Would you force a child to wear shoes that don't fit? Then why force an education that doesn't fit!

Every day hundreds of thousands of school children in public and private schools and homeschooling programs are forced to use a traditional textbook/workbook curriculum without any concern for their learning styles...they might as well be wearing shoes that are too tight, or so loose that they trip over them.

An education that doesn't fit is as painful, or perhaps even more painful, than ill-fitting shoes...after all, an ill-fitting education can scar a child for life.

Is that really true? After all, the traditional school system has been in place for a pretty long time, and most people come through it just fine, don't they?

Do they? Did you know that most adults are held back from what they could be doing or would love to do because of their school experiences? Did you know that being labeled slow, lazy, learning disabled, dyslexic, ADD, or even average or gifted stays with you forever, and affects what you believe about yourself and your abilities? Did you know that people in their forties, fifties and sixties, no matter what they've accomplished, are still controlled by messages they received in school?

I'm thinking of a woman who didn't think she could advance in her business because when she was in school she got the message that she wasn't very capable. What was the problem in school? She kept tapping her foot and wiggling in her chair because she is kinesthetic and needs to move to learn. Another adult comes to mind who spent years in a career she disliked because she didn't think she was smart enough to do what she really wanted to do - teach. Others are held back because they are not great spellers or reading is not a strength or memorizing is difficult for them.

So what? These things really have nothing to do with success!

The most powerful determiner of success is the belief that you are capable and can succeed. Yet, for thirteen of the most formative years of our children's lives we emphasize mistakes, failures, and a narrow definition of what it means to be "smart." These children grow up to be adults who settle for less.

Far too many pay a very high price in our one-size-fits-all education and testing system. Yet there is a very simple answer and the powers to be are not listening. People learn differently - what works for some does not work for others.

As long as we force all kids to start reading at 4 or 5 years old, force everyone to use textbooks and workbooks, and force all students to learn and be tested in the same way, No Child Left Behind will never come to be. Many, many children will continue to be left behind, along with countless adults who are not able to reverse the damage done to them as students.

What are the alternatives? Tune in next month for Part 2!

Meanwhile, if you'd like to find out your learning style or your child's TODAY, go to:

http://my.blastoffnetwork.com/LearningSuccess

• Do you know adults who would like to have a high school diploma?
• What is holding them back?
• Did they have negative experienes when they were in school?
• Are they afraid it will be more of the same and they won't be able to do it?
• Were they labeled as ADD, ADHD, Learning Disabled, or Dyslexic?

• receive a customized program, based on his or her learning styles
• discover his/her natural gifts and talents
• become confident and empowered to reach their goals and follow their dreams