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Dear Teachers,
Almost every time I write or share something anti-school, I get comments and messages in defense of teachers. I want you to know that it’s not about you, I promise.
I get that teachers are hard working. I get that many teachers care – about their students, about learning, about respecting our children, and helping them be the best they can be. The issue is the system that you’re working so damn hard in is broken and robbing children of freedom.
Even in alternative education – where some of the negative values of schooling are taken away or minimised – so much of the system is ineffective and potentially damaging. Reforming the system isn’t the answer… and the real answer (for those who cannot or don’t want to home educate) isn’t profitable or simple.
To use an analogy, for me it’s like a religious worker of an opposing belief (I’m a non-believer, not that it matters) – I can see and appreciate that they’re doing great work and incredible things… but in a system (and for a cause) that I don’t agree with.
I don’t agree that children need to be in institutionalised education for hours a day every weekday for their whole childhood and youth. I don’t agree that they need to know all the same things or that they learn the same way. I don’t believe that their learning needs to happen separate to the rest of their life. I don’t believe that they should be made to obey and conform (academically, socially, behaviourally, etc). I don’t believe learning needs to be ‘made fun’. I don’t believe that education is something done TO children.
Many educators say “schools are different now” and “as teachers we now study xyz in higher education” as though we don’t know other kids in our current education system and hear what it is like… or that schools don’t have older teachers… or that school still doesn’t adhere to a curriculum.
I also understand that some of the negative aspects of school are pretty unavoidable within the system. I get that worksheets make it easy to distribute information to kids. I get that you have to tick boxes that are out of your control. I get that you have 20-30 kids in your care. I get that some kids don’t have parents that raise them well. I get that kids have to have permission to talk, or use the toilet and wait to eat because it could be chaotic otherwise or potentially unsafe. I understand… I just don’t think it’s right or ideal.
(I don’t agree that kids need these things to best dating sites for teens or endwalker early access date)
I get that many teachers do all they can to minimise the negative effects of the system of schooling. Some don’t teach to the test, or set homework, or punish kids, or put too much emphasis on competition, or expect children to learn the same thing in the same way at the same time, and so on.
But many do.
And it’s a luck-of-the-draw lottery every new year and/or subject as to whether a child will get a teacher that genuinely understands learning outside of this context of schooling. That’s not a gamble I’m willing to make for my kids.
I hope you understand. It’s not about you. It’s about them. It’s about children.
Further Reading:
- https://www.racheous.com/dating-apps-gold-coast/ by Peter Gray (I read this one after making the decision to unschool and spent the entire book enthusiastically nodding along!)
- sa dating siteby John Holt (and indeed ALL of John Holt’s works)
- https://www.racheous.com/dating-app-profile-picture/ by Ben Hewitt.
Thank you for reading!
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My neighbour is a biology teacher in high school and she believes school not only robs children but it robs teachers too. She sees kids every day with special talents and specific enthusiastic interests in certain areas of a subject, and she would love so much to dedicate time to explore those talents and interests with the kids but she can’t because she has to follow such a rigid system, not to mention all the paperwork and red-tape she needs to find time for. And marking!! Soooo much marking.
Schools aren’t the problem it’s the entire system. It needs to be turned completely on its head and that will mean entirely changing everybody’s way of thinking of ‘education’. Not an easy task…
Difficult=/=impossible. : )
I taught in the public school system for almost 20 years. I knew so many teachers that gave heart and soul to help kids learn. I taught in schools where the culture was child-centered, where there were resources available, and involved parents. I saw many kids that were thriving in school. But you are right, it’s a gamble. Even in the very best school, with a great teacher, there are kids that don’t fit and would do better in a different setting. I homeschool because I want my kids to have the advantage of a completely flexible and individualized education. It’s the difference between an institution (even if it is a truly benevolent one) and a family.
I feel that we are lucky to be able to choose how we educate our kids. Wether homeschooling or school. The way I see it I will always be my children’s teacher from when they were first born even when they go to school into adulthood. There shouldn’t be this us or them with school and home school.
A nice letter .. I just wish as a mum who is sending my child to school I didn’t wince when you are talking about ‘robbing children of their freedom’ – I can’t help but feel judged by you (although I know you neither know me nor care how I choose to raise my kids). I don’t agree with many things about the school system but your description makes it sound like I am sending them to prison instead of school and just as you probably have felt judged for your choices.. I must tell you, that hurts.. For I value my children’s freedom, self and childhood every bit as much as you do – I just cannot afford not have the inspiration, energy or motivation to home educate. I take my hat off to you for your courage and spirit.
I hear you – it does sound harsh and can be hard to hear. But sometimes that uncomfortable feeling is useful and I like to question things.
School does take away children’s freedom in many ways. If it is compulsory by definition then they are not free.
People are more or less comfortable with that to varying degrees. I am not at all comfortable.
I am currently an early childhood educator, have been for 2 years now. I started reading your blog and others similar like happiness is here, about 6 months ago and it changed my whole world. I don’t see myself being in this profession for long now. But in the meanwhile your blog has helped me tremendously in understanding children better, in being respectful to them, in seeing them as equal. The whole way I interact with any child now is totally different and more aligned with my beliefs that children are whole people. it also helped me to be vocal about this with other teachers and with parents and sometimes even changing some of their ideas and ways.
Every post you’ve written touches my heart. Keep making the world a better place <3
I read this blog with the highest of interest. I became a teacher for all the right reasons. However, I struggle the entire 12 years that I taught. Until reading this blog, I’ve never met anyone who feels the same way about the system. I walked away due to the system and it’s negative impact on children. I applaud those who choose homeschooling. I would have too if I had known better 40-something years ago. Bravo to all you young independent thinkers who do not succumb to the system that is very broken.