25:54.07\00:25:57.35
to take care of those
areas... because if not...
00:25:57.39\00:26:01.86
then they're
going to go to school...
00:26:01.89\00:26:03.00
and the average child, you know,
they say... loses some of the
00:26:03.04\00:26:06.72
information that
they learned over the year
00:26:06.76\00:26:10.13
and so... with the
child who is really struggling
00:26:10.17\00:26:14.15
they're going to lose a
lot... and then you go to
00:26:14.18\00:26:18.13
the next grade and
you're expected to know
00:26:18.16\00:26:21.00
those concepts and you won't...
00:26:21.04\00:26:23.19
So... it's up to parents...
a lot of parents get workbooks
00:26:23.22\00:26:27.45
over the
summer... but the key is
00:26:27.48\00:26:29.56
making sure that
you're consistent...
00:26:29.60\00:26:31.61
you know, I think a lot of
times I work with some parents
00:26:31.64\00:26:36.20
and that's what
we're trying to do
00:26:36.24\00:26:37.49
is to get the
parents to see that...
00:26:37.53\00:26:38.71
you sometimes need
an outside person to say
00:26:38.74\00:26:41.66
this has to get
done... just for accountability
00:26:41.69\00:26:44.57
because students and parents
sometimes... that's not a
00:26:44.60\00:26:47.67
good match... I
know... I have kids so...
00:26:47.70\00:26:51.14
but, you know, to say, "I
have to work over the summer"
00:26:51.17\00:26:55.90
"Yes, you do... "
So... just to limit it
00:26:55.93\00:26:58.29
to make sure that
it's something comfortable
00:26:58.32\00:27:00.62
and even if it's
reinforcing some of those skills
00:27:00.65\00:27:02.99
that's something you need to do
00:27:03.02\00:27:04.99
so, I think, parents need
to take that into consideration
00:27:05.03\00:27:08.96
and also with vacations...
and take them places...
00:27:08.99\00:27:11.93
and not just go to
have... you can have fun but
00:27:11.97\00:27:14.84
visit some of the museums there,
visit some of the key points
00:27:14.88\00:27:21.16
of the city, you know,
learn a little bit of history
00:27:21.19\00:27:24.01
about it...
because that will help.
00:27:24.04\00:27:25.65
Wow... Mabel, thank you so
much, you've given us so much
00:27:25.69\00:27:29.73
great information
and our time is up...
00:27:29.77\00:27:31.92
I can't believe
it... but thank you...
00:27:31.96\00:27:34.04
I'm going to have to
have you back again though.
00:27:34.08\00:27:35.97
Will you come back?
00:27:36.00\00:27:37.09
OK... no problem...
of course... of course...
00:27:37.12\00:27:39.51
Great... thank
you... God bless you
00:27:39.54\00:27:42.40
and I pray that
your work will continue
00:27:42.44\00:27:45.23
and you'll be able to
really impact our students...
00:27:45.26\00:27:47.69
Thank you...
00:27:47.73\00:27:48.76
Thank you... Thank
you for having me...
00:27:48.79\00:27:51.36
You know... sometimes we may
feel as though our children's
00:27:51.40\00:27:53.93
education depends
solely on the teachers
00:27:53.97\00:27:56.48
Mabel showed us today... the
value of parental involvement
00:27:56.52\00:28:00.02
even at the Pre-School level...
Thanks so much for tuning in...
00:28:00.05\00:28:03.79
You know what... It
just wouldn't be the same
00:28:03.83\00:28:06.15
without you...
00:28:06.19\00:28:07.75