What the Research TELLS us to do (vs. what we actually do)

A friend posted this article on Facebook, and it really resonated with me. You can read the article in its entirety by clicking here: What the Research Tells Us To Do. I want to note that this is a friend who has her kids in public school. This is not a homeschooling post bashing public schools in the least bit. 

I am not against public schools. Or private schools. I taught in a public school. I went to a private school. My Dad taught in that school. My brother is an athletic director at a school now. Most of my family members and many of my friends have their kids in school.

But this article resonated as to why (some of our) schools are broken and why more and more parents are saying "I can't let the school do this wrong." 

For example: nearly all research indicates that children are not really ready to read until they are seven-years-old. But in the USA we are NOT listening. We are forcing kids to learn to read younger and younger when the facts are: MOST are not ready.

If you wander into a homeschool cooperative, you will find that a vast majority of the children are not reading at five or even six-years-old. That's because we are listening to the research. Almost all kids are reading by the age of seven. When the research indicates they are ready.

Another point this article touches on: "early childhood education should focus on equity, happiness, well-being and joy in learning." It's proven. It's a fact. The research shows it. 

But we aren't listening in the USA. We are:

• increasing instruction time.
• relying on standardized tests.
• requiring kids to sit and listen.
• focusing HARD on literacy and math at young ages.

Now listen: I know some schools aren't doing this. And some teachers are fighting this norm. I'm just summarizing in a general sense what this article said. 

The author finishes with this, and I agree: "This is not my feeling. This is not my opinion. This is not my philosophy. These are the facts as fas we can currently determine them. It is cruel, even abusive, to base our educational system on other people's feelings and fantasies, even if they are rich and powerful. For the sake of our children, we must demand play-based education because, damn it, that's what the evidence tells us."

We Bought a Farm: The story of a silver bowl

I'm not sure how the silver bowl ended up as a feeding dish for our animals here on the farm.

But it did.

And every time I see it, I can't help it. 

I smile a little bit.

(John does too.)

(And when I share the story with others, I see them chuckling a bit as well.)

JB graduated high school. 

Then he wrote one essay in just a few minutes and turned it in to The Fort Lauderdale Art Institute on a whim.

Art Institute liked it so much ...

they offered him a full scholarship. 

(When you grow up like John and me, the only way you go to college is a full scholarship or paying for it yourself.)

So he went.

Fast forward.

• John graduates with an Associates Degree in Art. 
• He now owns his own graphic design business. 
• I get sick. 
• He finds cure. 
• (Without use of the Internet.)
• He realizes not only people from rich families can be doctors.
• He decides to go back to school pre-med. 
• He applies to Western Kentucky University where I have just finished my four year degree.

WKU tells him they are sorry, but the Art Institute classes don't talk to Western's classes. He can't bring any of his credits with him to WKU. He will have to start over. From scratch.

So he does.

Until his advisor tells him he has to take Art Appreciation.

(Enter hilarious laughter on all sides.)

John goes to Dean's office. He tells Dean that he really thinks that despite the fact that his Associates won't connect with his Bachelor's, he should get just three credit hours for the two years he spent at the Art Institute.

Dean agrees.

Dean gives him the three credits.

Hurrah!

(I know you are thinking: what does this have to do with a silver bowl? Patience please.)

Fast forward four years. John has run his business from home while going to school full-time while I have begun teaching and coaching. He has taken the MCAT and knows he is headed to the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. 

• We go to John's college graduation. 
• We are shocked when we learn he has the highest grades in the entire Ogden College of Science and Engineering. 
• He is the recipient of a special award. 
• However, because he received that one Art Appreciation credit, he doesn't receive the very highest award. He receives the second highest award.

And that award ...

(I see you tracking with me!)

It is a silver dish. 

It has John's name engraved on the side. 

We laugh now at the memory of John getting knocked down a level in awards because he got that one stupid Art Appreciation credit.

And we laugh that the silver bowl that we were both so proud of, has gone down in importance over the years. Medical school and the Air Force and four kids and a farm has taken over and at some point, we were short a food dish and someone brought out John's old award. 

We actually like it being a food dish on the farm.

It says a lot.

Without saying anything at all.

P.S. Here are some pictures I found in an old scrapbook of that day back in 2003. (This was before digital photos ya'll.) 

Grace is sixteen today!!!

John's up on the stage receiving his award. Hard to see.