google-site-verification=S3t9y9aoKN3K17Uwz21Z4ZZw5jDkndOwvojUPrChTa0
Three years ago I wrote a blog called Kindergarten and "Have to". In it I examined the words "Have to" and how they relate to the prevalent attitude people in our culture have towards school. School is not questioned. In fact, it's a no-brainer for most - it's just how we raise kids. It's the way things are. After all, most of us went to school and we all turned out pretty ok, right? (RIGHT??!) I wrote that piece because learning to question things - like whether school was the best path for my family and the words "have to" - was a critical turning point in my life. Learning that I really had CHOICES was empowering. And I wish more people could feel that way. But it can also be very difficult for people to hear. I read a great blog post the other day called Why School? Here is a passage from that post: When I ponder these questions the main conclusions that stand out to me is that school as it is, is for the convenience of adults and the benefit of the factory like system of the workforce. And I for one don’t want that to determine my child’s childhood years. Phew! Well, I know that is going to challenge a lot of people. And surely most people don't believe that they are sending their children to school for these purposes. People want the best for their children! They want their children to be happy and successful - whatever that means to them.
I read the above post and I thought, "Good for her!" Because it's not easy to say these things when you know it will offend many people. And speaking about offensive back to school reading - one of my favorite people to read is making waves. Peter Gray's piece, "The Danger of Back to School," was banned on Facebook because someone reported that it was abusive. In the piece Gray presents the argument that school is not good for many students' mental health. He even presents data showing the number of children who had emergency visits to a mental health facility in Hartford, CT. While it is only one set of data, there is a clear dip in the number of visits during the summer months -when children aren't in school. These ideas are not easy for most of us. School is part of our culture. It's part of our communities and families. It's part of US. Some of us have fond memories of Back to School. But even people with less than fond memories of school will often adamantly defend it. Why is that? Why would someone be offended by him presenting a graph showing that there are fewer children's mental health visits in the summer? Grays piece was reported as ABUSIVE. Whoever (or the many whoevers) reported the piece felt ATTACKED. When school is attacked people feel like they are being attacked. Like their choices are being attacked. Like their families and children are being attacked. It doesn't feel good. But I don't want to attack anyone. I just want people to know - there is another way. There are MANY other ways. I just saw a great quote today about their being many different ways to get an education. There is no ONE. RIGHT. WAY. School makes us believe that there is. And in the process it leaves many behind. It makes many feel like they are not "good enough". It grades and marks us when there is no need. Even those of us who conquered the system are affected, although most of us might not recognize how. The truth is, there are some children who are "fine" in school. Some children seem to thrive there. Not all end up in a mental health center. But the problem is when some (many?) children struggle, instead of recognizing that the child isn't "The Problem" and that school just doesn't work for that child, most parents/adults in that child's life continue to try and make the child Fit. We continue to try to fix the child. Add more homework. Get tutors. More "remediation" and support. Punishments. Detentions. Suspensions. And on and on. We have to stop doing that. I wish all families and children well, whether they are going back to school or not. Please Listen to your children. They know what is best for them.
9 Comments
10/25/2015 04:00:21 pm
School and studying is the best that children receive. Good knowledge can not be with something other to compare with.
Reply
11/5/2015 04:36:36 pm
You always can publish something absorbing that does not waste minutes of your life like what you see on countless other sites. This is very interesting and I will be back for more. Thanks for sharing
Reply
5/15/2017 11:36:33 pm
My rule of thumb is the similar!)) Nice post, thanks!
Reply
7/24/2017 03:50:35 am
We talk so much about each and every child is unique and special. But then they grow up and become teachers and face the necessity to keep 30 heads under control all alone. We need the entire approach, the whole system reconsidered and reconstructed.
Reply
8/9/2020 11:45:45 pm
Your thing with respect to making will be for all intents and purposes nothing hard to come by of amazing. This instructive article is unimaginably valuable and contains offered myself a superior answer for have the option to my own issues.
Reply
7/15/2021 04:28:46 am
Hello, by utilizing Google I discovered your site even as chasing down a practically identical subject, your site came up, it looks truly intriguing. I bookmarked it.
Reply
12/22/2021 12:35:30 am
Very elegantly composed. This blog has every one of the necessary parts that I was searching for. The focuses are all around featured, expressing the genuine importance. Straightforward and read.
Reply
12/22/2021 02:37:24 am
I don't know precisely why however this weblog is stacking unimaginably delayed for me. Is it accurate to say that anyone is else having this issue or is it an issue on my end? I'll inquire later on and check whether the issue actually exists.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Susan MayWife, mom, information and peace seeker. Categories
All
Archives
November 2023
|