As a parent, I have to say, I'm sad when I think about the school experience I had and the one my kids are having.
When I was in school, we had two recesses, one after lunch and one in the afternoon. We could talk in the halls and at lunch. It wasn't the end of the world if we stood in a line that wasn't straight. Not only did we have a Halloween party, we had a CHRISTMAS party. We also had a Christmas program with, brace yourself, songs about CHRISTMAS. Field day meant something.
Now, there is one recess, sometimes, it is an hour or so after school starts! Don't speak above a whisper during lunch and NO TALKING in the halls. That line better be straight or they will be standing there until it is. It's a fall/harvest party and a winter party. Now it's a Winter program with only songs about snow. No competing in field day, everyone is a winner!!
(pardon me while I vent)
I loved the fact that I could talk with my friends at lunch and then 20 minutes later be playing with them. School officials wonder why kids are dragging after lunch...they are ready for a nap. It's half way through the day and they've just had a meal. Let them get some fresh air, burn off some built up energy.
NO TALKING IN THE HALLS!!! Please, show me any adult who can go all day without talking in the halls. How can you expect kids between the ages of 6-18 to stay silent~especially girls! It's kind of disheartening when you go into a school and basically have little robots walking down the hall, (keep that line straight) looking straight ahead. I've honestly seen some kids wave and then get a look of panic on their face.
Oh, the "political correctness" of parties and programs. What happened to the days of parents who felt so strongly about not letting their kids partake in a "Halloween" or "Christmas" party keeping their kids home? News flash: they're still a "Halloween" and "Christmas" party, only the names have changed.
Last but not least, field day. We would have a sign up sheet for every event at field day. We would all try out for different things such as; three-legged-race, 50 meter dash, pull ups etc. The class as a whole was on tug-of-war. We would all bring in a white t-shirt and, using markers, we would all sign our names on the back and have our "team name" on the front. Each class had cheerleaders, we would make posters and at the end of the day...they...gave...out...RIBBONS!!! (oh, the horror!!!)
Reality is, not everyone is a winner. Sometimes, I got a ribbon, sometimes, I didn't. You know what, I'm still alive and if anything, as I got older, competition made me try harder.
In the game of life, it's not always fair. There is a kid that Noelle goes to school with that has drunk the "it has to be fair to everyone" Kool-Aid, that he honestly freaks out when things don't go his way. How are these kids going to function in life?
There are winners and there are losers. You will not always come out on top. Things will not always go your way.
(end venting)
So, let summer begin. I get to spend about two and a half months teaching my kids reality before the re-brainwashing begins again.
