tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post4546798158134186558..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Institutionalized Child AbuseTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-1804201745396572222016-09-17T05:04:32.468-07:002016-09-17T05:04:32.468-07:00Amazing that I automatically skipped this post. I ...Amazing that I automatically skipped this post. I just can't handle one more sentence about (what I presume to be) children not getting to be children. It's disgusting that we even need to talk about it in 2016.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-43341445958235711282016-09-15T14:28:09.291-07:002016-09-15T14:28:09.291-07:00Thank you, Tom! More of us parents are seeking and...Thank you, Tom! More of us parents are seeking and creating alternative environments for our kids. I co-founded a nature-focused cooperative elementary school here in Northern Virginia after our son moved from a cooperative, play-based preschool into our nationally ranked public school. We lasted one year. 28 students in one classroom, time-outs with children sitting in a corner with an hourglass (when the sand runs out, you may rejoin the class), no recess for three months in the winter because it was snowy or "too cold." We were willing to volunteer our time and energy, but we quickly realized that it would be almost impossible to make any kind of real institutional change. So we moved our time and energy into creating something new: www.riverfarmcooperative.com <br /><br />THANK YOU for continuing to educate and speak out! <br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504963407055698384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-3596401339766240672016-09-15T05:29:22.785-07:002016-09-15T05:29:22.785-07:00Arthur, you nailed it. Teacher Tom is a hero.
I&#...Arthur, you nailed it. Teacher Tom is a hero. <br />I'm down for a revolution that brings more outdoor playtime to kids. Kolla Kolbeinsdottirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-13776753305707129052016-09-14T21:16:42.394-07:002016-09-14T21:16:42.394-07:00Wow. I love this. That is one of many reasons we...Wow. I love this. That is one of many reasons we are homeschooling our grandaughter age 6 who lives with us. If it is not our parklike home where she lives to explore, it is a local park or Little Gym or social time with other kids. She is on the ASD scale and has a bit of the ADHD as well. She is nonstop, loves to learn and play, kid. I actually teared up reading how our kids are not getting this play time, Tom. Keep it up as someone else said. Please we need more like you as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-21594337729674137282016-09-14T19:14:45.426-07:002016-09-14T19:14:45.426-07:00Of course, the thing about the tide is that it WIL...Of course, the thing about the tide is that it WILL eventually turn, but then it WILL turn back again.Virtual Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16266942563616252097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-63440091139118481892016-09-14T10:39:44.781-07:002016-09-14T10:39:44.781-07:00You speak so frequently and eloquently about the f...You speak so frequently and eloquently about the failure of most schools to teach in a child-appropriate way. What do you think about the homeschooling movement? For current parent of a young child, it seems like clearly the best option--if you have the option--rather than pushing for a theoretical better future that won't be nearly in time for a current youngster's childhood. Of course, not everyone has (or wants) that option, and we need to make public schools better for everyone.<br /><br />How to reconcile that? Public school districts often mourn the loss of the student $ that would have come with homeschoolers, and at least in Alaska (where I live) programs that partially integrate homeschoolers into public school programs are common. Perhaps this is a way forward? School districts want homeschoolers back, they demand more flexibility and play, then all kids get more flexibility and play? I don't know how much that will really help, but as a parent of 5 and 7 year olds, it seems like the only rational option that doesn't sacrifice their lives for the cause.Erin McKittrick - Ground Truth Trekkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04463933857503884014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-47870990356075576642016-09-14T07:32:36.250-07:002016-09-14T07:32:36.250-07:00As and adult diagnosed and medicated for ADD both ...As and adult diagnosed and medicated for ADD both now and when I was a child, I am grateful for this viewpoint and that there are people out there fighting for our children. If I could have benefited from more movement, play, and outdoors time 30 years ago I cannot imagine how hard it is for children today.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04834433513641780780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-57221220929275726452016-09-14T07:28:40.159-07:002016-09-14T07:28:40.159-07:00Fight the power, Tom. My hero. Not joking, in seri...Fight the power, Tom. My hero. Not joking, in serious. Keep it up sir, the tide might be turning.<br /><br />Cue Tracy Chapman, 'Talking about a revolution...Arthur Battramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01447923181344013487noreply@blogger.com