What are your educational goals for your DC?

[KpbS]

Just thinking bigger picture here--smaller goals are ok too... ;)

[egoldber]

To love and be excited about learning.

To not be afraid to work hard or to take chances in trying something new.

That's pretty much it. :)

[Nooknookmom]

We've always told DD1 that trying her best and putting effort into all that she does will get her far. I'll do the same for DD2.

I tend to be the parent who's most involved in schoolwork and I've always been VERY careful to make sure she was excited about learning & not pressured at all. So far, it's worked.

DD1 is a Freshman this year and has already begun thinking about "what she wants to be" and what colleges to look at (along w/ financial aid packages!). I think that if we make it through HS fairly unscathed, I'll have done my job well. She has a full load this year and I can see little stress fractures forming, I'm just trying to mend them as they come up!

I want them to love learning and not dread going to school like I did!

[Corie]

Thinking really really big picture...

I've already told both kids that they are going to college (not *too* far
from home) :) and that I would like for them to continue college in pursuit
of their Master's Degree.

They both love school so much now and we discuss school, learning, reading, etc.
I am discussing higher education now so it just becomes ingrained
in them.

[kijip]

I want them to have a love of reason, knowledge and learning in general and to remain open minded learners and hard workers all their lives.

Also, I want them to have all options open for higher education, so I expect them to not just do the minimum distribution to graduate. A lot of kids barely grasp algebra (heck, barely get fractions) at the time they finish 12th grade, I would be lying if I said I did not expect them to have proficiency beyond that when they finish high school. I think calculus, 3-4 years of science, 4 years of English with strong research and writing skills are non-negotiables academically.

If I can support T's love of the mechanical, math and science and writing, I will consider it a job well done.

[sste]

Not to be a doctor!! We are a little traumatized in this family.

To think outside of the box, have good analytical and logical skills, and some appreciation of books, music, & art. To be compassionate and decent and steady emotionally - - I know that may not seem like an educational goal but I have seen too many intellectually gifted people derailed by their lack of stability and/or self-preoccupation . . .

[codex57]

Preferably something in the medical field. Doctor is ok if they become some kind of specialist. Dentist is ok, but prefer if they're an oral surgeon rather than a regular dentist or ortho. Pharmacist is fine.

I suppose investment banker or something like that is ok too. Would rather they not become a lawyer.

Yes, I realize this is likely gonna be much more specific and less open than pretty much all the responses on here. I'm ok with that. :)

[kijip]

For me a career or job choice is far simpler than an education. I don't want to box my kids in with an expectation of what they will be when they grow up. I have seen that backfire many times on families. My husband was to grow up and be a doctor or a Physicist. At least according to his parents. He was (is) brilliant with a very high IQ, a good work ethic and many good educational traits. He started college as an honors student majoring in Physics. He left college initially prepared to be a teacher, for no other reason than to annoy Dad and with no interest or savvy in teaching. Left to his own devices, he would have likely entered a medical related program or medical school on his own and been done with school by now.

His parents saw his potential but they made a really big deal of it and were overbearing with the decision of what to be/do. I will avoid that at all costs.

College? Profession? That is the small picture for me. The big picture is that they actually are educated, are able to learn what they need to in order to define and meet their version of success.

[Ceepa]

I hope they will continue to value education and attend good colleges.

[ciw]

College? Profession? That is the small picture for me. The big picture is that they actually are educated, are able to learn what they need to in order to define and meet their version of success.

Beautifully said.

[elephantmeg]

at least community college degree. But otherwise gracious, kind, open, excited about learning and life smart-you know? Able to ballance a checkbook, make a meal, keep friends and have values.

[Tracey]

One important thing I want for her is that she be able to embrace her failures. I think the fear of failure and perfectionism holds so many fine minds back. The truly brilliant understand that failure is an opportunity for learning and part of the road to success. Edison said of his failures (paraphrasing here)...I know thousands of things that don’t work. I’ve really learned a lot.

DD cried on her first day of school while she was getting ready. This really threw me for a loop. It turns out she was anxious about “tests” she was going to have to take now that she is in first grade. She came out with where this fear was coming from. A friend of hers that is a year older (she is the daughter of our good friends) plays school with her and gives her tests and marks bad grades on these tests as part of their pretend play. I was livid, but managed to keep that in check. I told her that yes; there would be tests, but that the tests were just to make sure that she understood everything that the teacher had taught her. I then proceeded to tell her that I didn’t care what she made on the tests and wouldn’t be mad (a concern planted by this other child) at her if she ever did poorly on a test. We would just look and see what she didn’t understand and work on it. I tried to teach her that it is the concepts that matter, not the grade. This will be ongoing on my part, but it is very important to me that she get that. I see a lot of kids who are willing to lie, cheat, and steal for that “A”, but don’t give a hoot about actually learning the material.

Anyway, I guess I needed to get that off my chest . And yes, I fully expect her to finish Calculus, 4 years of science, take AP courses etc. As far as a career, I want her to have a passion for what she does and have a strong work ethic. There are some careers I would prefer she choose over others, but it is her life. I am here to guide her, but not to dictate that path.

[elliput]

A good, rounded education which can only be achieved by dropping them off in the woods and letting them be raised by wolves.

Seriously, my goal is to get them through high school. Anything after that has to be their goal.

[ncat]

Very big picture:

Educational goal - I want my kids to learn how to think for themselves - i.e. how to evaluate evidence and make their own educated decisions.

Life goals - I want my kids to be happy and to be self-suficient.

[MontrealMum]

Goodness, DS is only 2.

I want him to always believe that learning is fun, and that it's a lifelong pastime. If it's not fun, I want to know why, and I want to fix that for him. I want him to ask questions :) (let's leave that openended) I want him to be thoughtful. I want him to be his own person, and to have confidence in himself. I want him to be a good citizen in the very old-fashioned, civics sense of the term.

And this one is going to sound like I'm pushy, over-achiever mom :bag ...I want him to live up to his potential education-wise. I'm sorry, but if I'm being truly honest, I have high expectations. However, I do not expect for that to happen all on his own. What I want is that I, and DH will do everything we can to encourage DS' successes in that direction. When I was a kid I had a lot of opportunities, but not a lot of encouragement.

And always, I want it to be his choice, but I want to arm him with the tools to choose well.

Although there are days when the being raised by wolves sounds good too. Anyone ever read Julie of the Wolves?

[kijip]

Seriously, my goal is to get them through high school. Anything after that has to be their goal.

I totally agree with this. If I can make sure college doors are open and that they graduate with all the options they need to be successful at college, I think that is the limit of what I can do as a parent. But they have to choose to go to college and they have to choose what to major in. I won't pay for an extended adolescence of aimless college-just-because-I-have-to mediocrity or encourage them to take on any student loan debt unless they are very focused on a specific goal. I will gladly pay for college but only if that is their passion, not an obligatory checkbox on the game of life board or whatever.

[SpaceGal]

I want all my kids to go to college, unless there's like a ridiculous talent they have for something that can make them successful.

When I grew up, college was mandatory...like I never thought about not going if you know what I mean. I went to a good high school and was on honor roll...and that wasn't even good enough because I kenw there was honor society which was better. I guess I know I am slighty competitive but also always wanted to do as best possible. DS#1 is a lot like that already and he's only 4...so I hope that carries through with him as he grows up.

So in my mind, I would really want my kids to do as well or better than DH and myself. They don't have to be doctors...just happy and educated. I feel a lot is learned while going to college that isn't necessarily learned in the classroom, like life experiences and people that you encounter and what not.

I have several friends around here and they didn't go to college and you can tell their standards are just not as high...and I almost feel like they are setting up their kids to fail by not persuing better educational things that are possible. Their own standards aren't even that high for themselves.

[bubbaray]

To love learning.

To become fluent in French. And possibly German.

Long term ideal goal? University in either France or Germany.

[jk3]

I hope my children experience the joy of learning and maintain a high level of curiosity.

I would like them to set goals for themselves and to gain the tools needed to achieve their goals.

I want them to be risk takers - to step outside their comfort zone and to appreciate the benefits of hard work.

I would also like them to be exposed to the arts.

[hillview]

Love for learning
Curiosity
Confidence to question (even authority)
Love for books
Passion for something(s) and drive to follow that passion

/hillary

[Corie]

When I grew up, college was mandatory...like I never thought about not going if you know what I mean.




This is how I grew up too. It wasn't even something that I questioned.
(or chose to question)
Honestly, I loved going to college. :)

[gatorsmom]

I'd like them to be a professional in whatever they do, which would probably mean college degrees or more but it depends on their profession. That is what we are aiming for by exploring the physical world, encouraging creativity, talking about ideas, thinking outside the box, and finding humor in everything. I think the mind is more relaxed and creative when it's having fun and being open to even silly possibilities.

[pb&j]

Overarching goal:
I want them to be curious, and to have the tools available to fulfill their curiosity.

I don't actually think it would be the end of the world if they didn't go to college. However, they had better be on the path to something really awesome if they choose not to attend college, and they had better understand the consequences of not attending college. Like, you may be a genius, but there's a certain category of jobs that you will *never* get hired for if you don't have a college degree.

I have an idea of some of the more specific items I hope they learn in their education, but I think *my* goals for their education don't really matter so much as their being able to form their own goals.

But, come hell or high water, my kids will be able to figure the tip on the restaurant check without using a calculator!

[Gena]

Our goals for DS include:

Learning to follow group instruction and pay attention to the teacher. He does very well with one-on-one instruction, but his ability to understand and process group instructions is one of his major obstacles to full mainstreaming.

Develop abstract reasoning. Like many other kids with ASD, he does great with rote memorization and conrete facts. Abstract concepts are much more difficult for him.

Learn to write without having to rely on adaptive technology.

Learn to understand his disorders and what they mean for his educational experience. As he grows we hope that he will learn to be his own advocate and manage his accommodations.

There's more, but that's enough for now. And I'm not even going to get into career goals at this point.

[MarisaSF]

But, come hell or high water, my kids will be able to figure the tip on the restaurant check without using a calculator!

I'm a generous tipper because 20% is easiest for me to calculate. :p

As far as my goals for my kids... I assume they'll go to college. Honestly, I assume my daughter will go to my Alma Mater. I'd lobby hard for it!


I don't actually think it would be the end of the world if they didn't go to college. However, they had better be on the path to something really awesome if they choose not to attend college, and they had better understand the consequences of not attending college. Like, you may be a genius, but there's a certain category of jobs that you will *never* get hired for if you don't have a college degree.


I totally agree and have planted that seed early. :)