Just Words Wednesday

There were actually so many topics I wanted to cover today. I could not pick one. I decided not to get on my most controversial soapbox - sex education and I decided not to go with the least controversial subject but probably most self-indulgent -- a diatribe against people who spend time taking the wind out of other people's sails. Nicole, you know what I mean. Instead I read this interesting http://www.newsweek.com/id/157898/page1 article today about why so many parents are concerned about the educational and behavioral patterns of their sons.

I chose a charter school for my son this year because I was concerned about his lack of desire to learn. Isaac is an inquisitive child. The last two years his interest in school has fallen to almost nonexistant. I watched as Isaac's teachers taught to to the test, tried to keep kids in a box and focus on nonessential things. Isaac missed more than 15 days of school last year due to mysterious stomach aches. He has plenty of friends and so I knew friends were not the cause of what was apparently some stress induced illnesses. I watched and seethed as Isaac was told he could not read a certain book in school because it was above his "tested" reading level. Isaac was the third highest level reader in his class. I was stupefied by the day Isaac was sent to the principal two times simply because he put his hands under desk. One time he forgot to keep them on top. Seriously, who expects boys to sit that still. Luckily kids were sent 24 times that same day due to similar terrible offenses. I practically joined him in tears as we stayed up till midnight correcting math homework that had him bored to tears. If he didn't have every question right he would miss recess and PE. He often missed PE. They told me he kept getting distracted. Yes Isaac gets distracted easily, especially if he is bored. I believe lots of boys get distracted because they are bored. They are expected to sit still and fill out worksheets all day so that they can pass tests that ensure their teachers keep their good standing.
Now don't get me wrong Isaac had some wonderful teachers his first few years of school. He had one teacher I would have given my left arm to have over and over again. But by the end of last year I was so frustrated. The charter school sounded like an amazing option for Isaac.

Isaac is absolutely thriving. He comes home excited about what he is learning. He is given the opportunity to set goals and work on them at his own pace. This week he came home and told me he played a fun division game. Fun at math for Isaac. I was in shock. He wrote a petition to get an extra PE class every week. Over 95 kids signed it. I was proud of his initiative. Tomorrow he will ask if he can go dissect a frog in the science lab and they will probably let him. They have already granted similar requests (under supervision of course) Everyday he has something positive to say. Why? because finally, Isaac is not expected to sit still with his hands on his desk, filling out a worksheet answer by answer at the same pace as the rest of his class. Nobody tells him he can't sharpen his pencil or which books he can or cannot read. He gets to move and learn and explore his world like any boy should.

Rebecca is also attending the school. She is so different than Isaac. She hates change, adores a very structured atmosphere and so the jury is still out on her experience. She does love her Spanish class.

Now this is not supposed to be an advertisement for a charter school, but I do believe as the above article points out that as a nation, as parents, as educators we must reevaluate the learning norm we have set up for our growing boys.