Ranting: Part 2

I don't have much time. Just about 10 minutes for the "Joy to the World" video to play out.

But, I wanted to follow up on another article I read. This one came form the New York Times and was about a new documentary being shown about the pressures of school and how parents are stressing their kids out because of the "kindergarten-to-high-school resume". I know this is probably more pronounced in New York City and many of the New England states, but I've seen some of this mentality even here in the Midwest. I definitely saw it in Houston.

When Zoë was but 2 years old, I was shocked to hear parents complaining about their Kindergartener not getting "enough homework". WHAT??!!?? Homework in Kindergarten? That's for remedial students, not the status quo! Or, so I thought.

If I really thought school was about academic education, I think I'd be even more tempted to home school. I've considered homeschooling on occasion, especially since I've been surrounded by some awesome friends and family who are amazing at teaching their children, and even get me excited about it. Then, I spend an afternoon working with a cranky Zoë on her regular homework, or spend an hour with Megan trying to "read" and I remember why I seriously doubt I could ever homeschool. But I digress.

To me, a public education is more about learning to cope with a bunch of crazies: crazy schedules, crazy teachers, crazy authority, crazy kids, crazy homework, crazy buses, crazy ideas. It's about living in the world, and learning how to not be of the world. Yes, my daughter has picked up some ideas that I'm not thrilled with, and there are things I wish I could teach her first, instead of her learning about it from kids at school. I hear the argument that parents want to delay this until they feel their child has a good foundation and can make wise choices. I respect and understand that. I think if our circumstances (such as what school Zoë attends) were different, I might seriously reconsider public schools. And yet, I think it is important for children to recognize other authority figures, learn that many of the principles I teach at home are true outside in the "real world" and that many are not- but that we can still live up to those principles even if others don't have the same view.

Now, as for academic pressure in all this? YES! I still feel it. Having been one of the top kids (and knowing it) in nearly all my classes, I want that for my daughter. Yet, when I think about who my daughter is (any one of the four of them) I realize, their personality is different, and their goals are probably different. I don't know that any of them will graduate Valedictorian. And, part of me secretly wishes they all would! But, another part of me knows that they are smart, and can do well (if they overcome their individual inhibitions and laziness). I want to give each daughter opportunities to try new things, both curricular and extracurricular, without overloading and bombarding them and stressing them out.

Will they get into Ivy League or top-tier schools? Who knows!? Do I care? On some level, (but they have to go to college), but I really care more that they learn how to do well, to find an area they can feel comfortable in, and areas they can learn to push themselves. I want them to experience success, and build on their failures. This doesn't mean that I'll be having them sit for the PSATs in 8th, 9th, and 10th grades. I don't even know if I'll sign them up to take the SAT more than once.... unless it is what SHE wants to do! (I signed up to take the ACT three times, once even in a different state, just so I could qualify for a scholarship; it was supported by my parents, but not demanded or even really expected).

I'm still holding out on driving my kids to 4 different activities every night of the week; sports and or music lessons, clubs, play dates, etc. So far, I've managed to keep things to a minimum, but I don't think that'll happen much longer.