Tags
childhood obesity, civics, cooking, elementary school, healthy living, literacy, Physical education, school
It seems a little odd to think about school smack dab in the middle of Christmas break, but that’s where I’m at.
My eldest has just finished her first four months of kindergarten, and I’ve been pondering a post reflecting on what we’ve learnt to date from that experience.
Then I saw this from WordPress:
You get to redesign school as we know it from the ground up. Will you do away with reading, writing, and arithmetic? What skills and knowledge will your school focus on imparting to young minds?
Now funny thing? I actually use to dream about running a school when I was younger and what I might do… Apparently there’s a bit of social engineer in me. Mwahahaha!
But now that I’m older? Like anything, the more you know, the more you realize you don’t know. Also, I suspect that, given I’ve just started the school years with my kids, I’ll have a very different answer to this question in a few years.
But, here’s my thoughts as they are now. For the purposes of my post, my school runs from kindergarten through to the end of high school. Perhaps not what would happen in real life, but this way I get to cover all my current thoughts on what my ideal school would teach.
First off, I’d like my school to look like somewhere you’d want to be. Maybe something like this:

We might not teach magic, but curb appeal counts, right? What kid wouldn’t want to hang out here? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hog2warts.jpg.
Okay – that’s obviously a wee bit of an exaggeration. But the point is: a welcoming place to be.
Now that we’re all psyched to be here, what to do?
First off, to answer the direct question: Would I do away with reading, writing and arithmetic? Good gracious, no. If anything, I’d make sure we focussed firmly on these basics through a large part of primary school. Despite comparing pretty well internationally, low adult literacy rates in Canada remain pretty high, so we need to make sure we are producing graduates with high literacy and numeracy skills.
I remember from my volunteer tutoring days that until about Grade 4, students are learning to read, and after that they are reading to learn. So I’d make sure my school worked hard to have strong readers by Grade 4. We’d provide additional help – after school, during school etc… to ensure these basic goals were met. We’d provide parents’ tools, resources and encouragement to help at home. Then we’d provide remedial support for older students who were still struggling with the basics; and so unable to properly learn what they should be learning in their Grade level.
Second, I’d make sure everyone at my school was properly fed as you can’t learn well on an empty stomach. So we’d have a breakfast and lunch program for those who needed it. Perhaps we could find some of the billionaire lottery winners from yesterday’s prompt to help fund this.
Third, we’d have mandatory daily phys ed. With increasingly sedentary lifestyles, childhood obesity rates are increasing, and while schools can’t do everything, they are well placed to help. Also, studies show active kids learn better, so this is win-win. My school would also have a robust athletics department and offer a range of after-school sports activities, balancing participation and excellence. Basically, everyone should be able to participate – and encouraged to do so with an eye to finding activities each student will be successful in – but not everyone always get’s a trophy. It’s a valuable life lesson.
Fourth, tied to the issue of encouraging healthy living, we’d teach our students how to cook and properly feed themselves and their loved ones in both a healthy and economical way. I know some schools do some of this, and some children are fortunate enough to learn at home, but I certainly never did until very recently. It would have saved me a fortune in take out, and I would have been healthier for it.
Fifth, we would also have a vibrant, and well-funded, arts program. Music helps with numeracy, and arts generally just make for more interesting, better rounded human beings. It also fosters a sense of community. And ultimately, that’s what a school is: a community. Again, maybe some of the benevolent new billionaires might be interested in helping make this aspect successful.
Sixth, for high school students, a variety of class options would be offered, based on aptitude, interest and future career aspirations. This was my experience in high school and it worked, so why change it?
Seventh, for high school students, there would be a mandatory civics class, where discussion would focus on the importance of active involvement in our democracy to foster an understanding of both the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship – particularly the importance of voting. Students would be encouraged to engage in respectful debate, with an eye to understanding different views and opinions and learning how to respectfully disagree and discuss issues. There would be mandatory history classes for younger grades leading up to this class, so that students would understand how the present is part of the continuum that is our country’s – and world’s – story. It is important to understand – and have an opinion about – the world around us. It help’s us find our place in it.
Finally, life is busy and chaotic for working parents, and my school would understand. As such, for younger students, we’d offer before and after school care as needed at reasonable and competitive rates; with the possibility of financial assistance for those who need it. High school students could work at the program to help foster a feeling of community and encourage mentorship and role modelling. While there would be time for homework, or participation in the formal sports and arts programs referenced above, there would also be the possibility of simple, fun, unstructured play – both indoors and out – so kids could let their imaginations guide them. Aftercare would run until 6:00pm. Because, really, aftercare ending at 5:00pm is a bit of a challenge for 9:00-5:00ers in the absence of teleportation.
