Is your child struggling in school? Or do you know a child who is struggling? You are not alone. Rarely does a day go by that I do not hear a story or get an email from a frustrated parent because they are watching their child struggling in school.
Chances are good it’s not your kid’s fault. Our one-size-fits-everyone models are desperately failing our kids. The elephant is in the room but no one is talking about it.
Only now we must. The kids that *have* been able to work within the confines of the system are graduating and moving on….to massive student loan debt and a job market that’s been offshored.
Google “student loan debt” for an eye opener. It is said the student loan bubble that is coming will make the housing melt down pale in comparison. Read the bitter comments from kids who say I got good grades. I did everything I was supposed to do. And know I have $100,000 in student loan debt and I’m unemployed. And this from kids who “succeeded” in school! There are untold numbers of others who processed through the system who will end up on our welfare rolls or in prison as they lack any marketable skills, much less the ability to think or reason. I can’t imagine the hopelessness these kids must feel. The system that was said to prepare them is…betraying them.
Back in my nursing days, I observed that many times folks don’t want to go to the doctor until something DEMANDS attention. They ignore the little pains until it turns into a big (and more costly) pain.
If you’ve got a 3rd grader who is struggling or a 5th grader who hates school, may I suggest you heed the early pains sooner than later? And here’s a hint…I don’t think it’s your kid that needs to go to the doctor.
Education reform is more imperative now than ever before.
Filed under: ADD/ADHD, education, Public schooling, The Mother Lode Project Tagged: | child struggling in school, school reform
I agree whole-heartedly. It kills me to see kids coast through life thinking it’ll all be handed to them on a silver platter, only to find out that all the years focused on traditional “education” has equipped them with little to no real life application and experience to be responsible adults–the demands of the rote memorization in school sucks up so much energy that sometimes it really IS difficult to do anything beyond the basics for school–when do you fit in creative and free play, or apprenticeships and mentoring with adults that are successful in the things that interest them? I’m so eager to get rolling with my kids on exploring this vast world of opportunity and remember the FUN of learning!
Ashley- When I see the next generation being raised like how your raising your little angels, I am so encouraged.
You “get” this freedom thing so young in life (gee, I wonder if that has anything to do with your family) it is a delight to watch unfold. So many of us baby boomers knew things could/should be different but didn’t have a clue until we got older.
I miss seeing those little girls. And you too!
Thanks for commenting.