I didn't know LJ had a limit on comments Pt 1chrisssOctober 29 2003, 15:44:59 UTC
When I was young I went to Daycare, just due to the complex nature of my family's working schedule. In 1986 (I think?), I went to a Catholic Elementary school. I don't remember much of Kindergarten at all, in fact, that entire year seems like it never happened. When I hit Grade 1, for some odd reason several interests came up. I had a huge interest in Road Maps, and Meteorology. Generally speaking the teachers I had for the next couple years were willing to let me explore those interests and adapt them to assignments. Grade 3 was probably my favorite, because I was established in the class enough to not really have any bullies or problems with students. I also start learning how to use computers, even though they were Commodore 64's, I liked the idea that I could type up documents and stories and modify them without having to re-write them again and again. The school introduced the enrichment program as a weekly thing for gifted students (I had no idea I was gifted, I thought it was a randomly selected class/period), which allowed me
( ... )
I didn't know LJ had a limit on comments Pt 2chrisssOctober 29 2003, 15:50:34 UTC
However, the school was located in Oak Ridges (King Sideroad + Yonge Street), and I lived down here at Bloor Street in the west end. Class started at 9am, and went 3pm. They then gave you a 45 minute period to do your homework, and then 45 minutes of time to indulge in extra curricular activities (such as debating, computers, chess, drama, etc). Then the school busses came at 4:30 and I'd be on my way home. With an average driving time of 90 minutes each way (we had to go to Kleinberg and Nobelton for students there otherwise it wasn't feasible), I was away from home for a good 11 Hours. I had no time to socialize with what friends I had left here, nor indulge in my own interests because there simply wasn't time by the time I finished homework. And what if I didn't understand more of the work I was reading. My grandparents, although smart, were just clueless about some of the concepts being taught. Because of this, I was unable to complete my work, and the school officials decided to DROP me back one grade, to the Grade 7/8 class
( ... )
Re: I didn't know LJ had a limit on comments Pt 2briaNovember 3 2003, 09:31:59 UTC
Good point - even smart kids need to learn ways of dealing with work load.
I wonder just how many people use the internet as a way of recovering from a horrible time in school? It was very useful to me, it's free information with nobody telling you you're "not allowed to learn this until you're older," and lots of non-intimidating practice communicating with people.
Also a good point about universities. I like this idea. I bet that's how they worked in the beginning (I have memories of studying the beginning of universities in history class, but the specifics are mostly what I thought about how it worked, and how it should work, rather than the details I was taught in school).
On the CBC today, they were reading letters from people commenting on the state of the school system. Most of them were just like the comments above, but one guy said
( ... )
Wow, "ramble" is not the word I would have chosen. I'm glad you answered when you did and said what you said. This looks to me like a picture of how you would make it better. That was lovely, thank you.
Oh, same to all the rest of you too who apologised for not being... whatever it is you think you should be. This is all perfect! Just tell me what you want to tell me about the way you see the world/education system. It's all good!
Against School
anonymous
November 2 2003, 12:11:42 UTC
What the school system did to you - and to millions of others is precisely what it was designed to do. This system originated in early Victorian England and for the US in Prussia (Germany) in the nineteen century. In England there were 4 different languages spoken (called dialect) not counting P-Gaelic (Scots-Irish) and Q-Gaelic (Welsh-Cornish). The task of the school system was to beat the “dialect” as the other languages were called or the Irish out of the kids so that they would speak a standard English. It was also required that they be able to read and write well enough to read signs in factories and take written instructions as well as do simple arithmetic. Finally they had to learn the kind of discipline the would be required of them in the newly spouting factories. In Prussia there was an additional task assigned to the new school system - prepare kids for the army and all that that entails
( ... )
Comments 21
Reply
Reply
I wonder just how many people use the internet as a way of recovering from a horrible time in school? It was very useful to me, it's free information with nobody telling you you're "not allowed to learn this until you're older," and lots of non-intimidating practice communicating with people.
Also a good point about universities. I like this idea. I bet that's how they worked in the beginning (I have memories of studying the beginning of universities in history class, but the specifics are mostly what I thought about how it worked, and how it should work, rather than the details I was taught in school).
Reply
Reply
Reply
Oh, same to all the rest of you too who apologised for not being... whatever it is you think you should be. This is all perfect! Just tell me what you want to tell me about the way you see the world/education system. It's all good!
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment