Overview:
Cory Arsic, founder of CanadianParent.ca, argues that today’s school systems teach facts but often omit the real-life context families value most: emotional growth, social awareness, and practical life skills. Drawing on his two decades of experience in digital marketing and supporting new parents nationwide, Arsic expands on his belief that schools must partner with families to foster holistic development—not just test performance.
About Cory Arsic
Cory Arsic is a Canadian digital marketing professional who launched his career in 2007 and specializes in opt‑in data, lead generation, email marketing, web development, and team building. He founded CanadianParent.ca in 2023, with the mission of connecting new parents across Canada to essential resources, activities, and support tools.
CanadianParent.ca offers free baby samples, coupons, giveaways, and parenting guides spanning early childhood to pre-teen years. The platform is designed to assist families with practical tools and community insights—not just promotional offers Canadian Parent.
Question: “Do you believe today’s school system reflects the values you want your children to grow up with? Why or why not—and what would you change about what’s being taught?”
Answer (paraphrased from Cory):
No. Current schools teach facts but overlook context, push grades but ignore growth. Parents don’t want schools to replace them—they want education to mirror real life, incorporating emotional development, social awareness, and daily responsibility. Kids need more than test prep; they need skills for thinking, acting, and connecting meaningfully.
Why Schools Fall Short—and What Parents Experience
Cory describes a daily disconnect: parents seek support for routines, behavior, and early development—areas rarely covered in school curricula. Topics like self-care, emotional intelligence, communication, and healthy habits are often excluded, even though they form the foundation of family life.
He argues these life lessons are as vital as math or language skills—they offer context and relevance that help children carry academic knowledge into everyday settings confidently.
What Would Cory Change? A Holistic Vision for Education
1. Emotional Development & Self-Awareness
Schools should teach children how to identify emotions, manage frustration, and build resilience. These skills help students navigate relationships and stress, and complement academic learning.
2. Social Skills & Empathy
Collaborative projects, peer coaching, and active listening workshops could foster social awareness—preparing kids for real-life teamwork, conflict resolution, and community belonging.
3. Everyday Responsibilities
Classes or modules on life skills—like financial basics, self-care routines, nutrition, and household management—equip students to participate more meaningfully at home and in communities.
4. Growth Mindsets Over Grades
Assessment systems should reward persistence, curiosity, and improvement—not just test scores. Feedback loops and project-based evaluations can highlight effort and encourage long-term learning.
5. Partnership with Parents
Rather than sidelining parents, schools should invite them in. Regular engagement, shared accountability for behavioral goals, and co-designed curricula reflecting family values could bridge the home–school gap.
Leveraging Cory’s Expertise: CanadianParent.ca in Action
At CanadianParent.ca, Cory’s marketing background and parenting focus converge. The platform delivers not only products and offers—but also expert-backed content on topics like children’s sleep, play-based learning, bilingual upbringing, and positive discipline—tools that complement a more holistic educational approach Canadian Parent.
As a leader in online community building, Cory recognizes that building confidence, self-awareness, and responsibility happens both in the classroom and at home. A school curriculum aligned with these values could streamline family-school synergy.
Putting Theory into Practice: What a Better System Could Look Like
Imagine weekly “Life Skills Lab” classes combining emotional check-ins, goal setting, community service workshops, and habit-building assignments aligned with family routines. Perhaps monthly parent–teacher councils focused on sleep, nutrition, habits, and behavior—rather than just academics and discipline.
Pilot programs might include:
- Morning mindfulness and gratitude circles.
- Social-emotional learning (SEL) embedded in every subject.
- Homework involving real-world tasks: meal planning, budgeting, organizing shared spaces.
- Peer mentoring programs to build empathy, leadership, and communication.
This kind of system honors family values while still teaching core academic content—it completes education rather than replacing it.
Conclusion: A Call for Schools that Reflect Family Values
Cory Arsic’s answer isn’t just critical—it’s vision-driven. He invites schools to step beyond rote instruction and offer learning that reflects how families live and teach at home. When emotional literacy, social connection, and everyday competence are integrated into education, children emerge not just smart—but self‑aware, engaged, and equipped for life.
By expanding curricula to mirror real-world skills and inviting parents as partners, schools can become places where facts meet context, grades meet growth, and learning meets living.
More at Presence News:
