Teaching and childhood...

When I saw this quote, I knew that I had to post it along with a thought or two. This past week I have had three encounters with people where the conversation focused on teaching and/or kids in school.

The first round was with a volunteer at the hospital who has been a school volunteer in the same kindergarten classroom for many years. Last year, the teacher retired. My friend continued to volunteer, and is now shaking her head at how things have changed. The kindergarten kids were being pressed to sound out a word in an effort to spell it correctly on 3 different worksheets. She stated:

"A fine goal, but the kids don't know all of the letters yet...never mind their sounds. There is no naptime anymore...that 20 minutes is programmed to meet educational objectives. Whatever happened to playtime...recess...socializing with friends on the playground? "

There is not enough time.

I had to agree that in the last 10-15 years, being a kid in the classroom did not easily include many activities where the word 'happy' can be integrated. That is, unless the teacher could find a way to tap into the creative side of presenting those 'educational goals'. One cannot underestimate the power of a teacher who enjoys learning with the kids, with the same to be said for those who are there solely to present information enroute to the paycheck.

The second encounter was with a former colleague who finds herself returning to the classroom after raising her children to school age. She is so excited to be there and at the same time overwhelmed at the differences between the public school where we taught together and the private school where she is doing a long term sub position until the end of the year. Most of the conversation kept coming back to the kids. Sometimes you really have to reach to inject some creativity [ and 'happy'] into paper and pencil tasks. There is not enough time.

The third encounter[s] involved two friends whose children are now teachers. One is anxiously awaiting confirmation that she will indeed have a job next year due to the massive amounts of cuts to budgets since balancing a [state]budget seems to be a thing of the past. The other has lost the thrill of it all. My best advice that I can think of for that situation: "It is what it is."

And the serenity prayer line that says 'change the things you can'.

Here's another picture that I had added to my collection just because I liked it. I knew that at some point it would speak to an issue:

Visual learners are often lost in the sea of words in paper/pencil tasks. And some fresh air might help renew the effort...if you take the time.

Dogs could be the poster 'image' for the importance of romping around outside in the fresh air for a spell!

Everyone needs to stop and smell the roses.