This bring me to what I have been thinking about lately. Education is no longer teaching how to actually do stuff. Hands on, live n learn stuff is frowned upon. I currently work in manufacturing since I would have to live in a big city to otherwise earn a living with my making skills. I have come across engineers who don't understand how some machinery actually works or how metal shapes are formed in real practice. Younger workers struggle with practicality and efficiency and simple motor skills. Some take no joy in making and lament that pushing a button doesn't solve their problems. At 52 I work circles in a physically demanding job around some 20 year olds and not because I'm trying but because I find satisfaction in a job well done and I was taught the processes of making. Home ec, wood shop, even hairdressing. Building teepees in the woods. In middle school my daughter crocheted herself a simple chain stitch dress and nobody believed she made it herself. All I did was give her yarn and a hook, granted she also had acess to a dress dummy to fit it on and had watched me sew since she was little.Being a maker and an artist it just made sense to give my kids materials and encourage them to make stuff.. I was dumbfounded that they no longer make stuff in school. They color coloring pages in art class and do premade kits. Memorizing and theorizing is put on a pedestal above rolling up your sleeves and doing. Anyway, that is my rant. My solution is to buy your kids art supplies, give them cardboard boxes and felt and sewing kits. Teach them to cook even if it takes three times longer to make supper and how to operate the washing machine. Get them their own tool boxes and to takepride in using them. They aren't going to learn it at school.
I homeschooled our children (the last of the four will be moving on to adult life in the next year or so) and very early in, I decided that our homeschool would only be teaching three subjects: knowledge, skills, and character. Yes, they all learned math and English, and quite a few things related to history and science as well. But I stopped teaching for grades and began making sure they were mastering the things they really needed to succeed in life. Primarily how to learn, how to think for themselves, and how to pursue excellence in every endeavor.
It galls me how many parents pull their child out of the “failing public school system” (I would claim it isn’t failing, it’s just succeeding at the things most people don’t realize are its goals) only to turn around and do the exact same things at home. It’s frustrating to have parents who know my kids come to me asking what I’ve done to raise such amazing people, but refuse to believe that they could deprioritize grades & meaningless achievements and achieve similar results with their children.
Grades? I don't need no grades. My dad had to drop out of high school due to a terrible illness. He was brilliant and taught himself what he wanted or needed to know. He became a recognized expert in his field -- hated the attention :-)
Love this. My take home from this includes that the “solution” does not lie in pill form. It lies in character - and like you, I believe that grading our character is often putting the focus on the wrong part!
Terrific iconoclastic perspective! Please warn readers that they must finish the piece before taking the wrong message from this posting. Over-emphasis on grades can lead to a distorted education for perfectionistic students as I was. Somehow I learned about the importance of independent and iconoclastic thinking. Praise the Lord!
Public education is failing for the reasons the headmaster resigned over. If you take out Christian morality, the whole thing falls a part. Why focus on academic college prep, if most shouldn't be going to college? I'm very tired of hearing that children need to "play, all day everyday." How about actually letting the children create? Learning how to garden, farm, sew, different parts of the car, cooking? Age appropriate, of course. Good article.
This bring me to what I have been thinking about lately. Education is no longer teaching how to actually do stuff. Hands on, live n learn stuff is frowned upon. I currently work in manufacturing since I would have to live in a big city to otherwise earn a living with my making skills. I have come across engineers who don't understand how some machinery actually works or how metal shapes are formed in real practice. Younger workers struggle with practicality and efficiency and simple motor skills. Some take no joy in making and lament that pushing a button doesn't solve their problems. At 52 I work circles in a physically demanding job around some 20 year olds and not because I'm trying but because I find satisfaction in a job well done and I was taught the processes of making. Home ec, wood shop, even hairdressing. Building teepees in the woods. In middle school my daughter crocheted herself a simple chain stitch dress and nobody believed she made it herself. All I did was give her yarn and a hook, granted she also had acess to a dress dummy to fit it on and had watched me sew since she was little.Being a maker and an artist it just made sense to give my kids materials and encourage them to make stuff.. I was dumbfounded that they no longer make stuff in school. They color coloring pages in art class and do premade kits. Memorizing and theorizing is put on a pedestal above rolling up your sleeves and doing. Anyway, that is my rant. My solution is to buy your kids art supplies, give them cardboard boxes and felt and sewing kits. Teach them to cook even if it takes three times longer to make supper and how to operate the washing machine. Get them their own tool boxes and to takepride in using them. They aren't going to learn it at school.
So true and cannot agree more!
I homeschooled our children (the last of the four will be moving on to adult life in the next year or so) and very early in, I decided that our homeschool would only be teaching three subjects: knowledge, skills, and character. Yes, they all learned math and English, and quite a few things related to history and science as well. But I stopped teaching for grades and began making sure they were mastering the things they really needed to succeed in life. Primarily how to learn, how to think for themselves, and how to pursue excellence in every endeavor.
It galls me how many parents pull their child out of the “failing public school system” (I would claim it isn’t failing, it’s just succeeding at the things most people don’t realize are its goals) only to turn around and do the exact same things at home. It’s frustrating to have parents who know my kids come to me asking what I’ve done to raise such amazing people, but refuse to believe that they could deprioritize grades & meaningless achievements and achieve similar results with their children.
“ I would claim it isn’t failing, it’s just succeeding at the things most people don’t realize are its goals” - precisely!
Thank you for doing so right by your kids - they are blessed to have you!
Grades? I don't need no grades. My dad had to drop out of high school due to a terrible illness. He was brilliant and taught himself what he wanted or needed to know. He became a recognized expert in his field -- hated the attention :-)
Love this. My take home from this includes that the “solution” does not lie in pill form. It lies in character - and like you, I believe that grading our character is often putting the focus on the wrong part!
You are a hero to me…proud that you are the father to 3 children that I love wholeheartedly.
Hopefully he’s your husband too😂
Almost as good…he is the husband of my precious granddaughter and father of my great grandkids.
Terrific iconoclastic perspective! Please warn readers that they must finish the piece before taking the wrong message from this posting. Over-emphasis on grades can lead to a distorted education for perfectionistic students as I was. Somehow I learned about the importance of independent and iconoclastic thinking. Praise the Lord!
Excellent! Sharing with my CC school colleagues.
Thank you!
Bang on!!! ❤️
Public education is failing for the reasons the headmaster resigned over. If you take out Christian morality, the whole thing falls a part. Why focus on academic college prep, if most shouldn't be going to college? I'm very tired of hearing that children need to "play, all day everyday." How about actually letting the children create? Learning how to garden, farm, sew, different parts of the car, cooking? Age appropriate, of course. Good article.