The Anti-College Chorus Grows Louder

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Barbara Frank

In my book Thriving in the 21^st Century, I argue that the pursuit of a college degree should no longer be the default position assigned to teens as soon as they graduate from high school. I’m happy to say that I’m hearing more people who share that opinion speaking out.

One of them is John Stossel, who recently interviewed college professor and economist Bryan Caplan about his recent book on the subject. I highly recommend both of these links to parents who are considering borrowing tens of thousands of dollars so their offspring can earn a college degree because they think it’s the only way they’ll ever get a job. I suspect this chorus will only grow louder as more time passes and tuition keeps rising.

Homeschooling for Children’s Safety

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Barbara Frank

Thanks to the spate of school shootings over the last decade or so, more parents are choosing homeschooling for their children. Here’s an excellent article that lists several ways that homeschooling is superior to formal school. Enjoy!

Potential Career Areas for Young People

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Barbara Frank

Thanks to technology, careers with promise are always changing. This article lists nine areas that bode well for future work, because they are all areas where it’s expected there will be future growth. If you have a teen who doesn’t know what they want to do with their life, reading this article might give them a few ideas.

Too Much Socialization

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Barbara Frank

It looks like parents’ and teachers’ overemphasis on the socialization of children of recent years has finally borne some pretty ugly fruit. Yet another study has shown that there’s been a precipitous drop in teens’ happiness and mental health since 2012, and it’s being linked to the use of smartphones, and specifically social media.

This is no surprise. Yes, kids need time with their friends, whether in person or virtual, but they also need time without friends so that they can mentally regroup and enjoy downtime, even quiet time. This may be more crucial for introverts than extroverts, but all kids need time to be alone and to think. The smartphone has taken that away, and we’re just now seeing the cost. One has to wonder where it will all lead.

Musically Gifted Homeschooled Girl Stuns Music World

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Barbara Frank

Like Kandace Springs, Alma Deutscher is homeschooled and musically gifted. But Alma is much younger than Kandace, and has already premiered her first opera. The BBC created this documentary about Alma, a must-watch for parents and classical music fans alike: