I've been saying it for years.

[gwyndolyn]

There's just too much pressure being put on tiny little kids, who hardly even get the chance to BE kids anymore- and no, this isn't isolated. The majority of schools are like this atm, and more are going this route every day. Scary, and it's the kids who suffer.

I'm so glad we homeschool!

Comments

[phenomenull]

"too much testing too early was sucking the soul and spirit out of their children's early school experiences."

I have noticed that the schools have put a lot more work on kids than I remember doing when I was little. Luckily, my daughter has been able to keep up and excel. I don't pressure her to be the best. Just her personal best. She does well. The thing I don't like about public school is the intelligent design crap they're wanting to teach in science class. Religion does not belong in school.

[gwyndolyn]

Yeah, they're piling more and more work on kids, and when they DARE to try to act like kids, they scream 'they need Ritalin!!'. Kindergarten used to be for learning your letters and everything, now you're supposed to already be reading. Kids just can't be kids anymore.

[ceetar]

and, as far as I can tell, they give the kids less and less freedom too. I've subbed some in the last years, and i know this sounds cliche, but I know i/my grade was never as rowdy and crazy as they were. 7th and 8th graders are no long allowed out for lunch. They've created rules and really crack down, lateless, etc. Instead of giving the kid(even in highschool) the responsibility to make up their work if they're late, to face the real consquences of their actions, rather than strict punishments to make them fall in line. They have to show ID to enter the school, are only allowed in and out of one door during lunch..

they pile on the work more and more, and no longer allow them to carry backpacks to class, But they assign lockers, so that there is not even the option of trying to pick a locker that they can easily get to between most classes to exchange books. And when they have to go out of their way..then they're late and get punished for it.

*shrug*

[gwyndolyn]

Yeah, they definitely do. Many schools have done away with recess entirely in favor of 'teaching the test'. I know of a 7 year old boy who didn't know what recess WAS. It's insane. Kids need time to be kids! The Nazi-like structures of schools these days are just insane. And the zero-tolerance policies most of them have are really more like zero-brain. They've expelled kids for things like sharing lemon drop candies with their friends. Any freedom is going to help kids think for themselves; they don't want that. They want easily controlled little worker bees who will submit unquestioningly to authority.

Ugh, I know about all the work. I'm always telling people that parents end up homeschooling anyway- at least here in Ohio, the teachers teach the tests all day- then give the basics as about 4 hours of homework a night, where the parents have to pick up the slack. I just cut out the middleman, and do it all here LOL.

But I'm not like, opinionated about it or anything ;P

[gornac]

Dam Skippy! Train those little nazis!

[gwyndolyn]

Hahaha, yeah that about describes it.

[shuckins]

It could be worse. I went to 12 years of Catholic school and I would never wish that on anyone.

Seriously, I had not realized that the times had changed THAT much. Sign of the times? Oh, God, I hope not.

[gwyndolyn]

Yeah, unfortunately, I think it is