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The Educated Child: A Parents Guide From Preschool Through Eighth Grade
The Educated Child defines a good education and offers parents a plan of action for ensuring that their children achieve it.
The Educated Child defines a good education and offers parents a plan of action for ensuring that their children achieve it. Combining the goals that William Bennett enumerated as Secretary of Education, key excerpts from E. D. Hirsch's Core Knowledge Sequence, and the latest research, it sets forth clear curricula and specific objectives for children from kindergarten through the eighth grade,
-What children should be studying and the kind of work they should be doing
-Important facts to learn and essential reading lists
-When children should master specific math skills, spelling and grammar basics, and scientific facts
-Test preparation, homework, and other areas that require parental involvement
The Educated Child also examines timely issues such as school choice, sex education, character education, and the phonics/whole language debate. Perhaps most important, it encourages parents to become advocates for their children by learning what to look for in a good school, how to talk to educators, and how, when necessary, to push for needed changes. For parents concerned about their children's current education and future lives, it is the ultimate handbook.
The Educated Child defines a good education and offers parents a plan of action for ensuring that their children achieve it. Combining the goals that William Bennett enumerated as Secretary of Education, key excerpts from E. D. Hirsch's Core Knowledge Sequence, and the latest research, it sets forth clear curricula and specific objectives for children from kindergarten through the eighth grade,
-What children should be studying and the kind of work they should be doing
-Important facts to learn and essential reading lists
-When children should master specific math skills, spelling and grammar basics, and scientific facts
-Test preparation, homework, and other areas that require parental involvement
The Educated Child also examines timely issues such as school choice, sex education, character education, and the phonics/whole language debate. Perhaps most important, it encourages parents to become advocates for their children by learning what to look for in a good school, how to talk to educators, and how, when necessary, to push for needed changes. For parents concerned about their children's current education and future lives, it is the ultimate handbook.
688 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
33 people are currently reading
551 people want to read
About the author
William J. Bennett
131 books200 followersWilliam J. "Bill" Bennett is a politician and author who served in the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations, as chief of National Endowment for the Humanities and later Secretary of Education under Reagan, and Drug Czar under Bush. He is a nationally well-known figure of political and social conservatism and authored many books on politics, ethics, and international relations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
September 30, 2009
This is an excellent reference for what education should be. The authors' politics do come through and although they don't match mine, I found some of the differences refreshing. Rather than undermine the points made, they give some good balance to some of the other materials I have been reading.
The author is very specific about defending the idea that we must teach children certain information as part of their education. If that sounds obvious, it's in response to the idea that learning "how to learn" is more important than learning facts. The author balances these two ideas well.
He continually returns to the idea that education must be rigorous and exciting, challenging and inspiring - not just one or the other.
The prose sections are highly readable and thought-provoking. The lists are useful for future reference.
The author is very specific about defending the idea that we must teach children certain information as part of their education. If that sounds obvious, it's in response to the idea that learning "how to learn" is more important than learning facts. The author balances these two ideas well.
He continually returns to the idea that education must be rigorous and exciting, challenging and inspiring - not just one or the other.
The prose sections are highly readable and thought-provoking. The lists are useful for future reference.
July 5, 2019
I listened to an abridged audio so the hard copy may have more reference material and guides by grade. It was an encouraging book toward parents being more involved in their child’s education. Though geared to parents with children in public/private school, I was still challenged as a homeschooling mom.
May 14, 2021
A homeschool mother recommended this book to me, so my thought before receiving it was that it was for homeschool. It is not. However, there is information on what each grade level should be learning, which books the students should read or at the very least be aware of.
Reviewing this book to write this review makes me sad of the condition of public schools. So whether your child(ren) are in public/private or homeschooled, this book is worth getting your hands on.
pg 99 Ten Signs of a Good School
#2 Academic Mission - what is the school teaching students and what is being replaced?
#3 seems to be a big issue in schools today, because there's less attention on right/wrong/and morals
Reviewing this book to write this review makes me sad of the condition of public schools. So whether your child(ren) are in public/private or homeschooled, this book is worth getting your hands on.
pg 99 Ten Signs of a Good School
#2 Academic Mission - what is the school teaching students and what is being replaced?
