Tell me what you really think.
I worry more about us as a society each year I spend in the classroom. There are so many other priorities going on in ed these days.Basic skills are vital, but so are music, art, drama, physical exercise, and electives that help children learn creatively. Our un-tested subjects are in grave danger of disappearing. Then, as a high school teacher, it is discouraging that the students' jobs, social lives, cars, video games, i-pods, computers etc... are WAY more important than even coming to school, much less achieving there.
Maybe this is already on state standardized tests (I don't yet know), but if it's not...perhaps there should be a section on Basic Life Skills. Test seniors on whether they know how to balance a checkbook, say "excuse me" when bumping into someone, recognize Van Gogh's "Starry Night", can find the SILENT MODE button on their cell phone...you know, those sorts of things. That's a test I could get behind.
As far as blaming your shortcomings on your background, I came to a conclusion some time ago regarding that.
As soon as a person identifies that something in their past is causing them to act a certain way, they have the obligation to take responsibility for their actions. They can either admit that they don't care enough about that aspect of their lives to change, or they can take steps to change. I'm not saying that changing is easy, I know for certain that it isn't, but at that point, at the point where you know what you are doing and why, the blame game is over.
I could go on and on blaming my little sister for my housekeeping skills. See, she was a perfectionist, and if I left something out for a mere 15 minutes, she'd be there picking it up. Made childhood chores rather easy. I realize this now, but I don't blame her. It is up to me now to take the initiative and actually clean my house. I am not very good at it, but the laundry gets done (eventually), the dishes get done (daily, usually), and all those other chores that have to be done, will get done only if I (or someone in my household) do them, and has nothing at all to do with what my sister is doing at the time, or has ever done.
I try to tell this to people, and they don't seem to understand. Maybe children are being raised with too much dependence on others, so they have difficulty seeing themselves as a whole without someone there influencing them. A librarian friend commented once on the number of parents going to the library and doing their children's homework, cause "they're still kids and should be able to have fun." Doesn't much teach them to take resonsibility for themselves, does it?
Your mention of video gamers reminded me...On a recent trip to the water ice store in town a couple of boys my son's age (9) ran up to him and the one who didn't know him asked, "What school do you go to?" Luke said he was homeschooled; the other boy there knew this and had no doubt told his friend. The kid immediately asked, "Do you play video games while your mom teaches you?" "Um, no, we have books," was Luke's answer as he looked at him with one eyebrow raised. The boys ran away snickering. Luke walked away sort of confused, probably thinking, "Why would I play video games while I was doing my work?" I left feeling a bit annoyed at the boys' behavior, ignorance and total lack of imagination of the possibility of a lifestle different from their own.
I, too, worry about our society. I see a society of "what's in it for me" instead of "how can I make things better"?
I see folks who have so much to do with frivolous stuff/activities, they have no time to spend as a family.
I see children who demonstrate no respect for themselves or others.
Yes, it worries me too. Alot.
Commenting by HaloScan
