Reading to children at bedtime: A(ustralian)BC questions value of time-honoured practice

[rangerrebew]

Reading to children at bedtime: A(ustralian)BC questions value of time-honoured practice 
 
 Tim Blair 
  The Daily Telegraph 
 May 05, 2015 12:00AM
 

 THE ABC has questioned whether parents should read to their children before bedtime, claiming it could give your kids an “unfair advantage” over less fortunate children. 
 
“Is having a loving family an unfair advantage?” asks a story on the ABC’s website.

“Should parents snuggling up for one last story before lights out be even a little concerned about the advantage they might be conferring?”

The story was followed by a broadcast on the ABC’s Radio National that also tackled the apparently divisive issue of bedtime reading.

“Evidence shows that the difference between those who get bedtime stories and those who don’t — the difference in their life chances — is bigger than the difference between those who get elite private schooling and those that don’t,” British academic Adam Swift told ABC presenter Joe Gelonesi.

Gelonesi responded online: “This devilish twist of evidence surely leads to a further conclusion that perhaps — in the interests of levelling the playing field — bedtime stories should also be restricted.”

Contacted by The Daily Telegraph, Gelonesi said the bedtime stories angle was highlighted by the ABC “as a way of getting attention”.

Asked if it might be just as easy to level the playing field by encouraging other parents to read bedtime stories, Gelonesi said: “We didn’t discuss that.”
 

Swift said parents should be mindful of the advantage provided by bedtime reading.

“I don’t think parents reading their children bedtime stories should constantly have in their minds the way that they are unfairly disadvantaging other people’s children, but I think they should have that thought occasionally,” he said.
 

Professor Frank Oberklaid, from the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute said he was bewildered by the idea.

“It’s one of the more bizarre things I’ve heard,” he said. “We should be bringing all kids up to the next level.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/reading-to-children-at-bedtime-abc-questions-value-of-time-honoured-practice/story-fni0cx12-1227335151442

[Fishrrman]

[[ THE ABC has questioned whether parents should read to their children before bedtime, claiming it could give your kids an “unfair advantage” over less fortunate children. ]]

Seems to me that thoughtful parents should actively strive to provide their kids with as many "unfair advantages" as possible over the kids of others.

It's called, giving them the tools for future success in life.

Oh, sorry -- because some parents don't give a damn about their kids (particularly blacks), ALL kids should be brought up that way, so that they will then be "equal".... eh?

[EC]

"Because when everyone is super ..... no one is." - Syndrome, The Incredibles.

[musiclady]

Everyone on the left is insane.

[rangerrebew]

Doesn't that also mean by dressing their children appropriately, feeding them, providing health care, nurturing, and direction are also questionable?  I think setting boundaries and limits, supporting them in their activities in and out of school, using the n word (no) when it is merited also are questionable.