Absolutely fascinating. Thanks for sharing this perspective.
Also:
"The most tragic story in all of humanity is 'I believed if I followed the rules and did what I was supposed to, everything would work out for me; I did everything right and now here I am, lost and wanting and unfulfilled!'"
I believe this is how and why the currently indicted former president got votes.
Very thoughtful and well-articulated. My son (4) already resists school and doesn't express much interest in letters or numbers. But he's very creative, and loves stories. He can't count to twenty, but he can rattle off the names of literally hundreds of fictional characters.
This was powerful and hit very close to home. My daughter (8) adores school. My son (10) does not care for it. They both suffer because of the constant lure of "awards" and the threat of "punishments". For my daughter, being spoken to by a teacher, for even the smallest infraction is crushing. For my son, not getting "student of the month" out of 30 kids in his class sends him spiraling into self-doubt. They're both tremendous kids. Honest, funny, smart as heck. They're also both worried about being themselves and fitting in at school. It's very hard for me to send them every day knowing they're less comfortable in their own skins there. But making sure they know they're free to express any and all emotion and ask any question at any time when they're at home is how I deal with the fact that public school is not a perfect fit for either of them. But it's all we've got.
I completely agree with your point. While it's true that some teachers operate within a restrictive framework that stifles creativity, there is still value in acknowledging those educators who manage to inspire students despite these limitations. Personally, I can recall several teachers who had a profound impact on me. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to encounter them if it weren't for the formal education system. Your example of "getting them to unlearn" is indeed an inspiring illustration of how teachers can get out of the confines of traditional education and ignite curiosity in their students.
What an insightful essay. In middle-age, I navigated a law career in much this way. Law School could correctly be thought of as the ultimate "creativity killing machine" and I was able to emerge out of the other side of a 12-year law career stronger than I started. When financially able, I retired early and started my a different practice—my writing practice.
But, one feature of "sailing into the wind" that I might emphasize is the personal toll it can take. All of that 'seamanship' is work. Kudos to you, your kids, and anyone else willing to take the indirect route, instead of just following the prevailing winds of our society.
Absolutely fascinating. Thanks for sharing this perspective.
Also:
"The most tragic story in all of humanity is 'I believed if I followed the rules and did what I was supposed to, everything would work out for me; I did everything right and now here I am, lost and wanting and unfulfilled!'"
I believe this is how and why the currently indicted former president got votes.
Right on to this whole damned thing.
Very thoughtful and well-articulated. My son (4) already resists school and doesn't express much interest in letters or numbers. But he's very creative, and loves stories. He can't count to twenty, but he can rattle off the names of literally hundreds of fictional characters.
This was powerful and hit very close to home. My daughter (8) adores school. My son (10) does not care for it. They both suffer because of the constant lure of "awards" and the threat of "punishments". For my daughter, being spoken to by a teacher, for even the smallest infraction is crushing. For my son, not getting "student of the month" out of 30 kids in his class sends him spiraling into self-doubt. They're both tremendous kids. Honest, funny, smart as heck. They're also both worried about being themselves and fitting in at school. It's very hard for me to send them every day knowing they're less comfortable in their own skins there. But making sure they know they're free to express any and all emotion and ask any question at any time when they're at home is how I deal with the fact that public school is not a perfect fit for either of them. But it's all we've got.
I completely agree with your point. While it's true that some teachers operate within a restrictive framework that stifles creativity, there is still value in acknowledging those educators who manage to inspire students despite these limitations. Personally, I can recall several teachers who had a profound impact on me. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to encounter them if it weren't for the formal education system. Your example of "getting them to unlearn" is indeed an inspiring illustration of how teachers can get out of the confines of traditional education and ignite curiosity in their students.
What an insightful essay. In middle-age, I navigated a law career in much this way. Law School could correctly be thought of as the ultimate "creativity killing machine" and I was able to emerge out of the other side of a 12-year law career stronger than I started. When financially able, I retired early and started my a different practice—my writing practice.
But, one feature of "sailing into the wind" that I might emphasize is the personal toll it can take. All of that 'seamanship' is work. Kudos to you, your kids, and anyone else willing to take the indirect route, instead of just following the prevailing winds of our society.