Monday was Will's music program and "Graduation."
First was the program--it was really cute and all the kids did a wonderful job singing their Baptist songs. I wish Will would sing half as well for Primary...
Then, the graduation ceremony. Complete with caps and gowns. And converse.
These were his 2 teachers and more loving wonderful ladies could not be found. I was so hesitant about sending him to preschool (technically Mother's Day Out) but I was very happy with their program and curriculum.
Now off to Kindergarten, which is a whole other can of worms. Feel free to stop reading now while I
complain discuss my hesitations about sending Will to school.
- I am not against public school, or formal schooling.
- I know teachers are extremely hard working, loving and mostly have their hands tied.
- apparently I am an odd-ball when it comes to schooling philosophy
Ok, about 2 weeks ago I took Will to our elementary school's "story time" for incoming kindergartners. First we went on a tour then to the library the story time and information for parents. And here's my opinion on the whole thing:.
First, the tour started in a kindergarten classroom. There were no toys (blocks, kitchen etc) there was nothing on the cinderblock walls, there were no windows, there were no easels, markers, art work, carpets, there were no tables ( just desks) with math worksheets on the desks, no bathrooms. Only florescent lights. I immediately got a pit in my stomach and thought "I can't do this, this goes against everything I believe about early childhood education! I can't send my free-spirited, happy-go-lucky boy here!" Even jail cells have windows and bathrooms!
The rest of the tour consisted of more dungeon-like rooms and much bragging about the school's technology. I am sorry people, I don't need more suggestions of apps for my children. I don't want to know how much time they play games on computers at school. And how the standardized testing works. Did you know the kindergartners have to take standardized tests now? Guess what that means for teaching?
Then they show the kids a movie in the library (there was one book read). Cause that's what school is pretty much about. Tests and movies (Elle watched Monsters Inc today by the way...)
I was just so bothered by the whole experience. Will didn't seem too phased by it; he mostly wants to ride the bus. I seem to be the only one having issues with the whole experience.
I really think kids should spend most of their time outside. In the sun and wind and even snow. They should be touching and exploring and experiencing things first hand, not just from a screen. You know that part in Anne of Green Gables (movie) when the new teacher shows up and suddenly the music is cheery and the kids are outside, sketching, learning about nature? That's pretty much how I feel. Let's compare for fun, shall we?
Our good school:
What I would like:
A Montessori or Waldorf style class room. Preferably with garden or farm chores.
There are no Waldorf schools here and only one Montessori and it doesn't matter because we could not afford it. So I am back to thinking about homeschooling again. And yet, after praying and pondering, I didn't really get a strong conviction that I must homeschool him. Maybe he's capable of thriving in that kind of environment and it won't ruin his spirit (it would sure ruin mine!). I didn't go through this with the girls because they went to very different kindergarten environments--places I felt were comfortable and appropriate for little learners.
So there I am. I think we are just going to try it out, as sad as that makes me feel. He's excited to go to real school and he's a good learner and student. He'll probably do fine, but I look at this as the end of his childhood. The more kids don't "play" the more they lose the ability to do it. Already so many of his friends can't figure out how to play unless there's a video game console in front of them. They are lost when they come to our house!
At least I have this summer with all my kids home. We had a brainstorming session of what our days will be like. It was fun and I'm looking forward to the time with them all.
