What about curiosity?

My friend has been looking at schools for her little girl. Of all the things that were a worry about the school; testing in the first week of school to see the academic level of the FOUR year olds, curriculum guidelines, homework, target outcomes set the same for all the children because 'boys are often behind girls in their emotional development so we start them all focussing on emotional awareness regardless of their identified weaknesses' the most worrying for me was 'we have a no hands up policy in this school'. 

Pardon?

'We discourage question asking.'

Pardon?

So essentially they have a traffic light card system. If the child understands the material they put a green card on the table, if they're not too sure the orange one and if they really don't get it then the red one. The teacher then targets questions at the children who were unsure. 

There is no opportunity to or encouragement made for the children to ask questions and explore the subject for themselves. 

This horrifies me. Children are inquisitive and curious and want to know the why's and how's of things. If they can't ask questions this wonderful nature is quashed. So later how will they have the thirst for knowledge to further their education. If its suppressed and drummed out of them now how will they ever want to know more. 

It's such a Draconian system and such a travesty to the free thinking spirit of children. 

Wobbles

A couple of weeks ago I had a bit of a wobble about our decision to homeschool. We went Daddy's school reunion for starters. This is a beautiful school in a massive Victorian house set in 250 acres of woodland and grounds. The kids were lovely and there is a great Christian ethos. The secondary schools the kids go onto all say how you can tell where they come from as they are so considerate and caring of others and willing to lead. So should we be trying to find a school like this near us?

Then I was watching some of Mischief's little friends. One was colouring beautifully within the lines, another was writing her name. Have we made the right decision, would she be learning more, more quickly at preschool...

Then it happened. Mischief told granny how fossils were made. And all about magnets and polarity. 

Wobble over. 

So what if she can't colour on the line yet, who enjoys restrictions and conformity? She's enjoying expression and colour. 

So what if she can't write her name. She's got years to learn and can form some letters just fine. 

She enjoys what she enjoys and especially enjoys learning. 

They all do it though...

I'm just listening to a disturbing conversation while waiting for Mischief's gym lesson. The other mums are talking about nursery and preschool and having bad school reports because their children have been pushing and biting. 

They are comparing stories of when their children have bitten others and how it seems to be a way of establishing pecking order and refusing to be dominated because they're bigger or smaller than all the other children. 

The conclusion was 'well it's not nice but they all do it though. They have to figure out their place and make sure they're not walked over.'

It's not a phase I've come across. Mischief see other children regularly and she has been pushed and hit but she has  never done so herself. 

Just one more reason I'm happier she's not at preschool where violence is ok.