———-
So there you have it: My dream school, if I had carte blanche to design it. That said, given the number of teachers I know, I know much of this happens already – at least on some levels – in schools. It’s easy (and fun!) to sit here, without all the facts, and imagine solutions. I know it would be a very different view from the trenches. There are only so many hours in the day. And budgets only cover so much. All told? I think schools here already get much of it right.
What about you? What would your dream school look like?
I did wonder about that too 🙂
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Yeah – I was stuck for a good title, and then realized Hey! It’s Christmas! I’d like to stay firmly in the world of no responsibility for a while longer before getting back to pencils and books (or a job, in my case).
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I love the holidays for that. We get our own little bubble for a while to rest from all else 🙂
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Agreed! Thanks 🙂
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You’re right! The philosophies behind “our” schools are very similar! I’m afraid I’d try to keep the kids away from their parents as much as possible which is an awful thought. It comes from having parents interfering with the choices of my students — UNIVERSITY students! I’ve had parents actually electronically DROP students from courses the students had registered for. Parents have done this without KNOWING that the class they dropped on their kids’ behalf was a requirement for the major. It’s incredibly embarrassing for a kid to have to email me and say, “My dad dropped me from your class.” OR to have a dad write me and say, “Is there any reason my son has to take your class? I am thinking about dropping it for my son so he has more time for other classes.”
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It’s interesting what you say about parents of university age students today as profs and coaches of university teams I’ve spoken to have made similar comments as to the much more active involvement of parents – and sometimes resulting lessening of responsibility taken by students – as compared to previous generations. I’m not sure it’s true in all cases, but it certainly “sounds” true and sounds like the reasonable result of too much helicopter parenting. I figure by the time you get to university – if you go that route – and that shouldn’t be the default goal of school because university isn’t for everyone – you (and your parents) should be ready for you to stand and succeed (or not) on your own.
Thanks for the comment and visit!
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Your dream school sounds amazing, even without magic! It kind of amazes/horrifies me what things are NOT taught in school… like… sure, you learn some textbooky explanation about Checks & Balances but no one has any clue how the government actually works– also, they don’t talk about money or budgeting or debt. And I like that you included cooking and nutrition. Gah, so much to think about… One of my sister in laws is a creepy super Mom and just started home schooling her two oldest– the curriculum is kick ass and I envy all that they’re going to grow up knowing… even without magic.
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Agh! That’s the bit I forgot to add that you just reminded me of – financial literacy – my dream school would teach that too! I had the thought while typing, and then the kids woke up from nap and it got forgotten! As for homeschooling – I can see the benefits if you have the patience (and the right home situation). But I know enough about me to know I couldn’t do it (so the mom in me bows with admiration to your SiL). I coached, taught swim lessons and ran reading circles for kids for years – that was enough insight to know I liked kids, but didn’t want to be a teacher…it truly takes a special kind of person.
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Haha seriously– I don’t think I could do that. I already want a nanny 😉
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Ah – they just re-released Mary Poppins if you want to watch it. You know, for research purposes for future reference. I’d let her watch my kids.
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Oh man, if I could hire a Mary Poppins I’d just stay home and play with her too.
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I suspect flying nannies who sing in key are few and far between – but, yeah, if I found her, I think I might stay home and play too. That might make her a mother’s helper rather than nanny, though, right? Think I’d lose her if I tried to renegotiate salary based on revised job requirements? I could take the “spoonful of sugar” negotiation approach, but I suspect she’d see that coming… and good on her!
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Woah okay I haven’t heard of these “mothers helpers” things… do we get to pay them less than nannies????
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I haven’t fully researched it, but my memory from friends in university is that every now and then some of them found jobs which involved tagging along on other people’s family vacations to watch their kids sometimes during the day and at night. So that was a combination of “free trip”+ some compensation.
Also – from quick searches on nanny sites, it seems to be a term sometimes used by university students or others looking to get steady babysitting work – eg: say from school pick-up until parents get home from work – or to offer mom a break during the day. So in that sense, yes, babysitting rates, not nanny rates (although they sometimes basically work out even depending what you need ). But not sure I’m using the term exactly right and am honestly a bit leery of it.
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Haha hmmm…. well I put this in the back of my mind for future reference… just in case they don’t have robot nannies by then 😉
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Thank you very much for following the blog, I really look forward to reading your posts and happy new year 2014. Gede Prama 🙂
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A little hard for me to dream and then go back to the real thing next week. We think similarly, I think it helps to be a parent with school-aged children a lot of the “extras” or flashy things are not as important as wanting a place where our children can be nurtured and supported in becoming their best.
