Our children are in a tough situation. Government, Districts and Schools are too busy fighting about money to ensure a solid education for the future.
It irritates me to walk into a classroom and not see a large detailed map. A few classrooms I have been in do not even have maps. Most often, I see a sad small globe. The map has lost importance. Teachers are being forced to teach for THE test in order for their school to get the appropriate funding. Most teachers are frustrated that they are only able to teach Science and Geography occasionally.
I am also astonished at our lack of use of technology. My children have done typing tutor websites, reading games and math games online at school. In this day and age, when most work is done on a computer, why are they not doing most of their assignments using a computer? Why not? It is much easier to continually build on math skills before sending them to Calculus class, why is the attitude not the same for computers and technology? I wish it were a priority. I don't know how much more evidence we need that our children need to be very comfortable with technology. I do not think playing video games is going to be enough. Our students should be able to create spreadsheets for their data by fifth grade. If you think that sounds ridiculous, take a look around the average professional workplace. More skills are already required. It is a learn it or be left behind time.
So, enough with the rant. What do I do about this? Since the fighting continues about what should be done with our schools, I will draw from my own experience. Two very intelligent women I know, came back from a conference with a dream. This was quite a long time ago. They wanted each student to have mobile access to a computer so that they would be able to do work in the classroom using an interactive white board. They could research and create assignments on computers. The only thing our school had at the time were white boards and an outdated computer "lab". This all seemed just insane. The budget would never cover it. It would be years... No.. by the next fall, the classrooms were equipped with interactive white boards, and there was a cart full of netbooks to travel to each classroom for assignments. It seemed like an incredible dream, but it happened very quickly. I will continue to tell this story for others to listen. When we have a disability, we go to tremendous extremes to become more able. We do not let it stop us.
At home, my children are given "project ideas". They have to do the research. What? Why? When? Where? How? And of course, how much? When they are done, we go over the information to see if it really a project we would like to do. Both of my children are able to type a paper and create artwork on the computer. They are able to incorporate both into one page. I will continue. We watch youtube videos to learn how to do more projects.
Why would we not do this and much more? We have the entire world of information at our access at any time. It is easy to find more to learn.
While they work it out, I will continue to supplement with as many activities as I can. We may not go on the travel brochure vacation, but I can assure you that we waste no time. Educational opportunities do not have to be drudgery. Neither do they have to be like Magic Mountain. I refuse to allow my children to become the future housemaids of the Chinese children who are studying and learning in their free time. My children are not entitled to a childhood of video games and movies to be paid for with a lifetime of ignorance.
Please do not feel sorry for them. My children are happy. They have fun. They also understand and appreciate the value in education.
Google and Yahoo and other Internet companies based in the United States are already having a very difficult time finding qualified applicants from the US. Most of their new hires have a passport issued from another country. When will it be time to take this seriously? When it is also our local grocery store?
I won't wait for that. I will continue to speak about this until ALL of our children are being given a chance.
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