As soon as my daughter's no-nonsense first-grade teacher began rattling off academic benchmarks and curriculum standards during parents' night last month, it was clear that we weren't in kindergarten anymore. She was precise about what was expected from the kids--and from us. Nightly reading and math problems, spelling and handwriting homework due each Friday and a mix of other assignments to be turned in at the end of each month. I quickly began to ponder one tough math problem: If we get home from work at 6 p.m., and we set aside time for piano practice, dinner, bath, a dollop of...
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