Gaming News: "The President's Point"
Posted: Thursday February 26th, 2009
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There's an article over at Game Politics commenting on an aspect of the President's address to congress. The article states that the President "Once Again Links Video Games to Academic Underachievement". So, it got my attention. But as I read what the President actually said I wrinkled my nose and wondered how the author of the article got it so wrong.
Source: Game Politics [ more info ]
In talking about education he said "there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a president, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children's education must begin at home."
You guys know me, I'm a video game advocate of the "watch your damn mouth" variety. Meaning, the slightest perceived infraction against gamers and I get really grumpy really quick. But, I can't find any part of that comment that I don't agree with. It's not a slam on video games and I can't see any hint of accusation that video games are the cause of "academic underachievement". What I see is a call for parents to get more involved in their kids' education. I can only imagine that the author put forth an inflamatory title purely for the purpose of drawing more attention to the article. If it's not that, then the only other possibility is wild oversensitivity in the face of a very valid point.
In order to really help their kids and keep them interested in school work some distractions will have to be TEMPORARILY sacrificed. It doesn't mean no video games or TV ever. It just means no video games or TV for an hour or so each night.
____________________
Today's Pimpage: Woody is wearing a "Tragedy Struck" shirt and Ted is wearing a "Solitary Dream Pt2" shirt from Threadless.Com.
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Source: Game Politics [ more info ]
In talking about education he said "there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a president, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children's education must begin at home."
You guys know me, I'm a video game advocate of the "watch your damn mouth" variety. Meaning, the slightest perceived infraction against gamers and I get really grumpy really quick. But, I can't find any part of that comment that I don't agree with. It's not a slam on video games and I can't see any hint of accusation that video games are the cause of "academic underachievement". What I see is a call for parents to get more involved in their kids' education. I can only imagine that the author put forth an inflamatory title purely for the purpose of drawing more attention to the article. If it's not that, then the only other possibility is wild oversensitivity in the face of a very valid point.
In order to really help their kids and keep them interested in school work some distractions will have to be TEMPORARILY sacrificed. It doesn't mean no video games or TV ever. It just means no video games or TV for an hour or so each night.
____________________
Today's Pimpage: Woody is wearing a "Tragedy Struck" shirt and Ted is wearing a "Solitary Dream Pt2" shirt from Threadless.Com.
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