EDUCATIONAL PLANS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS THIS SUMMER!
- James Jerome Hankin
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
July 9, 2025
By: James Jerome Hankins
An excerpt from my book, “What We Blacks Need To Do Part 2,” for preschool, elementary, and middle school students.
Parents, it is essential to emphasize the importance of your children completing their assignments. Most tasks require a 91-100% success rate. While an egg or hamburger cooked to 70% might be acceptable for some, it’s not sufficient for “fried chicken or fish.” Similarly, your child’s education demands full effort and commitment.
Tell your young child, “I am your teacher,” and introduce a “fun game” called ‘Pre-School,’ to be played every Monday through Friday for 90 minutes. Purchase one book and write their name on it to help them recognize, pronounce, and spell their name. Teach them everything on one page—colors, animals, words, numbers, people, and objects. The next day, review the same page and test their understanding. Let them know, “This is your book,” to instill a sense of ownership. Avoid buying additional books; instead, borrow from your local public library for free.
For elementary and middle school students, there are numerous books and programs available to help practice real learning skills during the long, sweltering summer. While these activities may not always be entertaining, remember that the education system is designed for learning, not amusement. This is why classroom learning spans six hours, with only a half-hour each for recess and lunch. My wife and I found a fantastic resource in the book, What Your 1st Grader Needs to Know. We used it every summer to prepare our son for the next grade, along with other proven exercises, helping him reach his maximum learning potential. We stopped using the book after eighth grade.
Parents, you have a choice: allow teachers and the school system to completely control your child’s education, or become “partners” in shaping what they learn. For those who attend church services, think of how a good sermon becomes clearer when you do the “homework” the minister suggests, such as reading the entire chapter. Similarly, teachers often cover only a small portion of a subject, leaving room for parents to reinforce learning at home.
Our son excelled in high school and earned a teaching fellowship to pursue a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree. If needed, seek the help of a current or retired teacher to create a schedule for you and your children. Just as you work hard at your job, demand that your children work hard at theirs—being good students. Your reward is a paycheck with raises and promotions; their reward is the knowledge and opportunities that come with academic success, potentially leading to scholarships for college or trade school.
Homework Assignment: All serious middle school students should read two books this summer, while high school students should read three. I recommend:
Every Man Should Try by Hubert A. Eaton
https://africanamericanstudentproject.bentley.umich.edu/book/every-man-should-try/
Marva Collins’ Way by Marva Collins:
https://www.lovingmebooks.com/store/p75683/martha-collins-way-9780874775723.html
Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? by Reginald Lewis https://africaworldpressbooks.com/why-should-white-guys-have-all-the-fun-how-reginald-lewis-created-a-billion-dollar-business-empire-by-reginald-f-lewis-and-blair-s-walker-commemorative-edition/
African Proverb:
“You are beautiful, but learn to work, for you cannot eat your beauty.”
Proverbs 22:6:
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they grow old, they will not turn from it.”
About the Author:Today’s teacher is an author, journalist, Realtor®, raconteur, Army veteran, caregiver, past NAACP local branch president, 100% voter, union member, 34-year retired shop teacher, and NC A&T State University alumnus—James Jerome Hankins.
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