Mother: So what did you learn today at school?
Son: I don't know
Mother: K..So what did you do in History?
Son: Talked about Reality Town, where based on your GPA you are given money and a job.
Explanation and How my mother brain is thinking..as follows: A low GPA gets you less money, you drive a crappy car, and you are then a worker at the Circle K. Higher GPA gets you more money, a nice car, and a job as a doctor. (I'm sure I don't understand the whole logistics of it, but basically they are trying to give you an idea of what your life will be like as an adult) I don't like this because they are inevitably telling children that if they get low grades they can't be successful. They are trying to scare them. Which I don't agree with. I don't think grades have anything to do with intelligence. I feel like this concept shames children and embarrasses them in front of their peers because they aren't measuring up to the standards that the school sets for them through testing, grades etc. However I do understand that they are trying to instill incentives and rewards. But somehow it just doesn't feel right to me. .....end of my brain waves in this matter.
Mother: What did you learn in Health?Son: Nothing. I don't know.
Mother: What did you learn in Science?
Son: I really don't know.
Mother: You were there ALL day. You should know what you learned.Son: You know what? I have no idea because my mind shuts off when I am bored.
AHHH! My child deliberately shuts his mind off at school!!! (I actually remember doing this myself in jr. high and high school!) I think his mind has been bored and stifled his whole education thus far. His creativity has not even been tapped in that environment! I think he's suffered at the hands of the school system for a long long time. I really do. And I am sad and frustrated and feel like we need an alternative here cause this is not working!!! Is it too late to get my children a wonderful education? One where they are excited and motivated to learn? And praised every single day? And their goodness is focused on? And their mind is brought to life? And they are measured by who they are as an individual/creative person instead of by how they perform on tests??
And they are NOT bored???!!!
3 comments:
here are my two cents (or probably 97 cents, cuz I am just that opinionated). You are a wonderful, creativity inspiring mother. They will get the awakening of their talents from you... Sadly these days the education system is turning out and preparing little robots... not individual creations of wonder! But we, as mothers, get the exciting task of guiding their free-thinking minds!
So sad. I know this is just one example in millions. I totally agree with you - grades have nothing to do with intelligence. I know a lot of idiots with college degrees...
An amendment: I think I may have been harsh about Reality Town. I'm sure it's great in that they are trying to show kids how to spend and save money according to their paychecks. Great learning tool! But I still agree with myself about the GPA measuring way to determine what you earn.
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