So I learned something new today. When my daughter gets only one half hour nap during the day instead of her usual two hour-long ones, she becomes a freakishly delirious giggle monster.
On another topic, I spent the first half of my day in class so I can begin substitute teaching at a local Montessori school. It’s my first real run in with the whole Montessori philosophy and method, and I must admit I’m impressed. I know today was just a quick overview, but I was really encouraged by the things I saw and learned, and I am excited to continue with them.
I’ve been looking for something new. I am currently a bit jaded appalled disgusted at the deterioration of our public school systems. Education and learning are done in a conveyor belt fashion. Our children are treated as nothing more than a fast moving assembly line. Teachers have literally had their hands tied and can only allow a pre-determined allotment of creativity and individualism into the classroom. There is no time for annotations and additional interpretations; there are deadlines to be met and standardized tests to be completed. Art and music are becoming as dim a memory as a faded painting or half-remembered tune. The impression is there but sadly, sadly lacking.
I always believed the purpose of an education was to cultivate children into self-sufficient members of society- to make well-rounded individuals who embrace our culture and understand if not appreciate others. I don’t see why our main concern is with the process of reading and taking multiple choice tests. Our world and our minds cannot be defined or analyzed in black and white. Why make our tests?
Why sacrifice the individual when our society is made up of individuals? Imagine what the future would hold if we could foster a real passion for learning in our children. From a young age.
I am grateful to the faculty and staff at Eckerd College for imprinting within me a deep desire to learn and a genuine passion for education. I am saddened that it has taken me 25 years to get this point.
I don’t want my daughter to wait that long.
After prayer and goals to be met via the FCAT and activities designed to keep an ordered classroom of zombies and dresscodes from the 1950’s and insane contradictions, the world (and possibly 120 kids a year) would be better with a teacher like you. I am remembering brown eyed children in Sri Lanka with the eyes of God. I love you. Let’s change it together.
Your daughter will not have to wait that long with a mother like you, and Es is correct about children being better off with a teacher like you.
I found myself getting quite worked up last night when I was reading the front page of the newspaper about the first day back at school. The ‘no-child-left-behind’ act has left so many students on their behinds that to counteract this epidemic of childhood obesity there is now a mandatory 150 hours of PE a week. Which is good. But tt of course cuts into academics and FCAT preparation, etc. etc. Also high school students are supposed to choose a ‘major’ their freshman year. They can change this major as many times as they like and they do have over 400 areas to choose from. Is it just me or is that too much for someone who is – from what I can remember being 15 years old – only beginning to realize who they are and who they want to be.
My comment is turning into a blog.
One last thing, though. We were discussing over dinner what this generation is called. I then read in the paper it is the “me” generation. There is this super fine line of teaching children to be individuals rather than what is really happening – a generation of selfish “all about me” spoiled kids who have no real grasp of the external world beyond ipods and myspace. And no amount of standardized testing or mandatory physical education will change that. The only thing that could begin to reverse this cycle is teachers like you and Ms Swihart and the hope that more parents will be like you are to Mira. I will hold on to hope for that, my dear.