Comments on: Is Preschool killing childhood?

By: Melody R

Melody R — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:15:03 +0000

I agree with you one thousand percent. We wonder why kids drop out of high school? They are burned out from too many years of school. Mine did not attend preschool, I stayed home with them and they are earning mega bucks in their fields. Let kids, be kids, not mini adults. Thank you for being courageous and bringing this up.

By: That’s It! All homework must be done in the woods | Susiej

That’s It! All homework must be done in the woods | Susiej — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:32:28 +0000

[...] As I sit by the light of the computer, with my 12-year-old at my side, who is still laboring over his homework, long after his brothers are asleep, I stumble across the slide show of the fortunate little kindergartners featured on the front page of the April 14, 2008 edition of the Wall Street Journal (German Tots Learn to Answer Call of Nature.) This kindergarten class (the US-equivalent of preschool) is held in the woods, following the original philosophies of the original kindergarten of Friedrich FrÃ¶bel, the German who opened the world’s first kindergarten more than 150 years ago. “Playing in nature, rather than focusing on letters or numbers, was best for young children,” he said. That’s a sure-fire antidote to our stressed-out preschoolers. [...]

By: Rocket Day | Susiej

Rocket Day | Susiej — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:34:26 +0000

[...] day to get kids thinking about rockets and science isn’t a bad thing. Now that our schools are stuck with standardized tests, there’s little time left in school to focus on experiments and figuring out how our universe [...]

By: magpie

magpie — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 15:00:15 +0000

Yes! My kid is in a daycare program that kind of morphs into pre-school – but there is no forced learning. No worksheets. Just play. But in the interstices, they learn. They learn to count. They learn letters. They learn to hold a pencil and draw a picture. They learn social skills too – “that hurts my feelings” and “would you like to share”. There’s plenty of time for rigor later. Right now, she needs to play. It’s essentially a montessori program, though they don’t use that name.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:53:35 +0000

Oh goodness. I love this post. I am a preschool and struggle to keep a balance between what I truly believe (pretty much what you just wrote) and what the school is looking for. I’ve done a pretty good job the past 8 years in my position walking the line. I’m hoping to be able to convince the school that the line needs to budge just a bit…we’ll see how that goes.
It’s so refreshing to see this kind of conversation out there.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:32:25 +0000

Thanks for thinking of me – in my “other life” I’m a special ed teacher – so I will have PLENTY to say

(after I deal w/ the pressing penis issues of course.)

By: SusieJ

SusieJ — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:59:33 +0000

Moothergoosemouse — I thought as much. I knew you had a good head on your shoulders.

YogaMum, I just read your post, and you brought up another side to this issue — also sad — about kids not being challenged enough. We’re so focused on trying to get kids “ahead” that we don’t think of the ones who may need a little more.

Louann — isn’t that the way… The second time around we listen to our instincts so much more?

And Painted Maypole — this is enough isn’t it? The social skills are hard and stressful to learn right now.

Gift of Green — yes, you are right. It used to be WAY more fun. And, LOL, I’m a child on the 60s and 70s.

Crank Mama, you are lucky. So lucky — and the fact that you recognize this — it’s so important.

(un)relaxeddad — you forgot to mention build an awesome train track, dance, and name the lyrics to some really cool songs.

Suzanne — are you saying there might be hope?

Henisirk. I have visited a Waldorf school — and it was the most amazing “calm” place full of children I have seen. Beautiful. You are so fortunate that it is so close to you.

Shannon — I read your post, and that was a nightmare…

Tickled Pink — It is true about the teachers — I think they feel more pressure than anyone. I’ve talked to several, and they are working so hard to get it all in, and most seemed genuinely concerned about the kids having fun while they learn.

Sorry state we’re in. I appreciate the time I have with my children at home more than ever.

By: Tickled Pink

Tickled Pink — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:43:27 +0000

Reporting in as an elementary school teacher and a mom of two school age children:

On paper it is hard to argue with NCLB, after all who can disagree with moving ALL children to academic success? However, the reality of how it’s implemented, and underfunded, is scary. It is stealing childhood, and I recoil when I hear how stressed the primary grade teachers are and that they feel there is no time for PLAY. No value in NCLB is placed on kindness or thoughtuflness or creativity – things that have made America great. I could go on forever, but I’ll stop with those thoughts.

By: Is Preschool Killing Childhood? A Response « yoga gumbo

Is Preschool Killing Childhood? A Response « yoga gumbo — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:57:35 +0000

[...] 24, 2008 Posted by yogamum in Education, Family, Kids. trackback When I read SusieJ’s post the other day and she asked me to jump in with my opinion on “Is Preschool Killing [...]

By: Shannon

Shannon — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:21:41 +0000

Hi Susie- I linked to this post, I found it particularly relevant to my life and very informative! Thanks.