tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post3438755577462251669..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: They Don't Hate Education, Just SchoolTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-84834049124921787402013-08-28T08:45:03.611-07:002013-08-28T08:45:03.611-07:00As a parent and educator, I've observed that ... As a parent and educator, I've observed that most school situations are set up primarily for the convenience of the adults working in the school than the education of the children. Moving around and interacting with each other and touching stuff is organic and somewhat disorderly. Desks in rows keep kids "contained". Recess requires adult supervision. If you have teachers manage it that is expensive, because their expertise should be used for "teaching". If you have para-educators manage it, it still costs money and it's not viewed as providing "results" on tests. <br /> What the powers that be don't realize is that as you have so often pointed out, freedom and choice and opportunity to explore, experiment, create, and interact with peers, parents, and teachers is the heart of what inspires kids to want to learn more and follow their passions. <br /> My children love to learn, and attended a play based preschool. When they were in elementary school what I most often heard as the highlight of their school day was recess. I also heard how school was boring. Now they are teens and they gripe about the ridiculous assignments which seem to be pointless that they are required to do. They definitely seem to learn more out of school that pertains to their passions than what they learn in school. <br /> Good grades and test scores do have some economic power. For one thing auto insurance is cheaper for teens with good grades. Also with the cost of training programs and college, the chances of receiving scholarships are higher. Plus good grades give you a wider selection of schools that will accept you. And perhaps the discipline that comes from jumping through hoops in school and being a "good" student will help you in making good choices when you do have adult freedoms.<br /> Personally....I'd rather see a revolution in our educational system. I've thought for years that early childhood educators ought to be influencing higher educational practices rather than the other way around. Now we face testing for preschoolers and it's horrifying!<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-84905756509951792222013-08-28T06:49:20.256-07:002013-08-28T06:49:20.256-07:00Teacher Tom, I just want to say I have been readin...Teacher Tom, I just want to say I have been reading your posts for almost a year now and I just love your insight and thank you for all you do. I have three girls. My youngest, 3, is so excited about everything to do with learning. She spends her day painting, playing with play-dough and having her build-a- bears go on different adventures. She is starting a play based preschool this year three mornings a week. My two oldest had the same spark as she did at the age, but has slowly disappeared over the years. My middle daughter is in 3rd grade and my oldest just started middle school. We live in a “great school system”. They go to a high ranking school, but my girls hate school. Every morning one of them try to convince me they are sick. My middle daughter measures how good a day was by how many tests she had to take. They are burned out. We looked into private school for them, but it looks like much the same way of teaching as public. So what as parents can we do to change this? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com