- Educationist Victor Ochieng’ urges parents to become more intentional in guiding their children’s education, character and career development.
- Drawing lessons from The Jewish Phenomenon, he argues that knowledge, discipline and strong family values are foundations of long-term success.
- The article challenges parents to play a more active role in nurturing talents, promoting literacy and shaping responsible future citizens.
In a heroic book titled The Jewish Phenomenon, Steven Silbiger presents powerful points on parenting with purpose. Apparently, when chances manifest like during the holiday, parents should spare some time and speak to their children. More so, on matters growth and development of children. Parents should support their children to value education by working hard in school. Parents should help their children make informed career choices. Parents should be concerned about behaviour and character of their children.
Why character? Because when you read Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude, Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone argue, character is the cornerstone in building, and in maintaining success. There is something infinitely better than making a living. It is making a noble life. Highest and best achievements are noble manhood and womanhood. The achievement of true integrity and well-rounded character, is in itself success.
Actually, being keen about well-being of children, is what as a scribe I describe as parenting children with purpose. Ideally, there is no common script or textbook guide on parenting. All the same, children must not be left just to grow up like trees. In lieu, it is prudent to bring them up through strict training and tutelage. For the wise man says in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Advisedly, when schools are closed; either during end-term or during brief mid-term break, parents should pick the ball where teachers have dropped it. For the philosopher Seneca said, “A teacher is a second parent, and a parent is a second teacher.” So, parents should not abdicate their integral role. Largely, it takes God, parents and teachers to raise children as expected. The joint effort is perfectly brought out in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, where Apostle Paul of Tarsus pens, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters are anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
Additionally, parents should prioritise their children, provide for their children, protect their children and pray for their children, daily. Then, parents should track academic performance of their children. They should also be concerned about their talents, gifts and skills. Parents should introduce children to God, the way Lois (grizzled granny) and Eunice (mother) did to Timothy — the protégé of Apostle Paul of Tarsus (2 Timothy 1:5). Again, parents should check forms of entertainment children choose to enjoy. They should encourage them to tilt towards edutainment — forms of entertainment that are educative in nature. Movies and music they have a knack for, must be of help. Parents should help their progenies understand that minds obey GIGO Principle — Garbage In, Garbage Out. Input equals output. Meaning, children should not allot a lot of time on entertainment, and forget about books. Wise parents should guide their children.
Back to basics, I do dote on the heroic book I decided to quote, The Jewish Phenomenon by Steven Silbiger. It presents The 7 Keys to Enduring Wealth of a People. It explores why Jews in America are wise and wealthy. In one of the keys, the author argues that Jews understand that real wealth is portable: It is knowledge. Therefore, as early as possible, Jewish parents train their children to appreciate the wonder of the written word. Jews make up only 2% of the total population of the United States. Yet, 45% of the top 40 of Forbes 400 richest Americans are Jews. 20% of professors in Ivy League universities are Jews. 40% of partners in the leading New York and Washington D.C. law firms are Jews. 25% of all American Nobel Prize winners are Jews. One-third of the American multi-millionaires are Jews. The percentage of the Jewish household with some handsome income greater than $50,000 is double that of non-Jews. Consequently, as early as possible, Jews become serious in studying Talmud and Torah and Mishna. Talmud collates books of detailed rabbinical commentary on the Bible. Tora is the collection of the first five books of the Old Testament. The Mishna houses books codifying Jewish laws for religious observance such as orison. Other holy books include: Zohar, Midrash and Kabbalah.
Lastly, in the Jewish religion, parents recognise their children in the synagogue as adults at the age of 15. Jewish parents encourage their children to value literate habits, hobbies, rituals and routines. Parents encourage their children to watch news and read newspapers with real zeal and trenchant zest. No wonder, they stand out of the crowd, walking heads held high. Parents instruct children never to live under the shadow of other mere mortals. A classic case is Albert Einstein (1879-1955) — a top-flight Theoretical Physicist, whom at age 26, became the creator of the Law of Relativity and Quantum Theory that haply ushered in the Atomic Age, because he read popular science books in his teenage at age 16. Albert Einstein’s parents, Hermann Einstein and Pauline Einstein, were ethnically Jewish. Therefore, the family was careful in observing the traditional Jewish practices.
READ ALSO: KNEC seeks Ksh5 billion funding boost ahead of record 3.5 million-candidate examination season
In Think Like Einstein, author Daniel Smith writes that at round age 11-12, Albert Einstein developed strong interest in religion. He studied the Hebrew Bible, and became a faithful follower of religious customs and composed devotional songs. As a teenager, he evolved by becoming interested in Mathematics, Science and Philosophy. He was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his noble service to Theoretical Physics, and specifically for his discovery of The Law of Photoelectric Effect.
By Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out talks and training services in schools. He addresses parents during AGMs, class academic clinics and prize-giving events. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