#3 seems to be a big issue in schools today, because there's less attention on right/wrong/and morals
November 20, 2011
Use this as one of my homeschooling references, though I take some of the moralizing with a grain of salt considering that William Bennett is the source. Happy to have found this in a used bookstore so he didn't actually get any of my money. Political and religious orientations aside, the chapters about early childhood make sense, and I really like the way the book is organized. I also don't necessarily agree with all his conservative takes on controversial teaching methodologies, but there is some effort at even-handedness despite the conservative bent - and in any case, we are all adults and can form our own conclusions. I found the sex-ed and tv chapters near the end of the book to be the most overtly authoritarian Christian in tone and content.
All in all, a straightforward and well written reference that urges parents to take responsibility for the academic and character education of their children.
All in all, a straightforward and well written reference that urges parents to take responsibility for the academic and character education of their children.
August 4, 2010
I love, love, love, love this book. Written by the former Secretary of Education under Ronald Reagan, it is a clear and easy to use tool that will help you know, as a parent, what your child should be learning in each grade. It gives reading lists, tips, watch signs and ideas about how to supplement. While this book is great for home schoolers because it gives a great frame work for what curriculum should accomplish, he specifically says that it is written for the family sending their kids to formal schools. While he supports home school, he says that in this great nation we must have schools that offer our kids the very best. I am using his kindergarten readiness list and top 30 books pre-schoolers should meet list as a frame work for what to teach my son.
February 6, 2017
The Educated Child defines a good education and offers parents a plan of action for ensuring that their children achieve it.
Good tips for parents, who might want to ensure that their children are getting a decent education in the public school system. They do cover early childhood education (ages 1-5), as well as elementary and middle school ages.
Very good help to those parents who want to play an important role in the education of their children or .
Part I, The Preschool Years;
Part II, The Core Curriculum;
Part III, Making it Work.
Good tips for parents, who might want to ensure that their children are getting a decent education in the public school system. They do cover early childhood education (ages 1-5), as well as elementary and middle school ages.
Very good help to those parents who want to play an important role in the education of their children or .
Part I, The Preschool Years;
Part II, The Core Curriculum;
Part III, Making it Work.
December 19, 2023
To get anything out of this book, you need to already believe that traditional teaching methods like memorization in math, writing in cursive, moral teaching, etc are important and necessary.
If you are already on board that train, then this is a great reference book. Every chapter is a subject area and goes through what children should have mastered by grade.
Then it covers what policies and trends failed children (in that subject area), and why. These sections were really interesting, because they gave you a view into 1990s educational policy and research that has now become, by 2023, the standard in public education — for example, teaching kids “how to learn” instead of teaching subject material. Another example: emphasizing feelings and self confidence over knowledge and mastery (which ironically, are the pathway to earning self confidence).
I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be using it as a guide as my younger children go through K-8.
If you are already on board that train, then this is a great reference book. Every chapter is a subject area and goes through what children should have mastered by grade.
Then it covers what policies and trends failed children (in that subject area), and why. These sections were really interesting, because they gave you a view into 1990s educational policy and research that has now become, by 2023, the standard in public education — for example, teaching kids “how to learn” instead of teaching subject material. Another example: emphasizing feelings and self confidence over knowledge and mastery (which ironically, are the pathway to earning self confidence).
I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be using it as a guide as my younger children go through K-8.
March 18, 2019
This is a great guide for parents who want to get really involved in helping their children succeed in school. Very organized by age and subject. I see a good bit of reviews saying they were unable to read it cover to cover and lost interest. Please do not try to read cover to cover. Use this as you would an encyclopedia or a dictionary. Take what you need for the age and subject that you are in and you will not be disappointed. The author tells you in the first pages do not try to read cover to cover or you will not be using the book effectively. Mark the pages you need highlight good points, make notes and act on them. I love this book! It has been very helpful to my children and myself!
May 19, 2022
I'm marking this down a star for being out-of-date, especially the sections on what threatens public education (liberals). I also disagreed with a lot of their suggestions for helping kids learn, since they are contraindicated by actual data. But I like the idea of being interesting in your kid's education, and having goals in a variety of subjects for them, and of partnering with teachers and schools to set expectations and standards.
March 7, 2018
What a waste of time. Gave general advice like: Reading to your child is good...Being too busy to pay attention to your child is bad. Gave no references to studies or research. Like I said, total waste of time.
Turns out this is a national best seller and written by former secretary of education (Reagan). This should have been done better.
Turns out this is a national best seller and written by former secretary of education (Reagan). This should have been done better.
December 29, 2018
I read about half this book and stopped. Huge waste of time from a rather presumptuous author who had a gambling addiction. I gave up when I reach the part where he analyzed the value of multiculturalism in history and then went on to put down examples he saw that put too much emphasis on exploring other cultures as a part of global history.
