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Home › Diaries › Amanda › October 27, 2006

Amanda's Diary Entries

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Vegetation--Education Style

October 27, 2006

My husband and I are looking around at neighborhood schools.  We agree on several points:  1.  He will not attend our public schools; 2. We don't want to switch him from school to school between grades; and 3. It has to fit both of our ideals for our son's education.  For my husband, this last means not being hit over the head with the religion-stick (he's Jewish).  For me, I want to see newer, more effective methods of education in place.  I'm a veteran educator, and while I've never taught elementary school, I know that many educational paradigms of the 1950's have been shattered in favor of more successful learning strategies. 

But I bore you with all of this background.  Let me continue with the juicy stuff.  Last spring we went to an open house at a relatively new elementary school in the neighborhood.  It's pre-K through 3rd right now, and they intend to add a grade every year.  We were impressed.  It's not a religion-based school, so it fits Ben's criteria.  In addition, they focus on experiential learning-- absolute hands-on.  Every day there are exercise periods, pretend-play sessions, computers available at the children's learning level, experiments to do, and music to enjoy.  There were lots of mats and learning stations/tables.  Cai loved it.  He ran all over and played with their toys, which they didn't mind and which surprised us, since he tends to be shy in new situations.  We got on the long waiting list, and we are assured there will be a spot open for him in the preschool next year.

But just to be sure, we went to an open house at the local Catholic grade school last week.  Oh dear.  Not only were even the kindergartners in rigid rows, all gaping forward while their teacher lectured, but the tour was very much geared for the parents and not for the accompanying children, as Cai was glared at when he tried to play with what games were available, and when we went into the computer lab we were actually asked to keep him away from the power buttons.  (I have no problem with that concept, but why lecture about server security in a "fragile" environment while bored toddlers have nothing to do?)  After she bragged, while my son and another toddler raced down the enticing hallway, how quiet it was every day in the school hallways, and then remonstrated how every student was required to attend confirmation class, we left.  And as we learned from the brochures, they only have one recess a day and two gym periods a week.  Can anyone else say obesity epidemic?

In two weeks I have another meeting to attend.  This one is at a church my son and I recently started to attend.  We like it very much-- Cai even enjoyed the nursery, after he was pulled off of me screaming-- and I just found out they're starting a school next fall.  The church is fairly open and non-denominational , so it should fit Ben's criteria.  And I asked them about activities, and they believe strongly that the body is the Lord's temple and as such much they have frequent recesses and outings.  Yay!  But I'm trepidatious about starting him at a school that hasn't even opened yet.  If it closes, he's going to have to switch...

What a quandry.  It's hard to think of my little man-- who never stops unless very, very sick-- sitting still for school.  But I suppose we must all learn.  But as long as we don't go the way of the prison-like parish school, he should be well on his way to an active education.  And a culture-defying waistline!



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