Comments on: The Epic Adventure of Schooling Children. Alternate Title: You Thought Child Labor Was Illegal?

By: tiffani

tiffani — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:41:58 +0000

Seriously…cut the cord already and leap into homeschooling. You know you want to…

By: Dharmamama

Dharmamama — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:45:00 +0000

Reading “20 minutes” made my heart twist up and hurt. School is f-ing inhumane. When does he have time to dream? Time for his very deep thoughts to germinate and grow? No wonder the poor guy is stressed. Twenty minutes?! Oy.

By: Stepiphany

Stepiphany — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:40:20 +0000

I read the entry you linked to but I’ll comment here. I so wish I could have understood my son the way you do yours. I was so young and insecure and those experts always seemed so sure of themselves. I swung back and forth between letting him blaze his own path and trying to force him to adjust to the institutional norms. I wish I had some answers for you, but I think you’ll figure it out just fine. You’re tough.

By: rimarama

rimarama — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:37:27 +0000

He’s totally right. And you know what else? I remember always being hungry at school and it messing up my ability to concentrate. They didn’t give us enough snacking opportunities, and I say this in all seriousness.

By: Karly

Karly — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:50:49 +0000

TWENTY MINUTES? What the HELL? That isn’t much time at all! You get longer than that at an actual factory! Geeze!

By: mpotter

mpotter — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:52:07 +0000

unfortunately, 20 minutes ISN’T enough time… having taught first grade for 7 years, i can only say that most teachers tend to agree. but the people in charge never get input from the people who know. (*ahem- legislation)
it’s gotten worse with No Child Left Behind (don’t get me started). and basically, if it’s not on THE test, there’s no time for it.

i gave my kids a recess every day; even if it had to be in the classroom. i firmly believe they need some unstructured time to be, i dunno- KIDS… however, i taught w/ 2 teachers who felt the pressure of THE test, and their kids only went out sometimes.

equally sad is with the economy the way it is right now; i feel pretty sure they’re about to cut the arts out of school as well. (and continue to overcrowd the classes)

luckily for payton he has parents who are involved and engage him on your own. not every kid has that. should it always fall on you?? of course not. but kudos for taking care of it b/c the system is sh*tty.

By: jeanie

jeanie — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:01:01 +0000

20 minutes – to my mind – is really carp – and then they expect him to have scoffed his lunch AND applied to the gifted program within that time? Something doesn’t add up there – either they don’t really want to fund too many gifted placements (based on my experience with extra music in our school) OR they don’t understand kids – both of them quite scarey, hey?

By: Amy @ Milk Breath & Margaritas

Amy @ Milk Breath & Margaritas — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:28:37 +0000

Poor guy.

20 minutes isn’t a lot. Makes me think I should ask how much my kid is getting. 30 I think, but really I’m not positive. I know Shark’s lunch period is way too short. They can’t even talk to each other or they won’t have time to eat! I hate that.

By: Janet

Janet — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:17:55 +0000

My kid has social anxiety and he got accepted into the gifted program recently and I’ve noted some SERIOUS improvement, so really hon, it’s not far-fetched to still be awaiting that “moment” you’re talking about. I really hope he gets accepted this time!

By: Cat

Cat — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:30:02 +0000

Isn’t this whole “waiting for him to outgrow the social awkwardness” thing a little bit pot/kettle Heather? I’m just saying…

Maybe it’s time for Payton to start blogging.