August 5, 2021
This book was full of insight regarding teaching pedagogy.
Bennet defends the traditional way of teaching:
- Less technological focus
- Homework
- Memorizing basic facts in order to build upon them
- Not teaching to “learning types”
While I didn’t agree with everything, he did make some good cases against the “revolution” in U.S. education that hasn’t proven to be all it claimed it’d be.
Bennet defends the traditional way of teaching:
- Less technological focus
- Homework
- Memorizing basic facts in order to build upon them
- Not teaching to “learning types”
While I didn’t agree with everything, he did make some good cases against the “revolution” in U.S. education that hasn’t proven to be all it claimed it’d be.
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December 7, 2019Too early to give this book a fair review as I've yet to apply most of the guidelines, but I agreed with a majority of the reasoning this book put forward.
January 8, 2020
The most any of us can do is try our hardest for our kids.
December 17, 2023
Interesting to read as a teacher (note: i am NOT a parent) 🤗
February 27, 2017
Excellent reference book. The chapters are divided by school grade -- read what applies to your child and don't be intimidated by the book size. :)
January 31, 2013
The Educated Child reads like a dream, or a nightmare, if your school or child is not hitting the soaring standards of erudition laid out by Bennet. What an ideal, human-assembly-line world he must think we live in!
When I started Bennet’s book several years ago, I intended it to serve as a benchmark guide for our curriculum as a homeschool. As a highly motivated learner in school, I always strove to learn everything, and more, than was provided by teachers in school settings; so naturally, I thought I would teach everything possible once I became the teacher, with guides like these to keep me on track.
As the years have passed, however, my definition of education and its purpose have changed drastically. Now, rather than defining our standards by others’ outlines of history, math, science, etc., we work from our own passions, skills, and weaknesses to create our own highly individualized definition of The Educated Child. I have therefore reluctantly given up reading this tome cover-to-cover as originally planned, but will instead refer to it on occasion when the inspiration to achieve more traditionally measurable success hits.
When I started Bennet’s book several years ago, I intended it to serve as a benchmark guide for our curriculum as a homeschool. As a highly motivated learner in school, I always strove to learn everything, and more, than was provided by teachers in school settings; so naturally, I thought I would teach everything possible once I became the teacher, with guides like these to keep me on track.
As the years have passed, however, my definition of education and its purpose have changed drastically. Now, rather than defining our standards by others’ outlines of history, math, science, etc., we work from our own passions, skills, and weaknesses to create our own highly individualized definition of The Educated Child. I have therefore reluctantly given up reading this tome cover-to-cover as originally planned, but will instead refer to it on occasion when the inspiration to achieve more traditionally measurable success hits.
January 9, 2009
This book is just another "what children should learn when" title. Its long-winded, boring and only mildly helpful to a parent. It was the seed for the popular "what your ___ grader should know series" based on the CORE knowledge series. I don't find arbitrary timelines such as 'in second grade study the geography of Asia' helpful or realistic whether it comes from this book or others. My son is considered a second grader and he has no context or reason for learning Asian geography at this point. The majority of the book is just this however, a timeline of what a child should learn in each grade PK through 8th.
The one positive thing I got from this book is an "I can do it" attitude about teaching my son and having him leave his parochial school. Parent Power.
(As an aside, I don't appreciate the author living an immoral life while preaching to parents. Yes, we all make mistakes, but we don't all preach to others on how to live while making such egregious mistakes.)
The one positive thing I got from this book is an "I can do it" attitude about teaching my son and having him leave his parochial school. Parent Power.
(As an aside, I don't appreciate the author living an immoral life while preaching to parents. Yes, we all make mistakes, but we don't all preach to others on how to live while making such egregious mistakes.)
August 24, 2012
Out of the 600+ pages in this book there is a solid 300 worth reading. These 300 focus on the types of things a well educated child should learn during grades k-8. These pages give good insight into what should be learned, how to measure if a child is getting this information, and a good dose of practical examples of what kind of information is critical. The other 300 pages are a hit and miss as far as being of interest or help. The second half of this book is devoted to issues in schools and education. While this may be interesting for some I found it to be exceedingly dull. I will find myself referencing the material on what a well educated child should learn, but think I will not be looking much to the rest of the material in this book in the future.
July 28, 2010
An absolute lifeline for me. I am going to keep it near by like one might have a medical dictionary in the home. [Side note: I was not concerned with the Author's personal direction of the book, clearly he holds certain disappointments to some of the deteriorations of our educational institutions, however there were only minor reflections in his speaking. His emphasis was presenting a realistic guide to what our expectation levels should be documented from grade to grade. This allows for an opportunity for supplementation if we find a point hasn't been fully reviewed or understood by our child. I enjoyed it and plan on using it as a continued reference..
