Interesting. I too come form a family of educators, always did well in school, and always hated school with a passion. I used to think year round schooling was a good idea. It was tried in a few inner city districts in New Orleans and was quite successful. The kids stayed out of trouble, their scores went up, and the parents loved it. But these day I'm not so sure. There is so much that kids learn outside of school, things that probably cannot be taught in school. I agree with Ms Paglia that the current trends in education risk turning our schools into factories for middle managers.
I come from a family of uneducated immigrants and I too hated school deeply, though I was a good student. I stuck it out through college only because I knew it was my only chance to escape into a better world.
I voluntarily went to summer school during high school because it was actually less oppressive than home. This is probably still the case for kids from sad, chaotic, or scary backgrounds. Free day camps with interesting outings would serve the same purpose and be more fun, but school is better than nothing.
I hear you Linda, though for me the loathing was confined more to elementary and particularly middle-school. College was fine and my MA program was great. But kids shouldn't be in any one place for eight hours a day, year-round. I hope people look back on us and think we were nuts to do that to children, but we're certainly not "trending" in that direction.
You catching up on your back reading are you, Ogged? 1999?!
Heh. I had similar problems in school, although I turned out heterosexual. I got A's in most of my subjects and C's in "conduct" because I wouldn't sit still (or quietly, for that matter) in my cage. The combination of mostly nitwit teachers and the inmates running the asylum is a bad one.
I had similar problems in school, although I turned out heterosexual.
That may be very funny.
And is 1999 ancient history? I remembered reading the rant when it was first published, so I looked it up. Not only are we eclectic as to topic, but also as to time. And still free!
Interesting. I too come form a family of educators, always did well in school, and always hated school with a passion. I used to think year round schooling was a good idea. It was tried in a few inner city districts in New Orleans and was quite successful. The kids stayed out of trouble, their scores went up, and the parents loved it. But these day I'm not so sure. There is so much that kids learn outside of school, things that probably cannot be taught in school. I agree with Ms Paglia that the current trends in education risk turning our schools into factories for middle managers.
Posted by Vig | Link to this comment | 08- 6-03 2:01 PM
I come from a family of uneducated immigrants and I too hated school deeply, though I was a good student. I stuck it out through college only because I knew it was my only chance to escape into a better world.
I voluntarily went to summer school during high school because it was actually less oppressive than home. This is probably still the case for kids from sad, chaotic, or scary backgrounds. Free day camps with interesting outings would serve the same purpose and be more fun, but school is better than nothing.
Posted by Linda | Link to this comment | 08- 6-03 7:48 PM
I hear you Linda, though for me the loathing was confined more to elementary and particularly middle-school. College was fine and my MA program was great. But kids shouldn't be in any one place for eight hours a day, year-round. I hope people look back on us and think we were nuts to do that to children, but we're certainly not "trending" in that direction.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 08- 6-03 8:55 PM
You catching up on your back reading are you, Ogged? 1999?!
Heh. I had similar problems in school, although I turned out heterosexual. I got A's in most of my subjects and C's in "conduct" because I wouldn't sit still (or quietly, for that matter) in my cage. The combination of mostly nitwit teachers and the inmates running the asylum is a bad one.
Posted by James Joyner | Link to this comment | 08- 7-03 9:23 AM
I had similar problems in school, although I turned out heterosexual.
That may be very funny.
And is 1999 ancient history? I remembered reading the rant when it was first published, so I looked it up. Not only are we eclectic as to topic, but also as to time. And still free!
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 08- 7-03 9:33 AM