their world is different

i spend a lot of time thinking about what lessons my son needs to learn in his young life in order to grow into the adult i imagine. i also spend a lot of time wondering about all the classes that are taught in schools and what, if anything, the subjects will do to help mold our children. schools have a way of getting a little lazy. unlike corporations, schools truly function on a yearly calendar.

it's very easy to say, "we've done it this way for years..." and continue doing it that way. there is so much going on that at times there isn't always time to be reflective. and even when there is, it can be daunting to be the first with new ideas. it's going to be 2010 in just a few days and our children are studying many of the same subjects and topics that we did. some in the same way too. how much math and science and poetry to they need? our world - their world - is different.

it would be powerful for schools or just a school to say, "let's teach the basics, but let's also teach lessons that will make a difference in the life of children." there are schools doing amazing jobs of teaching about the environment and nutrition by having the children learn to plant a garden, grow vegetables, cook the food and eat healthy. i just read about the first school in ny to start such a program.  the arturo toscanini elementary school in brooklyn. who will bring this idea across the bridge? and all the other ideas our children need?

wwcd: life moves fast...it may be time to slow down and assess