Recent events have made me rethink some of my notions about education. Since children have been unable to attend school and yet still receive a reasonable education, learning from home (thanks to modern technology,) many of our previous ideas about attending schools, are appearing increasingly obsolete.
In Australia large numbers of children living in remote areas, have been taught remotely for years anyway.
We Don’t Need No Education – Pink Floyd
Suddenly the purpose of sending children to school no longer seems to be, solely to impart a traditional-type education. The buzz word of the moment appears to be “socialisation.”
Watch “Go Socialize : Foamy The Squirrel” on YouTube
Huh I thought,
Yeah let’s get them used to the real world…
“You mean to help them get used to the idea, of being mocked, harrassed and bullied,” If this was not your experience, then let me know where these fantastic schools are!
My mother had once grabbed a boy who was getting on the coach and yelling abuse at me. She was my hero that day just like when she had tried to chuck my brother’s mattress out of the upstairs window. Relationships bring out the worst in him, Mum had once told me that one of his 3x girlfriends kept walking by our house. She had known my brother had behaved badly. I told our son this is what I would do if he ever got in a similar situation.
Marie Barone makes Robert face his ex girlfriends and asks them what is wrong with him.
Robert talks ti Ray and Debotah about the ex girlfriend meeting
If we are sending children to school so that they learn to socialize, we need to do a much better job.
This is probably a shocking statement, particularly coming from a teacher. I am approaching the end of my career and feel compelled to speak my mind.
I am sure children did not need to learn what it was like to have their face rubbed in the dirt or to be kicked in the crotch, or to have cookery ingredients tipped all over them. All real experiences (either mine or experienced by somebody I know.)
If we consider teaching children to “socialize ” to be an important aspect of sending children to school, we need to do a rather better job of it.
I firmly believe, I was conditioned for much of the mistreatment,
I endured in my intimate relationships, not by my parents but by experiences at school. Unlike many people, who have experienced abusive relationships, my early years at home, were very happy.
The day I was set upon, when it was my turn to ring the school bell, had marked my loss of innocence. Especially when I was later chided by the headmistress, for having ripped the coat of my attacker, which I must have grabbed to save myself, as I had fallen to the ground.
Some People Who Thought They Would Floor Me
I wouldn’t be surprised if they are still bullies today. They probably need a dose of their own medicine. I suspect they have nothing better to do than stir the pot with a wooden spoon.
(Nana had once suggested mum use a wooden spoon as discipline. She had not banked on my brother who had sneakily sawn it almost all the way through.)
My favourite moment was when we had decided to gang up on poor old nan and parachute Action Man from the upstairs window. We had way more fun with Action Man than with my dolls. I didn’t have a tank.
Dad took our brand new car out for a first drive. We had wound up sandwiched between two learner tank drivers on Salisbury Plain. They churned up half the verge over our car Maybe I should have given them driving instructions.
Roll Over Beethoven – Beatles I prefer ELOs version. See what you think…
He is great at woodwork. He had once built a beautiful cubby house for his children. Unfortunately nearly every teacher on his report card had described him as easily led. I expect he gets really tyred(homonym) these days. This is where the rubber meets the road.Thanks to him I know what it is like to travel at the speed of sound IN A CAR!! I never needed a NASCAR ride. I got one regularly for free. I didn’t vomit once but we were both fortunate to escape with our lives…
⚠️ GRAPHIC CONTENT !!! Evanescence Traffic Accidents
He Is Your Brother/People Need Love – The Choir est.by ABBA The Museum
Who’s Zoomin’ Who? -Aretha Franklin (Dance Mix)
One of the first things to happen to us in America was we were caught up in the aftermath of a fatal road accident, We were in Bob’s Big Boys restaurant when a distraut woman had come in to use the phone as she had witnessed an accident, it was youngsters in one of those buggy type vehicles and it had overturned killing at least one person,
Empathy needs to be taught and showing empathy towards others, should perhaps be richly rewarded, even above academic achievement in my view. Sometimes even family need the occasional reminder!!
As a teacher I know, I have likely made similar mistakes. I would dread afternoon registration, as I had recognised I would be swamped dealing with issues, which had happened at lunchtime. For a while, I adopted circle time, following lunch break, so we could work through any calamities which might have occured, by discussing it together.
If parents are now recognising that socialization, should be a primary aim for children attending school, it looks like the curriculum may need to be totally rewritten.
When I was learning to teach, we were told social skills were part of the hidden curriculum. It now looks like social skills, may need to come out of the “hidden” curriculum and sit proudly next to the other subjects.
Whilst I may not have liked every facet of Montessori preschool education, I was really impressed with the way the teacher had dealt with an incident in her class. She had grabbed both children by the hand, had made them look at each other and had said,
“Hi John, this is George.”
She had then proceeded to talk about George, his interests, his family.
“He doesn’t like it when you kick him in the head.” I do not recall the exact offence.
Here is the bad news. I remember researching moral education, in my early years of teaching, only to discover, it was less about what I said, than about the way I behaved. This presents every teacher with challenges. It is much easier to deliver a nice, tidy lesson, than to always model the kind of behaviour, we seek to encourage.
Hands up, who is still working on some aspects of their own behaviour. (Please don’t let me be the only one.😊)
Please check out the source of this music for yourself.
https://youtube.com/user/patrishynoe
My father’s school was bombed during WW2. I remember him talking of the children playing in the wreckage.School’s Out -AC/DC
He had left school at fourteen and had spent much of his life continuing his education. He worked towards a degree. I particularly remember him studying Chemistry at home. He had a polystyrene container filled with exciting chemicals etc.
We had also bought our children a chemistry set.What Triggers A Chemical Reaction?
What Shouldn’t Be in A Kid’s Chemistry Set QI
Sheldon Nuclear Reactor -Young Sheldon
Source:Sheldon TV
He was always very concerned about our education. I am so glad I had a father who cared that I had a decent education. He really tried to help my brother. I seem to remember him hiring a tutor for him at one stage. This showed the value my father placed on education(and my brother) as money was pretty tight at the time. She Blinded Me With Science- Big Bang Theory by Lenny 9987
Musical Education
I had piano lessons periodically but I hated piano practice. For me a home is not complete without some kind of keyboard. My grandparents both played piano by ear. My aunt was quite a talented pianist. I had paid for a keyboard on lay-by here in Australia. Despite having been initially unsupportive, my former partner had become as dedicated to the children’s music as I was.
I tried to find ways for our son to play guitar here in our new home. I had suggested he play on the beach or join in the jamming sessions at a local bar, as I really think he has the potential to have a career in music. I think he could possibly also become a songwriter.
The Day The Music Died -Don McClean
I had bought our children a box of musical instruments and we had used to jam all the time. Our street had been full of musicians for a while until we became known only as “the street with the drummer”. All the other music had died. I still have the electronic drum kit we bought our son. Sadly it does not seem to work properly now.
Yay bro’ getting tyred of your(See above)
Yes I do love this emoji.
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