The president on parenting

The president’s daughters must get straight A’s. That’s my conclusion based on this quote from President Barack Obama:

“Malia will tell you, my attitude was, if she came home with a B, that’s not good enough because there’s no reason why she can’t get an A.”

The president and first lady Michelle Obama are on the cover of the March issue of Essence. The interview with the president is part of the magazine’s three-part education series, “Teaching Our Children.”

According to a press release from the magazine, the interview includes Obama’s opinions on a number of topics – from making teachers accountable and closing the education gap between black and white students to how he and the first lady encourage their daughters to love learning.

According to the Associated Press, the president also told Essence that Malia and Sasha never watch television on school nights.

“The girls don’t watch TV during the week. Period,” he said.

Instead, they spend their time doing homework. When they’re done with that, they read until bedtime – which is 8 p.m. for 8-year-old Sasha and an hour later for Malia, 11.

When Essence asked him what parents can do to help their kids develop a love of learning, the president advised other dads and moms to set expectations so that the children take responsibility for their own education.

He also spoke about how he and Michelle Obama started reading to their girls when they were still babies.

“There’s no doubt that Michelle and I have more resources and privileges compared with a lot of parents. We understand that,” he said. “But I don’t care how poor you are – you can turn off the television set during the week.”

Do your kids watch television on school nights? Besides turning off the TV, what else can parents do to encourage learning?

– Posted by Virginia de Leon

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