Discuss: Unplugged Schools

Schools should prepare children for the roles available in our society, the activities or needs of our society.  our civilization.  Not our “economy”.

Currently this is not the case:  Schools try preparing everyone to go to college.  They should be preparing 20 percent or so of students to do the jobs illegal immigrants are doing.  In addition, most retail management jobs require little more than an 8th grade education and vocational training. 

The rest of school should simply be civics and arts and sports.

I agree with what Holly Smith has expressed so well. We had our early closing yesterday and were engaged in professional development using “smart goals” and assessment . There was a group of us who pointed that the pendulum has swung too far and discussed this disconnect , and the need to invest in idetity and nature to be global citizens. I have grown plants and maintained an aquarium in my classroom which was tended to by everyone in the class. Today’s classroom are rich in “plugged ” items and it is a rare sight to see involvement with Nature. When I volunteered in the schools in India over the summer , I noticed how well balanced and happy the youngsters were , carrying worms and butterflies while enjoying the view from the window of birds flying around! My own fond memories was my principal requesting us to have a vegetable garden and enjoying the tomatoes we grew! Time to recapture our connection with Nature!

The New York Times Magazine, February 17, 2008

Taking Play Seriously
By Robin Marantz Henig

What can science tell us about why kids run and jump?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/magazine/17play.html

NPR Morning Edition, 2.21.2008

Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills

by Alix Spiegel

Researchers say imaginative play allows children to make their own rules and practice self-control.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514

If the suject isnt about overpopulation not worth discussing. How about making the parents pay for their schooling. If they had to Pay the Full Price the bith rate would drop to zero. Same with cost of Birth, the birth rate would drop to zero. Ban all school buse and let them move their fat asses and walk. Save on fuel and does the Kids good!

Some of the points in this article are good. However, considering under funding, class sizes that are huge, and No Child Left Behind this isn’t even plausible. How would they pay for and maintain the gardens? And if technology isn’t used in schools, then we aren’t preparing them for the world that they will face when they graduate. I’m a big proponent of free play for children, and community service; but I just don’t see how the school being in charge of it would ever work.

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Educators say the darndest things. Consider this from a high school social studies teacher who told me, “Kids don’t read anymore. The only way I can teach them anything is by showing them videos.