I'm over there today, over at LAMOMS blog. I'd love, as always your comments! Here's the beginning:
You know the time of year -- when everyone starts hearing about where their kids are going to go to school, whether Susie will be accepted into the $30,000 private girls' school or Charlie into the charter that got 1000 applications. Whether the school Hiram is in is attending to his reading deficits or whether Sally needs two or three days worth of math tutoring. I guess if it weren't for the fact that one of my children is severely disabled and I've had to make some pretty enormous compromises regarding her education, I might have the paranoid perspective that many of my friends have. I'm also sort of grateful, actually, that I don't have near enough money to even afford these private schools such is the anxiety I see and hear spilling out.I probably have at least one conversation every single day with someone who is worried, kvetching, complaining, bragging or something or other about their son or daughter's school. Frankly, I'm tired of it. I want to SCREAM:It's FOURTH GRADE PEOPLE!
You know the time of year -- when everyone starts hearing about where their kids are going to go to school, whether Susie will be accepted into the $30,000 private girls' school or Charlie into the charter that got 1000 applications. Whether the school Hiram is in is attending to his reading deficits or whether Sally needs two or three days worth of math tutoring. I guess if it weren't for the fact that one of my children is severely disabled and I've had to make some pretty enormous compromises regarding her education, I might have the paranoid perspective that many of my friends have. I'm also sort of grateful, actually, that I don't have near enough money to even afford these private schools such is the anxiety I see and hear spilling out.I probably have at least one conversation every single day with someone who is worried, kvetching, complaining, bragging or something or other about their son or daughter's school. Frankly, I'm tired of it. I want to SCREAM:
It's FOURTH GRADE PEOPLE!
I left a comment over there.. and apologies for how long it is.
ReplyDeleteAs you said, it's that time of year. Having 2 away at University, one waiting on acceptances, and 2 to go , this is much of our life. Combine that with a sports scholarship twist, and it has been a huge learning curve.
Education is a priority, but I also want my children to be good citizens. And I went to school, and am not spending my evenings and weekends doing homework.
My brother is a professor at a University, and he certainly sees the effect of this helicopter parenting. Much of it wacky.
You tell them, Elizabeth! It is just fourth grade. They need to lighten up and enjoy life with their kids before those kids become adults.
ReplyDeletechefs DO use foul language.
ReplyDeletefoul FOUL language.
I read the whole article.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it also seems to be a reflection of living in a big U.S. mainland city where social class and intelligence and education are all in the forefront of people's minds. Not to mention Ferraris and other monetary successes.
We have been in so many school settings over the years, private Waldorf, 2 private Montessoris, open classroom with a bunny hopping around free (for one day, public, charter home school, and home schooling. What I have come to see and know is that our children learn best when they are happy and able to relax a bit in school. Period. And when the discipline problems are dealt with and bullying is nipped in the bud. Whoever can help children be happy in school will be a successful teacher. And when it comes down to it, it's not about the system. It's about each child's experience with each teacher.
But I ramble...
I just deleted most of my comment over there, and left only one sentence. I deleted all the part where I was reflecting on what I see in north american blogs: the expensive Waldorf dolls and wooden toys, and the (same) toddlers bombarded with numbers and letters. Devoting time to the education of our kids is (relatively) easy for us adults. Certainly easier than figuring out tantrums, or any emotional problems, for instance.
ReplyDeleteSooooo true!
ReplyDelete