A government funded survey by Fathers Direct has shown that if fathers' are involved in children's education the children do better.
Men could soon be sweating over sewing, trying to cook a Sunday roast with laughing five-year-olds, or helping a class with weaving. For the government is to back a major scheme to encourage fathers into schools after fresh evidence that visiting their children in the classroom increases academic achievement and leads to better behaviour.
The linked article has lots of examples, including sports activities, reading, and art projects.
In one example, Gareth Todd-Jones, head of the Pen Pych community primary school in Mid-Glamorgan, [...said]
'The valley, one of the most deprived areas in Europe, is an old mining town and a lot of people have a rough, tough image of what it is to be a man [...] They were not meant to do anything with their children.
'But they are now going camping with their children, doing cooking classes, making cards for Mothers' Day, woodwork, sewing and making weaving frames,' he said.
There are now 20 fathers and grandfathers in the Pen Pych Superdads group, and Todd-Jones is planning to print beer mats with 'Superdads Pen Pych' on one side and an invitation to join on the other.
It sounds obvious, but many fathers are unable to spend more time with their children because of pressures from work. The Equal Opportunities Commission thinks this issue is important.
Julie Mellor, head of the Equal Opportunities Commission [said ...]
'In 21st-century families, fathers are doing a third of the parental childcare. That's eight times what it was 30 years ago. Then they spent 15 minutes a day on childcare; now it's two hours..'
[...]
'Whichever party wins the general election, fathers will continue to be pushed unwillingly into the role of main breadwinner, and mothers will largely be left holding the baby while working for less than fair wages,' she said.
Anything to get parents more involved in their children's lives sounds good to me. I wish fathers had an equal share though, especially if they actually want it but can't due to obligations.
A government funded survey by Fathers Direct has shown that if fathers' are involved in children's education the children do better.
emphasis mine
Without weighing my own opinion in the matter, but doesn't it seem a bit obvious that a group dedicatated to fatherhood is going to reveal that kids should be with their dads?
Why not have the government ask PETA to do a study on vegetarianism?
dem_z
United Kingdom
June 2004
APR 03, 2005 10:06 AM