Comments on: Has School Changed?

By: Missy

Missy — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 04:28:00 +0000

I really just wanted to answer these questions for myself to see how our school experience rates. I thought it might be interesting for others to see my answers and compare against their own.
Do the children choose what they want to learn now? In pre k, yes, in high school pretty much, in between, no
Are they not required to be there for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, whether they want to or not? pretty much
Do the children have bodily autonomy? pretty much, dress codes have been relaxed. The kids carry water bottles around with them and can go to the restroom as needed.
Are they still separated into groups based on age? yes, except in some high school classes
Do they get to spend as much time outside as they like? no
Are they able to engage in unstructured, free, risky play? no, risky play invites lawsuits which the schools are afraid of
Can they dress how they like? Have their hair how they like? pretty much
Can they learn about their interests? Follow their passions? yes but they are required to learn other things as well
Have they got rid of testing? Standardization? no, all kids grade 3-11 are tested yearly
Have they stopped using coercive methods to make them learn? yes , schools are becoming much more cooperative in their learning approaches
Have they ditched punishment and rewards in favour of respect? moving towards it, no punishment, less using rewards
Are the kids still isolated from real life? no
Are they still encroaching on family time with homework? not in elementary school, not much in high school. middle school -yes
Have we given up the crazy idea of a one size fits all curriculum? no, there are still standards that each person is supposed to meet at a certain age/grade level

By: Are Kids Just Mean? | Happiness is here

Are Kids Just Mean? | Happiness is here — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 10:51:52 +0000

[…] all experienced it. We know it’s true, even as we try to convince ourselves it’s ‘different‘ these days. A quick google will show you that we have increasing levels of bullying and that […]

By: Tamar

Tamar — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 03:17:43 +0000

Totally agree, except for the part that school can never change. Ok, it will never be home or the outside world, but there are models of schools that work with the unschooling principles, giving children all these choices you talked about, including the option to interact with the world. Schools still have an important place in society, there are many families who are not able to homeschool for all sorts of reason. I believe schools can have a brighter future, not for my kids but maybe my grandkids.

By: Kristen Williams

Kristen Williams — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:52:32 +0000

Sara, I am so incredibly thankful that I found your blog. I was a public school teacher for 16 years. Having the unique experience of being a teacher and a parent, I couldn’t bear putting my daughter through another year of ps. This September, 3 weeks into the new school year, I pulled my oldest from ps. I also quit my teaching job. We have never looked back and look eagerly forward to each day that brings unique learning experiences through living life! Hands down, it was the BEST decision for our family! My youngest will never set foot in a ps. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your wisdom and life experiences! You have helped us tremendously as we’ve navigated through the transition!

By: Sophie

Sophie — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 22:50:05 +0000

Thank you for writing this, it’s exactly what I think too! Feeling so free, it’s true 🙂

By: Tricia

Tricia — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 23:07:09 +0000

In reply to Cate.

One question came to mind just recently. I just wish I had realized it before, to ask the school! Several times, my son and I have been told, they have a university degree, they are smarter, so we have to do as we are told by them!? (I told my son…How intelligent are they really? My college debt was paid off within a few years after I received my certificate. They will be lucky if they have their debt paid by age 45!) However, the question is:
If they are as well educated and experienced with kids as they literally are protesting, shouldn’t this fact be reflecting in the national test scores? The national scores are falling every year. Our kids should be performing higher in than they are if the education system is as stellar as they profess it (and themselves) to be!