Education Today
Does your child need a tutor?
By James Olsen, Ph.D. June 27, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

In the United States today, about 15 percent of all K–12 students have a tutor. That means that more than seven million youngsters are being tutored on a part or full-time basis. In a class of 20 children that means 3 will be receiving tutoring.

Apparently, an increasing number of parents who don’t have the time to home school their child have turned to tutors on a full-time basis. Why?

It’s time to think about a tutor when your child is failing in school, misses homework assignments, doesn’t want to go to school, lacks confidence and may exhibit psychosomatic symptoms like stomach aches and headaches. The child may not have all of these problems but will show enough danger signals to alert the teacher and the parent that something’s up.

Most schools just don’t have the resources—the additional trained staff, time, learning materials, space and specialized diagnostic tests—to help their students in this way. I know of no school in SMA that has these resources. Currently in the United States under the No Child Left Behind legislation, public schools must offer kids this specialized educational assistance free of charge but a number of school districts are not getting the federal funding needed to implement the program. Tutoring costs in the US average between $50 to $150 an hour so schools can’t do it on their own.

A qualified reading or learning disabilities specialist will cost about US$75 to $125 an hour. A GED or SAT tutor will be at the upper level of US$150 an hour. Given these costs, many parents decide on an alternative such as paying a college student US$25 to $30 an hour or hiring an somewhat older student perhaps a peer at US$5 to $10 an hour. With the proper services you will see palpable progress within a two to three months depending on factors such as the level of cooperation and coordination between the tutor and the parent, the child’s attitude, etc. Sometimes you will also need the services of a counselor to work with the tutor and student for a limited period of time. An experience of ongoing failure over months or years will often seriously damage the child psychologically.

If you go this route, how do you evaluate the prospective tutor? First, check their credentials, that is, their degrees and specialized teaching licenses. Second, check their references particularly the parents of children they have previously taught. Third talk to them and have them talk with your youngster.

Are there any inherent limitations when you choose this strategy? Yes, there will be more limited interaction with the youngster’s peer group so the parent will have to arrange this. There also won’t be extracurricular activities like swimming, tennis, horseback riding, art, etc. unless the parent arranges and pays for them. But for the extra trouble and expense, you will see significant changes in your youngster’s behavior and attitudes. The time will then come when your child will have the choice of returning to school.

The Olsens have worked in the field of education for 95 collective years. They can be contacted at 154-4374 or email sml 154-4374@prodigy.net.mx.