I know I don’t want to be the kind of parent who puts a heavier emphasis on education than anything else. I agree that you should encourage kids to do their best academically. But I don’t want to be that parent who sees a 95% on a math test and says, “Good. But it could have been an A+. Class main 100% kis ko mila? What did so n so get on their test? Look how Aunti so n so’s kid achieved bla bla bla. Better not show me anything less than A on report card. B’s are unacceptable. You must go into such n such a profession only.” There’s a difference between guiding and encouraging your kids and imposing and instilling complexes within them. I want my kids to pray namaz, to get up for Fajr. Even my son. I’ve seen Desi parents become lax about their sons. My aunt once said, “koi baat nahi, larka hai” when namaz was discussed. I want my son to respect women; oooh this is one I’d really emphasize. Do not be the guy who leads a girl on, who speaks about them as though they’re objects. Give all women izzat. I see so many desi kids are embarrassed about being brown or Desi. I want them to be confident; to have a healthy amount of pride. Cursing, I’m so put off by f-bombs after every other word; makes you sound like an imbecile with a very limited vocabulary. I want them to have empathy; to help others. To be self-reliant. To be confident enough to think critically about trends and not be blind sheeples.
Le sigh, lol. I have a really lambi chori list, don’t I Op? One can dream, right? I don’t think education is the gateway though. I think the gateway is religion, particularly sunnah. Through Islam kids will learn to value education and morality and to treat with humanity even those who are on the wrong path or in opposition to you.
You are more then welcome to your opinion and I take no offense but is seems to me your definition of education is quite narrow perhaps.
There is a reason why numerous studies positively link education with better socioeconomic standing, health and happiness.