Many of you have been reading my writings since my early days on AOL Journals, when I used writing as a way to change my life. Over the years you read of my frustration with the school system with its attempts to make all kids learn the same way.
I have never worked, lived, ate, talked, laughed, and cried with any person who approached ideas in the same way. Yet our school system often tries to place all the children in the same square peg, or encourage parents to drug the kids who don’t fit into the square hole.
It really bothers me.
My son Brian day dreams. He day dreams a lot. It’s a hobby he has taken to an art form.
I can always tell when he is deep in it. He will shake his head like he is in a trance. If I call his name he doesn’t answer. After a while he will look at me and finally acknowledge that he hears me.
Sometimes he will tell me his day-dream adventures. I love his stories and want to go there too. His imaginary scenes are lush with forest vegetation, small creatures and purple caveman aliens who live high upon a rock.
I noticed if Brian does his math homework after one of these day-dream sessions he will ace all the problems. It is like day dreaming stimulated the math part of his brain. He will go deep into his algebra equations and whip out the correct answers in lightning time. If he builds something with Legos or blocks after day dreaming, then they become complex engineering designs.
Imagination fuels Brian’s thought process.
Many of you know the great lengths that I went to for testing and arguing against drugs for Brian. Eventually it was discovered that Brian has CAPD.
His father and I (with the help of a great doctor) worked with teaching Brian modifications to help him learn within our type of school system. Last year Brian became an honor student for the first time. Although reading is still not his favorite past-time he fights every day to stay in the game.
This weekend we received a call from Brian’s math teacher informing us that Brian scored the top score of all his students in their most recent math quiz.
I have always believed that Brian (and many kids like him) are extremely creative and learn differently. I believe there are many kids who only learn BY MOVING, thus making it impossible to sit still to learn. I think it is the way they process information.
Then there are the other kids who are always looking to build something, and what exactly are you building when you read? Now don’t get me wrong, reading is very important. But it seems like Brian needs to read short bursts of information, rather then long drawn-out reading assignments. Maybe these kids read in short blocks of information. It’s not the reading, it’s how much reading that can get in the way.
This weekend I stumbled across the blog, Purple Goddess in Frog Pyjamas. She has a post with a video asking the question, Do Schools Kill Creativity? Well bite me, this blog belongs to another redhead, of course I had to read the post with an embedded video of the same name by Sir Ken Robinson.
He eloquently states what I have been thinking all this time, but couldn’t put into words -
We parents who fight for the educating of our children with specific needs are often treated like we are nuts.
OK, maybe I am nuts. Blame the red hair. But I am a nut who understands kids.
And apparently so does Sir Robinson.
Until next time-
C
http://www.aweekinthelifeofaredhead.com
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I am not familiar with the U.S. school system but it sounds like it’s the same as ours…they cookie cutter teaching which is ok as long as your brain fits into the cookie cutter…a lot of kids don’t…I hired a young man when I was running a few trucks a few years ago who had been through every program they could think of in the school system with no success…what they didn’t realise was he just needed to process things in his own way…he has become a wonderful truck mechanic…to the point CAT Diesel engines brings him experimental stuff to work on…His way of doing things was to just sit with the problem and let his mind wander ..you coould give him any piece of equipment and just let him alone..and he could figure out how it worked ,what would make it work better and how to fix it….the kid couldn’t read very well but give him something to fix he is a wiz..but he didn’t fit in to tjhe school system…
I am seriously looking into things like Democratic Schools and homeschooling/unschooling for my own son. I really think there is a better way than I grew up with. And you’re right – people all learn differently. Some people DO need to move to process things – it is just how they are wired. There is nothing at all wrong or bad about that, either. It thrills me to read that you encourage your son’s daydreaming, and that he lets you into that world. That kind of creativity is important. And I hope he keeps it forever.
I highly recommend looking into Democratic Schools – even just for informational purposes – they are AMAZING. They give children the power they deserve, the respect, and the freedom to learn – and to keep on loving learning. I don’t knwo where you live, but if you’re in the US, they’re all over the place.
Google “Sudbury School” and click on the one in Massachusetts.
Thanks for the great comments. This is a tender subject, for sure. It stirs up all kinds of emotions on both sides. I appreciate the ideas, comments and stories. I ran into a local attorney and ex President of a Political Club here and we managed to work our way to this subject. I was impressed with his knowledge of CAPD and his passion for wanting to change how kids learn. Everyone learns differently and no child should ever be made to feel stupid in school.
Catherine
Hmmm…I have the same issue with my 11 yr old son. I will have to inquire about CAPD with our doctor.
Thanks for the great informative post!
I love your blog! I’m no real redhead, but I’m a redhead in heart ans soal
I’ve got a dysphatic daughter and I know how frustrating it is in school for children with speacial needs. Good thing there is no drugs for dysphatic’s and good of you to fight it.