Survey on Dads' Role in Children's Education

Many fathers today are more actively involved with the education of their children than their own fathers were, even during the summer months. Hooray for modern men!

In a recent online survey commissioned by Kumon Math and Reading Centers (April 2009), dads feel one of their main parenting roles is to help their children excel in school. A full 50 percent of the fathers surveyed indicated that they were more likely than their wives to motivate kids to do schoolwork.

Other survey highlights:

3 out of 4 dads were aware of summer learning opportunities
6 out of 10 dads enroll their kids in organized summer learning programs

For more stats from the survey or more info about Kumon (an after-school math and reading program), visit www.kumon.com.

Happy Father's Day!

Educate or Die

The self-stated goal of Educate or Die, a new website designed as a way to help the youth of "Black America" stay in touch with their dreams and aspirations, is to provide an outlet for students and young professionals to take their education to a whole new level."

The site contains a "Did You Know" section with facts that change with every click. For example, did you know that Silas B. Purnell, working from a small office in the basement of a Chicago housing project, enrolled 55,000 black students in college?

The website also includes profiles of "Star Students" and information on their summer events, as well as links to other helpful sites.

Educate or Die is sponsored by the Black Star Project, a father involvement program.

www.educateordie.org

Attn: Dads of Great Students

Happy Father's Day! (Read this blog, then get off the computer and call your dad!)

WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is the safe-school initiative of the National Center for Fathering, and is also part of the MORE alliance.

The safe-school initiative focuses on prevention of violence in schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father figures.

WATCH D.O.G.S. Director, Eric Snow, helps dedicated men and women increase school safety, and provide positive male role models, for schools across the U.S.

To get involved, visit www.fathers.com.

Real Men Cook

I once saw a refrigerator magnet that read "I love a man with dishpan hands." It has been repeated to every significant (or potential) significant other ever since. What woman doesn't?!?

Real Men Cook is the leading national urban Father's Day family celebration tradition.

Yvette Moyo, co-founder of Real Men Cook, added Health and Wellness to the Real Men Cook events, which promote male involvement in the community and family.

These events take place in several cities. Events in multiple cities have raised more than a million dollars in ticket sales proceeds to nonprofit organizations.

Real Men Cook is part of the MORE alliance (see blog entries on June 12th).

To find out more about whether there are events in your area, visit www.realmencook.com.

National Fatherhood Initiative

The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) strives to improve the wellbeing of children by increasing the number of kids who will grow up with involved, capable, responsible, committed dads.

Roland C. Warren, President of NFI, oversees the organization's national strategy for increasing the number of involved fathers.

NFI's strategy to strengthen fatherhood in all segments of society can be wrapped up in the "3 E's"

1. Educating
2. Equipping
3. Engaging

The website offers valuable information in an entertaining (and graphically pleasing) way. You can find out how father absence costs the nation one hundred billion dollars, find links to other sites and groups for fathers, and find more information on NFI's Golden Dads program.

www.fatherhood.org

Black Star Project

Our mission is to provide educational services that help pre-school through college students succeed academically and become knowledgeable and productive citizens with the support of their parents, families, schools and communities.
The Black Star project sponsors father involvement/male involvement programs, including the Million Father March, Men in Schools Day, and the Fathers Club.

Philip Jackson, founder and Executive Director of the Black Star Project, is a national leader who advocates for community involvement in education. He also champions the importance of educating parents, so that their children will be properly educated.

Their mission is "to provide educational services that help pre-school through college students succeed academically and become knowledgeable and productive citizens with the support of their parents, families, schools, and communities. The Black Star Project also has scholarship programs for disadvantages students of all races who are seeking post-secondary education.

To find involvement opportunities in your community, visit their website, www.blackstarproject.org

MORE - National fatherhood alliance

A lot more families will have more reason to recognize their fathers this Father’s Day.That’s because more men are getting involved in their child’s education than ever before, according to recent poll results released by the national PTA. In fact, almost 50 percent of parent leaders said that the level of male involvement has increased at their PTA in the last three years.

The nation’s top male involvement organizations are looking to continue the trend. That’s why today they joined at National PTA Headquarters to announce an unprecedented partnership—Men Organized to Raise Engagement (MORE).

Simply put, research shows that greater involvement of men in the lives of children helps them achieve success socially, intellectually and academically. The MORE partnership intends to ensure greater father and male involvement to produce positive outcomes and successful relationships for children, parents, schools and communities.

MORE will call attention to the need to increase male involvement across the country by:

• Working with schools and communities to provide programs that engage fathers and positive male figures in the educational and social development of children;
• Developing male leaders who work with fathers and male role models to enhance positive male parenting and involvement with youth;
• Acting as a resource for families, communities and schools on fatherhood initiatives and issues; and
• Increasing the visibility and outreach of the quality programming of the coalition members.

For more information, go to www.pta.org/MORE.

All Pro Dads, and more

The nation's top experts on male involvement recently met in Chicago to announce an alliance, to provide tips on being involved in every stage of your child's life, and to discuss education, family, and health issues related to male involvement.

All Pro Dads is just one of the organizations that were represented June 5th at a conference at the national PTA headquarters. To read about more organizations for involved fathers, and father figures, who are participating in the summit, keep checking back daily through Father's Day.

All Pro Dads, founded by Tony Dungy, is composed of current and former NFL coaches and players. These gentleman speak to others on the importance of fatherhood.

Bryan Davis, director of All Pro Dads, works with more than 1,000 schools, churches, and businesses across the U.S., in order to help them become more father-friendly.

Mr. Davis recently published his book, "Play of the Day," (AMG Publishers) and sends daily e-mail tips to over 45,000 fathers.