Thoughts on the Education

Just having a few thoughts about education. Why on earth are we making the obvious difficult?

Health/Activity: I was reading an article about how to cut down on childhood obesity and boost healthy nutrition. One way to decrease this problem is to serve real breakfast and lunch during school hours and allow the students to have recess for at least 15-20 min a day. My children eat breakfast from a bag every morning with milk and juice. They usually have some starch/bread (mini pancakes, sausage biscuits, french toast, breakfast dog, cereal, etc). What ever happened to the days of a real hot breakfast served on a plate with grits, fruit, oatmeal, etc. Not only does it provide the students with a moment to get their minds ready, it also reduces waste! (My next blog by the way). Why not encourage students/parents to bring healthy snacks or even allow the students to make healthy snacks during class. [Make an apple man, string-o-popcorn, etc] Do be afraid to teach the children about sharing and doing assignments with healthy food [multiplying, understanding cells, classifying rocks].

Recess: What is that? My children have gone to recess approx. 20 times out of 100 days. Why?? Apparently for various reasons. "We have a lot of information to cover." explains one teacher. "It's to cold and I'm allergic to the elements (grass, trees, sun)." states another. "We just don't have time everyday and children misbehave!" mims the last. All reasons that can be controlled by the educator in charge of his/her class. Or maybe the administrators make them feel that allowing students to release the energy that is bottled up inside or have down time is a waste of time. They must sit studiously and quietly during instruction time ALL day. No not all students are deprived of being able to "play", "talk freely", "socialize", and "release" for a few minutes. But, a lot of them are! What can be done? Simple allow the students to have recess or free time and serve "real lunches".

Well, well, well when things aren't working so well in school what happens, everything is thrown back to the parents. Most children spend at least 7-10hrs a day at school, 8-10hrs sleeping and the other 4-9hrs in transition, or doing something related to school. Where is the down time each day?? Consider the great American child's life: Our children spend about 5 hours with us each day and about 2 doing something non-school related! Interesting.

Volunteer at school: Not possible with all teachers or schools. Some teachers feel as though the parent/s are being "helicopters" or "evaluators". Some parents are. Solve that, have a resource room available for parents to come in after they have given their babies a hug, kiss and let go. If you need things made, copied, done, put it in the teacher/parent resource room. When you need stuff, create a helping hands bulletin and allow the parents to pull from the bulletin and bring when possible. Utilize PTA funds for things needed in the classroom. Parents pockets do get thin!! Have a sign up sheet for parents to come and help during specific celebrations or times to help with groups of students. Parent do want to help, but sometimes are met with resistance and reluctance from teachers.

Most important: Academics: Yes, you must know by now that I have a child who is not particularly excited about school but they love it. (Oxymoron I know) Being a teacher, I am all for academics and making sure that students understand "book stuff". But in the same breath, I want to be sure that my child and other students understand how to be productive citizens. Every child will not get A's or be on the Principals List, but every child must be educated. Each child can excel in an area that they are great in. What educators should do is try to hone in on those undercover skills/interests/qualities/learning styles/abilities/talents and develop the students love of academics from that. How can we get children to excel and enjoy learning? Not by overloading their brains with "book stuff", I assure you. If they enjoy learning, the academic part will come along for the ride. Help them understand how academics relates to life by allowing opportunities for true first hand, hands on experiences with different subjects. Let's have some up close and personal, real life, field trips(almost obsolete as well).


Educating students shouldn't be this difficult, mind blowing or puzzling. It's truly a common sense issue. (Depending on who's sense you are using!!)