A father's influence makes for better grades

[FarCenter]

Adolescents from low-income families in particular are more likely than their middle-class peers to underachieve and to drop out of school. Studies have shown, however, that a positive attitude towards school work and the support and encouragement from their parents can help at-risk youngsters to overcome the economic barriers and lack of resources they face. Most of the evidence about the effects of parental involvement comes from research on mothers. Little is known, however, about how adolescents experience their fathers' warmth and the beliefs and behaviors that are most affected by it.

This new study is part of a larger one focusing on low-income, ethnic minority families conducted in four middle schools in the southwestern United States. Data were analyzed from questionnaires completed by 183 sixth-graders about how optimistic and motivated they were about their schoolwork, and how they experienced their fathers. The questionnaires were completed primarily by respondents of Mexican American, African American and European American descent. Their maths and language arts grades were also obtained. They were analyzed together with the questionnaire data. The research team took into account the influence that mothers have on their children's well-being in their analyses.

Their findings show how fathers can support their teenagers in ways that result in greater optimism, self-efficacy, and, ultimately, higher achievement at school. This is even true for men with low levels of education or those who are not proficient enough in English to help their children with their homework.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161116101620.htm

[DesertFlower]

1. i had a hard time with algebra, but when

my when my dad helped me with it -- it became much easier. he would have been a good teacher.

[Starry Messenger]

2. My dad refused to help send me to gifted kid camp and also told me going to college was useless for

women, as I would just be earning my MRS degree. I imagine the effects of female poverty in trying to raise a kid single-handedly probably have more to do than just "dad" not being around.

[FarCenter]

3. A valid reason for a women to go to college is to marry a man with better life prospects

The economic benefits of making a good match are probably a lot greater than the economic benefits of the education itself.

[Starry Messenger]

4. Wow.

[obamanut2012]

5. I just checked my calendar to make sure it was still 2016

You should be ashamed for posting this, but I know you aren't.

[sab390]

7. Oh no you didn't

My grandfather sent my mother to college in 1940. She asked him how she could repay him. He said make sure my grandchildren get a great education. She and my father sent me, my brother, and my sisters to college. I sent my daughter. Education is about the soul. It is about finding yourself. It is the freedom not to marry. It is to be free to chose.

[RealityChik]

6. Not sure I agree...

Unfortunately Science News only gives you the article's abstract and not the whole article so this info may have been accidentally taken out of context.

While I can agree that support by two parents or caregivers is more beneficial than one because it reinforces the objective of the one parent or caregiver, I don't believe that other adult has to be the father in a parenting situation in order to benefit the child's learning progress. That's like saying children raised without a father, even if the child is in a household with two adult caregivers, diminishes the child's success at school! Which is yet another implied belief that a woman can't succeed without a man. I'll bet, for example, that two women or a mother and older sibling could be just as effective.

(Oh boy, another progressive feminist making a mountain out of a molehill) But then again, something to consider, so I'm just sayin'!

[Twistified2000]

8. Help Me Help Kids

I'm a small business owner in South Florida, and I've started a fundraiser through youcaring.com. My goal is to provide free tutoring and school supplies for kids in need. God knows our education system isn't doing a damn thing for them. Even the smallest donation would help a lot; you can find me through Alpha Kid Tutoring through youcaring.com.