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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Education on the Brain.

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Specifically, his education.

I signed him up for kindergarten tonight. Seriously, he was a baby when M was in kindergarten and I remember thinking we had light years ahead of us.

I have been thinking about education big time lately. Not just academics, but what kind of students I hope my kids become. What kind of things they learn, what kind of people I want them to be.

I want them to be smart, but not just book smart. I want them to be creative and silly smart. I want them to think deep thoughts that are hard to articulate and paint pictures with stories.

I just want more than the basics, but then again, don't we all?

I'm going to see the Race to Nowhere next Thursday night.

Here's a glimpse:




This movie is screening nationwide FOR FREE throughout communities. Find out if it's playing in your community and reserve your tickets. {And if you're local and going to next Thursday's showing, let me know and we can compare notes. Or sit together or something.}

I have many, many thoughts on this subject, along with standardized testing and education in general. I'm sure you do too. Tell me what do you think of this trailer (or if you've seen the whole film already, what did you think?) or what you think of education today? How do you see things in America shifting?

Related: Filling In The Bubbles.

posted by simplicity at 8:19 PM

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Samara, Wow, this movie looks really good! I love documentaries like this that probe deep in to the issue and try to find some answers as to why our system is like this. I would love to go with you - it looks like the movie is in Saint Paul? If you want, we could ride together. Or if you are going with somebody else, we could just meet. Let me know! I hope the rest of your week goes well. Say hi to Jeff for me. :)

Rachel

February 10, 2011 at 8:37 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

This post goes great with the one I posted today! As a teacher in one of the top performing public school districts in the nation, I can tell you that it IS possible to encourage creativity and inspire the love of learning in my students AND prepare them for the standardized tests. (Not that I believe such tests are the best measures of success.) In my experience, the best way to help your children become lifelong learners is to encourage them to ask questions... and to question the answers.

February 10, 2011 at 8:57 PM  
Blogger Melissa said...

wow, that's eyeopening. It's hard not to get caught up in all of the nonsense...even as a mom of a 3 yr old.Everyday when she is sent home from preschool she gets a daily report card charting her progress and my eyes always go straight to the section where she gets 1-5 stars depending on her overall behavior. Is it bad that I expect 5 stars everyday?I know it is , but I already feel like it's a competition and every now and then I just want my kid to be a kid!I definitely am going to see this movie.Thanks for the insight!

February 12, 2011 at 9:14 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

WOW. I know you and I have had many conversations around this subject, but when you hear the words coming from the kids, it breaks my heart. There is SO much I want for my kids, but "book smarts" in only a piece of the pie. There is so much more to living this life we've been given. I really want to see this movie!! Thanks for sharing.

February 12, 2011 at 9:49 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Kindergarten? Craziness. I know you say it time and again, but they really do grow like weeds!

February 15, 2011 at 8:52 PM  

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