I cannot change this system and I have stopped trying. Mr. Obama was my last hope and he turned out to be a ditherer. But my kids will be fine because my spouse and I have decided to look to the school as a source of socialization and the home as a source of education.
We made several good decisions:
1) We put the TV on the curb when the first child was born;
2) We bought a piano when the first child entered elementary school;
3) We play chess every night;
4) We ignore the education experts and supplement our kids math, science, reading and writing (The teachers say they are ahead of their class but we no longer listen to them);
5) We volunteer at the school and support PTA fundraising but we no longer waste our time trying to change this system. (However, we are politically active for the first time in eliminating the education compensation system.) ; and
6) we buy pre-paid college tuition for birthday presents.
however, above that, the writers 5 observations on school, i don't agree with #2
2) Parents can not effect what children learn in school; they can only raise money and volunteer. In this way, PTA's help keep costs down and provide an alternate stream of revenue. Every conversation with anyone in the school system from teachers to principals to superintendents about academic rigor has fallen on deaf ears.
i think today they can. i think that is how this shift is going to happen - through parents and students. perhaps parents haven't been able to affect a change in the past because they didn't really believe in the change they were trying to affect. perhaps their efforts fell short because they weren't respectfully questioning what success really is. we have to get down to that first.
we are learning a ton about human trafficking and homelessness and suicide in the lab. they are all everywhere.. on so many different literal and non-literal levels. (ie: homeless isn't about a shelter, it's not houseless, it's about belonging. how many of our situations are due to homelessness.. in the classroom in our jobs, ...)
we're finding that the best way to change any of them is twofold:
1) awareness. most happen because the "victim" believes they are alone and in a sense they are... because most around them have no clue of the amount of people each affects
2) seeking the bigger than. more than looking for cures.. we're finding that zooming out.. looking at bigger than views/values.. provides organic answers... holistic preventive measures.
i like what jon jost has to say.. comment right above linked one
original article here
wow...just read it. the original article. dang.
how is it that everything is focused on finding a job.
who determined that was everyone's goal in life? i realize most people believe that is their goal in life.. but if given a minute and permission to truly reflect.. is that what we're really after?
today - we have the means for creating/enabling/sustaining our own life's passion. not a job.
i believe if/when that happens.. when people start doing that... we will need less money.. . we'll be sharing more... we will have fewer health problems.. we'll be doing what matters.. what we're meant to do.
and we'll have more time.
so - imagining we do have more time - what would we be doing with that time? i'm thinking - spend it with people, help people, listen more, swim in rich conversations...
we need to take a listen to our kids..
they are on to something.
and we're missing it.
24/7 connections with people they choose to connect with... that's the gold we're after. not a job.
lisa gansky's the mesh is a great read if you doubt the possibility of less is more.
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