Early Learning

Is it because spring came so early or because school started earlier? Either way, it feels like it should be late spring or early fall and it is only mid summer. The long lazy hot days of summer are not yet past. Children have been robbed of the last 4 weeks of summer only to get longer breaks in the coolness of fall and winter and the early spring. Those wonderful lethargic days, too hot to play hard, just made for lazing around and letting the body rest before reasserting the mind on it search for more nourishing fodder of which to grow. Teachers have had their vacation cut short also. Are they rested enough to tackle another year of training and educating?

Do they really feed the mind nourishing fodder in school these days or are they just teaching what is needed to pass state tests? Do teachers really enjoy teaching or is it just a way to make money? Who decides what needs to be taught in order to pass those infernal tests and who makes up those same tests? Is the creativity of the teaching professional limited by having to follow so closely the lesson plans devised by the higher ups that are focused on passing the state tests?

Elementary schools of the fifties taught first the letters, including their sounds; then the writing; then the math; then the reading. Writing over and over again, flash cards, more writing - a child would think their hands were going to fall off. Teachers came up with innovative games to help us learn and it worked. We had repetitive writing exercises and worked in groups with flash cards while the teacher worked one on one with those that were having problems. We learned and it stayed with us. We read to the class, the teacher read to the class and we learned that reading was important. The written word was important and that correct grammar mattered.

My teachers knew they were teaching the future of this great nation and what they taught governed how these future leaders would perform. They took their time and did it right. They focused on the learning not on the tests.

Today is the first day of school for a multitude of students. These children are our tomorrow. Parents, help them to understand the importance of learning and how much fun it can be. Teachers please take the time to teach and instill the joy of learning in these children. It can make all the difference in the rest of your school year(s) and theirs.

A nourished mind stays inquisitive and eager to learn.