Schools of Thought and Feeling

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“A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself.” – Bruce Lee

I once had a client tell me, with a hint of irritation in his voice, that he believed the schools of today in America were teaching kids to become socialists. There was so much in that sentence to unpack that I didn’t even touch it. But I remembered thinking at the time, that it probably had more to do with his relationship with his kids than anything else.

My kids weren’t school age when my client said that but now that eight-year-old Miss O has a few years in the public school system, it is interesting to notice what has and hasn’t changed since I was a kid. What hasn’t changed is the great teachers and administrators who are dedicated, imaginative, and delightful and somehow make it all work.

What I’ve noticed that has changed since I was young is how much social emotional learning they include. The kids get to school and do their mood meters and they talk about feelings, inclusion, and helping.

My kids seem to love way-back-when stories so the other day I was telling them that I remember when not-littering became a campaign and something punishable by fines. My two delightful young ones were amazed that people thought it was okay to just throw things out a car window when they were done with it.

Four-year-old Mr. D, who is not yet in the public school system, has gone on “garbage walks” since he was two-years-old. The kids would point out garbage and a teacher would pick it up with gloved hands.

So the other day when there was a piece of garbage on the ground, Mr. D pointed it out to me and said, ”It’s not healthy for the earth to eat.”

The other day, Miss O was struggling with what to do next with a project and she suggested, “Instead of erasing unfairness, I could draw fairness.”

All this makes me think that what kids these days are learning in school today, in addition to the three R’s, is to be stewards. Stewards of themselves, the environment, and of others.

(featured image from Pexels)

61 thoughts on “Schools of Thought and Feeling”

  2. Thanks for this Wynne. Teachers are receiving so much flack these days, and most of it not based on the reality of what happens in the classroom.

    Liked by 5 people

  4. I do hope you are right about our young people being stewards of the environment, Wynne. The opinion polling suggests that this is happening.

    Unfortunately, in some places politicians are changing curricula and dismissing science, and removing books from libraries that might educate them.

    The silence and inaction of those who respect learning puts the planet at existential risk. We have the opportunity and responsibility to act.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Agreed Dr. Stein. The students can learn and I hope utilize what they learn but they are still coming up against too much historical harm that continues to be downplayed, ignored and dismissed.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. People are calling “being held accountable” and “caring for others” as being socialism, without understanding what it actually is. I have observed that the people who give the most pushback against those ideals are usually the people who enjoyed belittling others publicly, throwing their trash on the ground without a care, and telling racist/sexual/homophobic jokes where they are one of the few who genuinely find them funny. They kind of self-own when they get bent out of shape by someone shows care and concern for those they deem as inferior to them!

        Liked by 3 people

  5. If only all schools would teach the “socialism” ideals of caring for others and putting the good of society – and the environment – ahead of individual (often financial) interests.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Your mention about the anti-littering campaign of yesteryear caused me to remember a cartoon owl saying, “Give a hoot! Don’t pollute!” It’s stayed with me 🙂 Also… I really like that you’re finding schools to be teaching issues to help kids be well-rounded. Your last sentence sums it up very well.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. i remember “Give a hoot! Don’t pollute!” too. Must have worked. 😉 As for socialism, these day, I’m afraid to say, teachers would be fired for mentioning it. If students are learning it, they’re learning it on their own.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Excellent point, L.K. I don’t think the teachers are mentioning it either. And humans have also proven to be pretty good at thinking what we want, not what someone else tells us too. 🙂

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  10. I think schools teach kids (and their parents if they want to listen) to be better human beings, and I love Mr D saying that trash wasn’t healthy for the earth to eat, and also Miss O saying she would draw fairness instead delete I fairness.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. I love so much of this … your wonderful, insightful kids and those who have an influence on their thinking. Helping them to develop their values. I loved your son’s comment about “its not healthy for the earth to eat”. What a brilliant perspective. You’re right, it makes us challenge our thinking. It’s good to question!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I love the way you phrased it – stewards of themselves.

    I like that you didn’t engage in a debate with your client – and I do suspect they may have fall into the “anti wokeness” camp of education.

    I for one love that there is an emphasis of social, mental and emotional wellbeing in kids education. I remember being impressed with the JK and SK teacher during virtual learning talking about wellness and deep breathing exercises.

    Equity and inclusion and being conscious of the environment are two things I also appreciate seeing an emphasis on – way to go Mr D!

    At the end of the day, the basics need to be there too, like math and English. The people who argue against everything else say that they distract from the basics, whereas I argue that they help kids develop a more complete sense of themselves and their world.

    On that note, off to do spelling homework with T! 😆 Have a great week to you three!

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Oh, I love you perspective about this, Ab! It’s not a rant at all. I think you’ve hit it on the head that it helps them develop a more complete sense of themselves. I think it was Miss O’s teacher this year that was saying that they need to know how to regulate because they can’t learn when they aren’t regulated. That makes so much sense to me!

      And you are exactly right about the client. Not sure how you picked up all that from my couple of sentences but you nailed it. Hope you have a great week! ❤ ❤ ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      1. The regulation piece is so important to learning – whether it’s at school or at life at large. Miss O’s teacher this year sounds wonderful. 💕

        Liked by 1 person

  15. “It’s not healthy for the earth to eat.” Oh my gosh. That is brilliant!

    One of the things I observed when my girls were in school is how they were taught to be more accepting and inclusive. I suppose that may be what your client would call “socialist”. Hate and prejudice definitely existed in their school, likely something kids learned at home but my kids often commented that my generation were (and many still are) much less open to individual differences. Interesting food for thought.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. I love the garbage walk idea! My kids loved those stories about long ago too. And I find that even now at my age, I enjoy stories like that from my parents. A few weeks ago, my dad was describing what his neighborhood was like growing up -before their were laws about pets. Geez – it sounded like total chaos!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I wonder why the word, “Socialist” has a negative connotation. If children have empathy, kindness, awareness of right and wrong, and accept inclusion, then are they socialist?
    My classroom always consisted of GT students, students with special needs, and students requiring regular education. I firmly believe in the ideology of the “Least Restrictive Environment, and its benefits, such as acceptance, empathy, helping one another, and respecting differences, to all of my students.
    In today’s world, isn’t learning these life lessons as important as mastering Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language-Arts, in today’s world?
    You have nailed it, Wynne, ” All this makes me think that what kids these days are learning in school today, in addition to the three R’s, is to be stewards. Stewards of themselves, the environment, and of others.”
    Hugs to Miss O and Mr. D.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love your description of your classroom, Chaya! And what a good point about why socialist has a negative connotation. I hadn’t even picked up on that one.

      And yes, you are absolutely right to my way of thinking that those life lessons are every bit as important as the core subjects!! Thank you for all the goodness you added to this world as a teacher – and in every other way!! ❤ ❤ ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you, dear friend.
        I am aware some people are not in favor of inclusion. So, I wanted to add that we provide differentiated instruction to cater to each individual child’s needs.
        Love

        Liked by 1 person

  18. It’s a brand new world out there and I appreciate how teachers and administrators struggles to prepare kids for what they need to know for life. It’s always changing, ideas come and go as if a gigantic airport, and how they keep up I will never know. Sounds like you have your kids at a great place to learn what they need in a constantly changing world. Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

  23. You nailed it. As a teacher myself, I can tell you there definitely is an emphasis on social emotional growth.

    Perhaps, I have noticed that the case of today os that they are generally A lot more tolerant of each other than kids were back in my day.

    Liked by 1 person

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