Oh by the way…
I’ve nominated you for a LIEBSTER!!!!
http://www.vintage1973.me/2013/12/l-is-for-liebster-award.html
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Thank you very much! It’s always nice to know that someone (other than me) likes my blog :). I’m out at the moment and my phone doesn’t let me comment on blogger blogs but I’ll be sure to visit and thank you over at yours once I’m home. Best!
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Loved this post, Louis! From middle school through graduation I h-a-t-e-d school. I think your school would rock my socks off! Genuinely sounds awesome. I was reading your discussion with Aussa and wanted to add that I was one of those nannies from the age of 18 – 21. I was never there full-time during the day (except certain days when they needed me), but was more of a helper, including going on vacations with them more than once. I was the go-to sitter, obviously, so Saturday nights were pretty much always spoken for. I even went on local outings with them, like to fairs and amusement parks. Must’ve been nice for the parents! As a parent myself now, all I can think is how amazing that was for them to have that ALL the time, but also, how expensive!!! They paid me well. Not crazy money or anything, but they didn’t jip me, that’s for sure. And they paid for everything when I went on vacation with them (Hilton Head Island, SC Woop!). And this was all for one little boy! Can you imagine? It’s not like they had 4 kids…ONE toddler. Wow. He was amazing, too. Wish I still had contact with them, but they divorced and the mom moved to California with the kid. Plus *gulp* that little boy would be about 25 now. *seizure*
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Thanks so much – it was a fun post to do! It’s always enjoyable to give opinion without knowing all the facts (or without having to worry about boring stuff like budgets or # hours in a day). It makes life so much simpler 😉
As far as my back and forth with Aussa – thanks for confirming I wasn’t nuts and this job exists. BTW, it sounds like you had an awesome experience with it – and weren’t taken advantage of (which is something I wonder about when I see the term referenced). And as a parent, I can DEFINITELY appreciate the idea of having someone to just take my kids for a bit…
Perhaps when Aussa hits “Desperately Seeking Mary Poppins” stage of life, we can offer to headhunt for her (of course, for a reasonable consulting fee – or a blog shout-out, because, by then, I suspect she’ll be up there with the Bloggess ;). You bring solid field experience and, well, I totally like kids and …. um, read her blog. How could we fail?! Unless flight by umbrella is a deal-breaker.
As for caring for someone who is now 25 – I hear you. I’m friends with a few people I use to teach swim lessons to… It’s a weird moment when you have beers with someone you once taught how to back float. Like a STARFISH! Hold your breath like you’re a BALLOOOOON! 🙂
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We are perhaps THE most qualified people on earth to do this for Aussa! Done & Done.
“Like a starfish” hahahaha! That would be so surreal….having a beer with someone you used to teach. Wow.
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OMG we need to talk. I’m (for real) thinking of starting a school here. My son is in between typical and autistic… I want to start a school!!!
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I think I might have read something from you before where you referenced you were thinking about this? Have to admit that special needs is an area I know I don’t know too much about. I use to teach private swimming lessons to a few different kids with downs and autism (one with both). I liked it – but it’s a very different experience. The few friends I have with kids with special needs certainly have mixed reviews on their educational experiences and challenges. From what I know of you, I think you’d run an amazing school if you figured it out.
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As a former early childhood educator, I used to dream of the perfect preschool. I envisioned so many things… some you mentioned here. I think “real-life” and “real-world” experiences are vital. Field visits to meet community members, frequent, daily encounters with nature, opportunities to explore the basics of life (such as cooking, sewing, cleaning, grocery shopping, budgeting, etc.).
I love these dreams….
Wishing you and yours all the best in 2014.
xoxo
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I so agree about real-world experiences. I remember talking to my mom about school in general years ago and she said she thought the purpose of school isn’t to prepare students for career (that’s what university or college is for), but to make them good/functioning members of society – so broad understanding of the world around you + how to function in it should be pretty central to the experience. It’s all those field visits + “extras” like outdoor ed, cooking etc.. that accomplish much of that.
The things I remember most fondly from school? Public speaking contests in Grade 6 – and being given the experience + the teacher who took the time to nurture/build self-confidence; field trips; band practices etc…. And I suspect the most useful class I ever took was Grade 9 typing.
Thanks so much for the comment. I think I’d have signed my child up for your dream preschool. All the best for 2014 to you as well.
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