Posted in Homeschooling
Have you ever looked at an egg that youve gotten from the supermarket? I mean, have you looked closely? These eggs have been carefully picked and screened for color, size, and quality. Theyre supposed to look the same. And yet, even these eggs have subtle differences to them. One is a little more oblong than the other, or one has more texture than the next. But still, theyre all supposed to be the same. While we may crave uniformity, we must force that uniformity on uniquely created products.
In every classroom in America, dozens of neatly arranged desks sit row upon row like egg cartons. There is a tip of the hat or two to a childs individuality, such as a name on a desk, but really it is just assumed that every child is the same. Your child is the same as my child. Theyre expected to sit orderly in their seats all day, with periodic breaks, of course. For all children should give the same answer, all children should talk the same way, and all children are supposed to learn the same way.
That is the theory, anyway.
In reality, children and eggs are uniquely created. There are small, brown ones, jumbo, white ones, big, brown ones, and even a few speckled ones. They dont look the same because they arent the same.
Children are even more unique on the inside. One child is as unique as the next, with likes, dislikes, thoughts and actions that are different from everyone else in the world. And yet our culture thinks we should stratify our children into layers called grades and cartons called classrooms and make sure they all fit the mold. Why? Because thats the way the system works.
My children are different from Grade AA Fancy Extra-Large. In fact, Im not sure that theres even a name for my children beyond the ones Ive already given them. They are uniquely designed, uniquely created and they uniquely learn at their own pace. My son may not learn music or history as quickly as my daughter. Does that mean he has to keep going until he masters it? He would if I was trying to turn out every child the same. But this would be a great disservice to him. Instead, he deserves every shot at music or history, but if his talents lie in math or language, its unreasonable for me to base his performance on some prototypical renaissance child that can do everything equally well. He is the best at being himself, and my goal is to make sure that he gets the chance to make the most of it. While I need to know where my child's strengths lie by grading his work and helping him improve, I will not push him to get straight A's or even straight B's. I want him to find his passion and follow it.
In every classroom in America, dozens of neatly arranged desks sit row upon row like egg cartons. There is a tip of the hat or two to a childs individuality, such as a name on a desk, but really it is just assumed that every child is the same. Your child is the same as my child. Theyre expected to sit orderly in their seats all day, with periodic breaks, of course. For all children should give the same answer, all children should talk the same way, and all children are supposed to learn the same way.
That is the theory, anyway.
In reality, children and eggs are uniquely created. There are small, brown ones, jumbo, white ones, big, brown ones, and even a few speckled ones. They dont look the same because they arent the same.
Children are even more unique on the inside. One child is as unique as the next, with likes, dislikes, thoughts and actions that are different from everyone else in the world. And yet our culture thinks we should stratify our children into layers called grades and cartons called classrooms and make sure they all fit the mold. Why? Because thats the way the system works.
My children are different from Grade AA Fancy Extra-Large. In fact, Im not sure that theres even a name for my children beyond the ones Ive already given them. They are uniquely designed, uniquely created and they uniquely learn at their own pace. My son may not learn music or history as quickly as my daughter. Does that mean he has to keep going until he masters it? He would if I was trying to turn out every child the same. But this would be a great disservice to him. Instead, he deserves every shot at music or history, but if his talents lie in math or language, its unreasonable for me to base his performance on some prototypical renaissance child that can do everything equally well. He is the best at being himself, and my goal is to make sure that he gets the chance to make the most of it. While I need to know where my child's strengths lie by grading his work and helping him improve, I will not push him to get straight A's or even straight B's. I want him to find his passion and follow it.
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