tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32845186.post8100767609217929957..comments2023-06-07T04:51:18.845-06:00Comments on Confessions of a Former Ag Major: My beef with the public school systemJanethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17615575846268382329noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32845186.post-56345978142313813082008-09-22T19:24:00.000-06:002008-09-22T19:24:00.000-06:00Amy- you're absolutely correct in your assertion t...Amy- you're absolutely correct in your assertion that good scientists and math nerds are creative. I think you captured the idea I was trying to express with much better words than I did.<BR/><BR/>Katie- Land's End pleated skorts all the way!!! I think the matching maryjane shoes should be required for the girls too.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17615575846268382329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32845186.post-63842710828419637962008-09-22T15:59:00.000-06:002008-09-22T15:59:00.000-06:00WOW!!! You guys are awesome!!! I'm ready, let's ...WOW!!! You guys are awesome!!! I'm ready, let's start this school! And, LOL about PE.<BR/><BR/>Can we have cute plaid uniforms, tho?katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01612186748782849969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32845186.post-49861109795084593462008-09-22T14:31:00.000-06:002008-09-22T14:31:00.000-06:00I think the problem with our education system is i...I think the problem with our education system is it's focus. When you think about the sciences and what we are lacking, people seem to think that means more math, more hard sciences and a stronger focus on the basics. But I think we are actually loosing our creativity. <BR/> Schools are spending so much on sports and PE to fight the trend of obese children, or so they say. I think this could really just reflects the whole sports hero and movie star obsessed society we are becoming. As a heavy child I found that the best defense was actually my sense of self worth. I really wasn't ever picked on for my weight because I believed in my self and my talents. PE never taught me to love a sport and be active for life. Did it for you? No what gave me my confidence was my family support and having things I was good at. <BR/> For me those were the "elective classes". Now don't get me wrong, I did very well in school, but music was my passion. I had been singing in school choirs for as long as they were offered and even longer at church. I took piano lessons for years. I also enjoyed Year Book, and several other extra curricular activities. I know you, think I'm rambling and forgot where I started but I haven't. Bear with me just a little longer.<BR/> When I went to apply for colleges I was surprised at the fact that not only would colleges and universities send me info on their music programs, but they all also sent me info on their math and science programs. Because as school districts are cutting funding to music and art programs, when they see PE and the "basics" are more important, they seem to be ignoring the well documented correlation between music and mathematical abilities. They aren't seeing the possibility that we are losing ground in the sciences because we are losing the forward and creative thinking that is needed to see the future possibilities!<BR/> Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is the only track to follow to become a great scientist, I'm just saying I think that schools have forgotten that this is even an option. Not everything is about the "basics", those "extra" subjects are important because not everyone learns in the same way, And by limiting the choices I think you are cheating some of these children out of the sense of self worth to say,"I can change that"Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165177320106815075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32845186.post-47044652173258784702008-09-22T14:01:00.000-06:002008-09-22T14:01:00.000-06:00You move back here! Idaho's one of the least restr...You move back here! Idaho's one of the least restrictive states in the nation when it comes to most anything including educating your children. We are blessed to live here where there are so many other people who support our freedom of choice.<BR/><BR/>I think you Montessori style co-op sounds like an excellent idea. If it were cheaper (or we weren't so poor) I'd enroll my children in the Montessori elementary school in Meridian. That method of teaching works so well it's always been a mystery to me why the public system doesn't use it.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17615575846268382329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32845186.post-72640434850815193822008-09-22T11:35:00.000-06:002008-09-22T11:35:00.000-06:00I agree with you. Move down here, let's start a mo...I agree with you. Move down here, let's start a montessori inspired free for all educational co-op thing. Wouldn't it be nice to have some big warm room with space to run around and burn off energy, but a place to sit and read books about everything, a place to nap, and endless supplies for art projects and no worries for paint on white carpet or couches? You just show up at this place with all the kids, lunch is provided, maybe there are a few teachers, but moms are teachers there, too: one mom reads to kids who want story time, one mom runs with kids who play tag, one mom makes sure no one eats too much past or paint, some mom helps with numbers and counting and geometry and trig. There's space for playing in dirt and growing plants. There's class pets for learning biology and kindness. Plenty of cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes ... a place designed for kids to just be kids ...<BR/><BR/>*big sigh*<BR/><BR/>You make me want to stop telling my kid to stop being weird - weird is fine, he gets it from his parents anyway ... I hate being torn between wanting him to fulfill his potential and fit in.<BR/><BR/>So much in our country is falling apart - economy, school, morals ... I worry and try to prepare my kids to live in this insanity, there are easier ways, if I was just brave enough to jump in.Mrs. B. Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07523283961030307659noreply@blogger.com