My Thoughts on Education
Well that took a serious turn in topics! Education is such a broad topic and my opinions are so narrow. The funny thing is that I rarely think of formalized education anymore since my kiddos are out of school. It's amazing how it consumes your life for so many years: Teachers and books and fundraisers and childhood drama...and then all of a sudden it's all gone! In the blink of an eye really. But I guess I'll jot down my random thoughts on the subject and see what comes of it.
Learning was always very easy for me. I was fortunate to go to a school district that a) had plenty of money to devote to individual education and b) was forward thinking enough to realize that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to education. I was an extremely fast reader and had comprehension far beyond my years. My teachers acknowledged that and took great care to make sure I was always challenged in class. Well maybe not challenged, but at least not bored.
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| Little Jen (wasn't I cute?) |
It probably helped that my mom was a bit of a ball-buster when it came to my education. It embarrassed me to no end when I was younger, but as an adult I appreciate that she always made the effort to advocate on my behalf. She also always made sure she was involved volunteering, etc at the school so she was in the loop of things going on. I definitely had every opportunity for learning and growth given to me growing up.
This was in the days before Common Core and other bureaucracy-mandated educational systems that have overrun education today. I do believe that individual teachers still make a huge difference and caring, compassionate teachers are the rule rather than the exception. But I also believe that in many ways their hands are tied behind their backs. Underpaid, overworked and under appreciated seems to be at the top of the teacher list.
I usually don't like to complain about things unless I have a valid solution. I don't. So I don't complain. But that's easy for me because I have no more children in school currently. And no grandchildren on the horizon. But it is my greatest hope that just like many other broken systems that we have in this country, that education continues to improve and grow and develop to go back to the tenants that I remember when I was in school. Not a national program that touts "No Child Left Behind"....just don't dismiss the needs of one child at a time. If that child is struggling or if that child is ahead of the curve. Keep class sizes small enough and administration nimble enough to put the needs of each child first. One kidlet at a time...
Those are my thoughts.....take them or leave them...
Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog on my favorite blogs (sung to the tune of My Favorite Things)
