Loving Through Education
I want to start by saying I believe in teaching kids the basics, math, reading, history, and science, but I know we need to teach our kids more, and honestly, we need to do better on many different levels.
When I reflect on my school journey, I cringe at some moments, and some make me sad. I was a child who had ADHD ( I finally got diagnosed at 45) I was always getting into trouble, which led to having a label as a child who did not listen and did not do her work. Entering middle school, which we all know can be some of the most challenging years of our lives, I struggled immensely with paying attention to my teachers, but even more trying to understand what I was supposed to do and how to do it once I left school. I was a social butterfly. I loved people and animals and cared and felt so much, too much about others. I thought those were my gifts and that they were good things. But, no one saw that or did anyone think that. In high school, my parents just wanted me to graduate so they did not have to deal with teachers or anyone anymore. I remember I wanted to be a zoologist until I saw how much they made, but the reality is that I knew college was not going to be my thing because I had battled for too long and had already been told in ways that I was dumb. What I know is I wasn't the only one struggling. Many other kids had a different struggle, whether it was family, mental health, or anything in between. But none of us would know because we would never dream of sharing our problems or thoughts. After all, that was not a thing to do, and sadly, today is still the same.
Today I can't even imagine being a child in the school system, not just because of all the standardized testing but the growing mental health crisis, a pandemic, and for many kids, their family situations.
Teaching our kids how to understand themselves should be a course where they learn empathy, kindness, and compassion. A place where they feel safe to express their feelings and find out they are not alone. Using role-play to solve real-life situations they are going through and learn tools to help them navigate them. Learning how to meditate so they can calm and soothe themselves is a tool that will help them for the rest of their lives.
We don't need more testing. But, honestly, we must show and teach our kids lessons that will help them be kinder and more empathetic to themselves and others. Mental health is not going away and will only worsen until we take a look and realize they need more. They need a space where they can learn about their emotions and the tools that can help them and knowledge to help them change their lives and help others.
We all learn and grow differently, and we all have our gifts. Can you imagine what life would have been like if you had a class that helped you see yourself, your passions, and how to navigate your life?
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I developed a course and have been trying to get it into my daughter's school, but sadly, this seems almost impossible. They can say it is needed, but that is not enough. We need to do more. XO-Rach