Spring is here, on both the calendar and, fleetingly, in the air. Traci and I leave Saturday for four days in New Orleans, and I’m very excited for some true Cajun cooking and a chance to chill out. Temps in the 80s… sounds good to me.
Spring is a time of transition, moving to something anyone who just lived through 3 months in Pittsburgh would say is a step up. We’re hoping it changes much more in positive ways. Both boys have been struggling with school—us too—as they struggle for discipline and enthusiasm. I’d love to blame the weather on that one. In this case I’ll blame the school. This constant focus on testing creates this ridiculous approach of ‘teaching to the tests’, and both boys are bored out of their minds. I asked Riley—who just two years ago couldn’t wait for summer to be over to go back to school—if there wasn’t anything that excited him. “Dad, even the stuff that interests me is boring. All we do is read it out of a book and then do worksheets.”
“Don’t they use the Smart Boards to show you cool things?”
“No. Just to write stuff down we need to read.”
And then they come home each day with another stack of completed worksheets, and more to finish for the morning.
I’m doubly disappointed because it’s a new school, small, very community oriented and I’d thought we’d found a unique learning environment. Not a place where my youngest, who loves to roam, is always active and needs stimulation, is forced to sit at a desk all day. Torture for him. I don’t envy the teachers having to meet the academic standards they do, but that’s not a reason alone. Just a couple years ago the same issue came up with Riley, needing to move. The teacher was amazing. She said as long as he wasn’t disrupting the class she didn’t care if he stood and listened, wandered a bit. I love that. Every kid is different, and I know it must be like herding cats, but they all need some space to grow in their own way.
And so we’re hoping a fresh attitude and a change in the weather can brighten all of our spirits. And maybe result in a fewer time outs.
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On a related spring note, Riley had his first baseball practice of the season today. It was 45 and drizzle. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 68. Tuesday's high is 40. Ah, springtime.
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