What a parent wants..... their child to have "book smarts" or "street smarts"?
By mckenziemom
@mckenziemom (522)
United States
March 9, 2007 1:43pm CST
I grew up in a very strict, but close-knit loving home. My father worked very hard to achieve his dreams in life. In my father's case working full-time,obtaining his masters degree on th GI bill he was able to obtain the life he wanted for his family. As a result, obtaining a good education and doing well was stressed with great importance in our home while growing up. My father's dreams for us were all achieved as me and my brother and sister have all obtained degrees and/or advanced degrees. However, I must say that while growing up you could consider us to be(especially me) quite naive kids in the "ways of the world". In particular when it came to dating and navigating relationships and friendships in our 20's. I remember having a discussion with my dad as I approached 30 that he mentioned that he had turned down a position with airlines in New York during my last couple of years in high school. Growing up in the suburbs, my dad did not think his sheltered kids could "survive" living in such a large city. I remember at first being insulted but then after some thought he was probably right!!
Anyway, now as a parent of 4 kids who is also stressing education and also quite protective of my kids I am wondering...do I want my kids to be more book smart or street smart? or maybe a little bit of both? Parents what do you think? What do you want for your kids?
2 people like this
5 responses
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
10 Mar 07
My son was really neither, he did awful in school (he was the anti-honor student), but he was not street smart either, he was basically a good kid. He had good kid friends and never really got street smart.
Now he is in the Navy and not sure if he still has any street smarts, he got taken by an identity fraud scheme and would have been cleaned out if he had not been such a mama's boy who immediately called me to tell me about how lucky he was. He got all account info changed within 20 minutes and no damaged occured.
I think the book smarts would have helped him to be street smart in this case.
2 people like this
@mrbranan (1012)
• United States
10 Mar 07
My oldest child is book smart and my middle child is street smart. Michael my oldest has very high grades and does well in school. However when it comes to common sense he has none at all. I worry about him when he gets out on his own. Starr my middle child is street smart and doesn't do as well in school but out in the world she can take care of herself. My youngest Erica I hope gets a little of both.
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
9 Mar 07
In my opinion I would have to say both. It is good to be street smart and book smart is essential to get anywhere in this world. Education is first, without it you will get no where. Being street smart ia a big plus to prevent you from being an easy prey. Good question mckenziemom. :)
2 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
10 Mar 07
I too have 4 children and I would say if I had my choice I would like them to have a equal amount of both - to make them more "well rounded" and prepared to cope with different situations that come in life.
@ryleesmama (560)
• United States
9 Mar 07
Personally I want a little bit of both street smarts and book smarts. I never finished college though I wish I had. I think that it is also important for kids to have some street smarts so they don't get taken advantage of. The ideal child for me would have Bible smarts which has both book smarts and street smarts in it!