March 15, 2013
As a novice home schooler from public school back ground I think this book is great in urging parents to be involved in their child's education. It tells of many red flags to watch for as well as certain teaching methods and styles that do and do not work. With research to back it up. However, some parents pull kids from public because of they don't like the gov't in control of what a child "should" learn. That is what this book does. States what a generic child should know coming off the conveyor belt called public school. I'd recommend it to a parent who has a choice in where to send their child.
June 27, 2008
This is one of my "bible" books! I love this book and it is a MUST READ for anyone who has a child! I believe this book should be put in the diaper bags they give you at the hospital. Bennett is a former Secretary of Education. He wrote this book detailing for parents what to look for in their local schools so that parents can make educated and smart decisions on their children's education. One of my all time favorite books and I tell everyone with children that they HAVE to read this book!
March 27, 2009
This book has been a saving grace for my son's education. Yes, he is only in kindergarten, but we have already had many difficulties with his his education. With the failing Arizona school system and a teacher that is well-past-ready to retire, his curriculum was lacking. After many meetings with his teacher and the principal with little results, I turned to this book to help me suppliment his education. He has now been excepted into a prestigous advanced reading program and has just brought home a new report card with the highest of marks in every category! My deapest thanks to Mr. Bennett!
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December 23, 2009I didn't read this cover to cover, so I can't vouch for everything Bennett says here. I nodded my head in agreement with the sections on instilling a love for reading at home, demanding high expectations from schools, and what makes a bad teacher. The middle-school English curricula he suggests seems quite sound (except for the inclusion of Bible stories), going back to a time when students were expected to spell, compose and read classics. Too bad this guy wasn't around when No Child Left Behind was being developed.
January 20, 2014
For parents wondering just what their children ought to be learning -- and what schools ought to be teaching -- this book provides an excellent resource. Even families that are pleased with their student's progress and their school's programs will benefit from the suggested questions the authors offer. The insights and educational background provided by Bennett, Finn and Cribb will make parents more confident in approaching teacher conferences, as well as capable of meeting their child's needs should problems arise in the classroom or school.
October 16, 2008
My poor copy has underlining, highlighting, etc. A great read for any parent, whether homeschooling, private schooling, or public schooling!! It does not 'bash' any method of schooling, but instead discusses what your kiddos ought to be getting out of their education. was a real bolster for me and my decision to homeschool.
I feel wretched because my cousin sent it to me July 2001 and I didn't read it till spring of 2005. i'm very grateful to her for sharing it with me!!
I feel wretched because my cousin sent it to me July 2001 and I didn't read it till spring of 2005. i'm very grateful to her for sharing it with me!!
August 3, 2010
This is a thick book with large print on the spine so it caught my eye as I was leaving the library. It is meant for parents of young children, which I am not, but I am enjoying it anyway. I don't think it is meant to be read straight through as I did, but I find a lot of the authors' points to be interesting. For example, I loved his defense of history, civics and geography as important school subjects.
August 12, 2010
An extremely useful tool for parents and educators. This book describes problems in the current public education system and empowers parents to become responsible for the education that they receive. The various sections and lists of what students should be learning serves as an easy reference, and yet the entire book can be read front to back. This is an important work from trusted authors and should be required for all parents.
January 22, 2013
This is written by a former Secretary of Education, and it's a comprehensive reference guide. Offers curriculum benchmarks and "readiness" lists, Core Knowledge guidelines, comparisons of different methods and approaches in school design and classroom instruction, rationales and practical tips for character education, and principles and practices for parents who want to raise an educated child. This is the best book of its kind that I have found, and I will come back to it frequently.
February 28, 2013
not a pro-homeschool message...
pro standardized testing, for which i have mixed feelings.
a great guide for helping benchmark homeschooled kids with excellent reading lists... Hirsch's book would be a great companion guide.
this book is the reason we decided to homeschool... the tremendous gap between what our 8th grader knew and what he "should" know... it was a dismal commentary on his time spent at school.
pro standardized testing, for which i have mixed feelings.
a great guide for helping benchmark homeschooled kids with excellent reading lists... Hirsch's book would be a great companion guide.
this book is the reason we decided to homeschool... the tremendous gap between what our 8th grader knew and what he "should" know... it was a dismal commentary on his time spent at school.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews