Rich Kids are Better; But should the Government intervene
Norwich, UK (PRWEB UK) 12 July 2013 -- Research for the Sutton Trust educational charity says Scotland's gap is the highest in the developed world, while England's is the second highest. In Finland, Denmark, Germany and Canada, the gap is equal to 15 months.(2)
The government in England says its reforms will improve reading standards. In Scotland, government officials say their new school curriculum is helping to raise standards.
But outspoken UK entrepreneur Mark Hibbitts – author of the ‘Alfie Potts the Schoolboy Entrepreneur’ series of children’s books says we shouldn’t rely on the Government for education standards...
Mark says, “Is this really the Government’s responsibility? In my opinion Governments should get out of the education, which more and more resembles indoctrination, business altogether. That’s not likely to happen though. After all, who would vote for any of our current politicians if we developed a nation of free thinking individuals?
“But let’s put politics aside and get back to reading for now. Personally I think children will read if parents read, and also if parents read to, and with, them from an early age. My own kids are all excellent readers but this has nothing to do with us being ‘rich’ or ‘poor’; in fact they were learning to read while I was going through bankruptcy 5 years ago and you don’t get much poorer than that! No, I believe it's because we have always endeavoured to develop a reading culture at home. My wife Michelle and I read a lot, and have always read with the kids, not left it to the school to teach them everything.”
So come on parents, rich AND poor, step up and take the responsibility for the reading ability of your children. But, don’t forget to teach them to question what they read, not just take as truth.
The Alfie Potts series of children’s books are available in paperback from Amazon or direct from the author at http://www.alfiepotts.com
ENDS
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NOTES FOR JOURNALISTS
1. “Class divide in boys' reading skills seen in Pisa scores”, Angela Harrison, BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23271555
2. “MISSING THEIR POTENTIAL: BRIGHT BRITISH BOYS LOSE OUT WITH 30 MONTH READING GAP”, Sutton Trust, http://www.suttontrust.com/news/news/missing-their-potential-bright-british-boys-lose-out-with-30
THE “ALFIE POTTS” BOOK SERIES
Alfie Potts is a twelve year old schoolboy who, with the help and mentorship of his father, becomes an entrepreneur. Over the course of the storybooks, Alfie gets to learn a series of ‘life lessons‘ that don’t get taught in school. The aim of the Alfie Potts™ books is to empower both children and parents to think differently, developing themselves, and becoming the best they can be, knowing that by doing so anything becomes possible!
Visit http://www.alfiepotts.com to find out more about the books (3 so far, with another due for publication September 2013)
Please contact the publisher if you’d like to review the books for your show or publication.
If you’d like Mark to write a feature around young entrepreneurship for your publication or appear for interview on your show please contact his publisher.
Lucy McCarraher, Bookshaker, http://www.bookshaker.com, 07867 781691, [email protected]
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