Posts by Alden S Blodget
Don’t Stop, Don’t Put Down Your Pencil
The outrage this year over the attempts of the rich and infamous to rig the college admissions process in favor of their children has focused new attention on an old issue: purchasing a diagnosis to qualify for extended time on standardized tests. During my 18 years as an assistant head of school, from the late…
Read MoreHelp for students in search of federal financial aid for college
Embark has created a new, entirely free service that helps US students apply for government financial aid. For over 20 years, Embark has provided colleges and schools with software to manage their application process. TeensParentsTeachers first contacted the company ten years ago so we could stay connected with each other on trends in admissions. Now…
Read MoreThe Tune of the Hick’ry Stick: An Apology
“What part of this don’t you understand?” the judge asked, frustration edging her voice. “You’re fifteen. The law says you need to be in school. Do you think the rules don’t apply to you?” The boy looked at her, swiveling slightly in the green, high-backed chair. He tugged a couple of times at his long…
Read MoreLet’s Tackle Teen Depression
ParentsAssociation.com has recently partnered with Families for Depression Awareness (FDA) to help spread the word about this resource. FDA provides a useful website containing advice, programs, guidance and free webinars. Below, you will find a couple of examples of what FDA offers. Here is a webinar that aired in October and that you can listen…
Read MoreThe Sins of Us Fathers
Not much has changed in the world of booze and young people over the centuries. In the fall that I helped my daughter move into her room at college, I noticed a young man in the driveway of the house next door wrestling an empty beer keg into the back seat of his car, and,…
Read MoreThe Learning Curve: How We Learn and Rethinking the Education Model
(NOTE: Occasionally, we post articles about learning that we think will help parents evaluate their child’s experiences in school and enable parents to discuss education issues with teachers and school administrators. This article is one of those.) In the 18th and 19th centuries, various infections, often called childbed fever, were common causes of childbirth-related maternal…
Read MoreHelping Your Child Succeed in School
Many parents suffer from watching their son or daughter struggle in school. They often feel powerless to help. Daniel Franklin knows that parents can help. He believes that the relationship–the partnership–between a caregiver and child is the single most important factor in transforming struggle into success. He has written a book with the number-one goal…
Read MoreHow to resist the pressure to buy young children a smartphone
The holidays are upon us–the season of giving gifts, a time when it’s especially difficult for parents to resist the clamor of children begging for a smartphone. Research into cellphone use among young children suggests that this technology is doing real damage. Smartphone use by the young has been linked to increasing depression, sense of…
Read MoreMaking A Splash
(Note: This is a talk given at an academic awards ceremony to students, parents and teachers.) In the ‘60s during the flowering of the hippie generation, young people didn’t trust anyone over 30. We didn’t like adults, didn’t want to become one. I recall vividly vowing that I would be dead before I turned 30,…
Read MoreShort Circuit
Teachers can learn something from electricians. For example, taking the path of least resistance isn’t always the best way to go. If we want the lights to go on, the current needs to flow through the full circuit, and a short cut, like a nail lying across the wire, usually results in darkness. English teachers,…
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