Wednesday, March 28, 2007

On my soapbox...

This is my response to this post on Sonya's blog.

Disclaimer: It actually has nothing to do with Sonya, but is mainly how I feel about how the world thinks we should raise our kids. It doesn't even all apply to the post, but they are some of my thoughts after reading the post. These are in no way all of my thoughts on the subject.

Warning: This is going to be a rant!

Ugh! I have about a thousand thoughts running through my brain! People are so quick to psychoanalyze everything! So his picture didn't have all the body parts on it. Big whoop! There are so many adults out there that can't get jobs because they can't properly draw their families! (Sarcasm intended). I am all for someone telling you if your kid is lagging in some area. There are things that should be checked into like speech delays or motor development delays (and even then, not rushed into).

In my day we learned to read in kindergarten. We didn't have to know how to do it before we got there. And we survived. Are kids today twice as smart as their parents because of all the "advantages" they have?

I for one do not want to be one to rush my kids to anything. Let them be kids.

It is not a status symbol to have your kids excel before everyone else (at least it shouldn't be). It is not a race to see who can get their kid to grow up the quickest. Kids are not miniature adults. Why do people treat them that way?

I know of no adults who were held back from kindergarten for a year that have been scarred for life because of it. I'd want to know what kind of qualifications this teacher had that make her an expert on when kids should go to school? What makes her an expert on your kid? She sees him for 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hours with a bunch of other kids for the past 7-8 months. Can she possibly "know" your child? I don't think so. What advantages could she list for me of sending my kid this year instead of next? What are the disadvantages if I don't send him this year?

Why do schools want kids to "know" everything before they get there? What exactly are schools doing for kids?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not totally anti-school. I loved most of my school years. I have many friends who are teachers and administrators in the school system. I support them. They do not have an easy job. I know that everyone is not able/or willing to home school. That's OK. I have not even started to home school and I don't know how long I will last once I do. I just think that parents should question, question, question what schools are teaching their kids, what their kids are learning and observing from others at school, and be totally involved in their schooling. Things like being a parent volunteer, knowing what your child is being taught (and disagreeing with it/taking a stand if it goes against your family's beliefs), and really talking to your child.

I'm not sure what the big deal with preschool is. Who decided that kids should go? Why did it become a cultural "norm"? My kids will not be attending preschool (unless something drastic happens to change my mind). Will they be backwards and socially inept? Are they now? I have no problem with kids who go to preschool or parents that send them. Although I do think the same things could be learned at home. I have a friend who works with me (she works full time) who sends her little girl to a Christian preschool. She does this to give her an opportunity to do things that she can't get at the babysitters house.

I don't want my kids to "fit in" with the world. I want them to be different. If they grow into Christian men (like I pray they will), they won't ever fit in with the world or meet the worlds "standards". It doesn't mean that I don't want them to succeed. I just want them to measure up to Higher standards.

As I read this, it still seems to be lacking in some areas and a little bit jumbled, but I will deal with that later if needed. If nothing else, I hope it makes people think.

6 comments:

Cheryl said...

I am dealing with kindergarten now. I can tell you all the kids are on different learning levels. Some can read whole chapter books some still can't tell you all there letters. the kids who are further ahead get done very quickly but don't sit bored waiting on the others like when we were in school. they read or move on to the next activity. The kids who are slower to pick things up are not rushed but given time to work it out, but they don't have as much book or centers time. None of them seem to now what the other is capable of and they just don't care. BUT the children who don't know how to behave do cause class problems, they slow thing down, not staying in their seats, talking all the time and trying to be in charge all the time are the main problems I see and I am there a lot. I plan to be involved in every single thing Ryan does in school, an in your face kinda Mom. I gotta tell ya it is working out so far. This is our first year but being involved is the best way to control how and what your child learns. This year we have a wonderful teacher who appreciates my input and help but if she didn't she wouldn't stop getting it. Oh I am babbling so sorry. Those are some of my opinions and things I have noticed this year.

Crystal said...

Totally agree Cheryl.......but in regards to my son Cameron, he has always struggled in school and I have seen that because teachers have to be teaching certain things at certain times, they will move ahead before some of the kids are ready to move on and they slip thru the cracks......that totally happened with Cameron. We waited with Daws and he does extremely well and he was one of the top kids in kindergarten, which I think means just further along than other kids and has done very well in first grade as well. I totally feel that it should be the parents making the decisions about their child's education because we are the one's who really "know" our children not teachers or doctors.......not kids are the same.

Cheryl said...

SO far in Ryan school we do make a lot of the decisions, like when to move them up in book level and we are asked to teach and reteach things at home.

kellerie said...

okay, so now I have to post something on my blog! my rant will be my response to your rant.

SamandSawyersMom said...

i have a lengthy response so i will do it tomorrow

SamandSawyersMom said...

mine is on my post