We attended a general parent-teacher evening tonight that was, which essentially gave me a couple hours to observe and think about what I saw, because I didn't understand much of what was going on. I wasn't a good student when I was a student, and I don't seem to be any better as an adult. Well, it was all in Finnish and I just tune it out these days. What I did like seeing, was that the classroom looked like a classroom - it was neat and clean, and didn't have piles of useless kid stuff everywhere. Sure, I get that kids should play, but learning is also the point of school. And they did have things to play with.
Instruments.
The bad news is....
Smallsteps is going to start playing the recorder.
You know, that horrible sounding plastic thing where kids fumble around blowing the wrong notes and driving their parents mad? That one. However, I am quite happy about this, as I never played it as a kid, nor any other instruments, and I reckon it would be cool to be able to play anything. The good thing about the recorder and why it is so important at schools, is that firstly, they are cheap. But sec0ondly and more importantly, they give a clear note and make it obvious when it is off key. Kids are able to train their ears very quickly.
Since starting at the new school, Smallsteps has been calmer (not that she was a wildling), more patient and in a generally better mood. As hoped, the classroom environment is more suited to her personality, and other kids are also there to learn. Tonight the teacher said that there is a good level of musical skill in the class, but the academic level is also very high. Granted, they are nine year old kids, so "high academic level" isn't rocket science, but she is a very experienced teacher also.
So far at least, despite the added logistical complexity for us, has been a good thing for Smallsteps, who now has a chance to spend classroom time doing the work, and getting help when she needs it, because the teacher isn't chasing around the half of the students that would run amok, like in her old class. While there is about the same number of students in the class, there is room for all of them to learn, and all of them to get some personal attention.
The learning environment is incredibly important for all of us and if we are truly intending to learn something, or change our behaviours in some way, we should pay attention to the design of our environment. We should increase access and make it easier to do the things that support our development, and reduce access and make it harder to do the things that undermine our development. It doesn't really matter what we are trying to do, we should lower the bar to doing it.
And this goes for learning in schools. And if we want kids to excel academically and go into a range of fields to become real-world problem solvers for the issues we face, we need to design our classrooms to best support that development. However, this is the challenge with the school systems for the most part, because they support average. I am not even talking about average people, just average as an outcome. They aren't looking to build an environment that encourages the best of people, they are looking to cater for everyone.
It doesn't work.
But, schools (governments) no longer care that much about the reality of what works, they focus on the impression it gives. Rather than looking at what is actually needed, they look to maximise the people who think they are at least trying to do something, if if what they are trying to do is going to have worse outcomes than making decisions that leave some people unhappy.
Inclusion, to the detriment of all.
A lot of people see school as a type of jail, where they are forced to be, and forced to learn - and I agree. It is a jail, in the sense that a child doesn't get to choose everything they learn and do. But what it should teach them is the way to learn anything that they choose to learn. Once they are out of jail, they are then free to focus on what is important to them. But, schools don't do this for most students and instead, kill the will to learn much at all. Many people get out of school, and they are done. Learning is one of the few things we do all of our lives.
Cradle to the grave.
But what we learn matters. We often put "learning" in as some positive process of growth and improvement, but all of those negative habits and their outcomes, are also products of our learning, which in turn are indicative of our environments.
We are what we eat.
I don't know what you do to learn, nor do I know what you are trying to change in your life currently, but it would be interesting to hear about how people set up their personal environment to support the outcome they are looking to achieve. Maybe you are trying to learn an instrument, maybe looking to lose weight, or improve your writing skills. Whatever it is, why not discuss it here and see what comes of it?
Taraz
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We have a bunch of new school board members this year and they are picking apart everything. I think a lot of it isn't that what we are doing it wrong, they just want to give the impression to the public that they are getting things done. When really they are just making it worse for everyone. I guess I don't know how that actually relates, but it made me think of it while I was reading your post.
Because they know any changes they make won't have much impact for years and by that time, all the fuckups will be forgotten and they can do it all again. Rinse and repeat.
It's tragic!
As a home-schooled student, I had far more opportunity than most to pursue my own interests. I was able to learn the core subjects at my own pace, instead of being tied to some artificial clock and calendar schedule. I could rip through things I found easy, and take my time if a subject was challenging. It may not be fore everyone, but it was ideal for me.
It also fostered a certain self-sufficiency I saw a lot of my fellow college students lacked later on. I knew how to use reference books and library resources. I knew how to plan my time for study. Most seemed to expect someone else to do that for them.
This is one of my issues with it, because while it might even be great for the child, most parents seem to overestimate their ability to actually teach. Many have no skills whatsoever. This could do more damage than good to the education of the child.
That is a common assumption, but even back then, communities of homeschoolers formed around mutual support, and parents proactively sought out standardized testing to prove they weren't lacking. I consistently scored in the 99th percentile. Nowadays, we also have online tools for evaluation and education. Kahn Academy is popular and free.
Teacher committees could be a better option to make decisions. People who have actually been there, done it, know what is important and what is not. Who actually have the skill to allocate funds in the most effective way, and don't need shiny things to show off - just kids that remain their interest in learning. But having real experts instead of appointed experts is just too obvious to work, right?
Happy to read that Smallsteps is keeping up with music, and learning something new! My mom gifted her old recorder to Lily when she was 3 years old. That thing is hidden since. But I'll probably dig it up these days, to play it while she plays the piano or something. We'll see.
The education system in Finland used to be "top of the world" in many respects, but now governments have decided that education isn't that important.
Can you play?
Not like a master, but yes, I found out quite quickly what position of fingers does which tone. It's not like there are endless combinations, I think it just goes over two octaves, and only one key.
The bloody recorder is the most annoying instrument ever. Terrible sound.You never hear anyone saying "That's the recorder player's Porsche." Don't know why they don't start with a keyboard.
My daughter already plays the piano, so do many. A few guitars in there as well. This is something that none of them play (for obvious reasons :D )
I wish I'd learned to play an instrument when I was young ! Learning the recorder isn't so bad. If she was learning to play the trumpet or drums, now that might be another matter.....
Sorry, but learning the recorder is bloody awful for everyone in the room.
One of my brothers played the trumpet - but I only remember him being okay at it. Thankfully.
Maybe the harmonica would have been better for Smallsteps, (not the $5 toy types) but recorder is still okay. I think this present school will aid her educational development more. Environmental conditioning is very important for academic growth and development since we are influenced by what goes on around us whether we know or not. This what James Clear hammers on in his book Atomic Habits. I hope Smallsteps stays longer at the new school.
Not sure if she would get into the harmonica. Since she plays the piano already, she will probably find the finger work easier :)
This is a good series.
Time is changing, and people are changing with it. When you were in school and now is actually different in the sense that most of the things that were in vogue then are not considered necessary, although the part that learning is a continuous process make it more important. It is good to see that you were a bit nostalgia and felt the urge to have those instruments to play with as your daughter has the opportunity now.
As a teacher, I can relate to what you said about school as being a jail of some kind as there is no freedom for a child to do whatever they like. However, we can't really allow them to do what they like at all time if they are to learn what is necessary for them to grow.
This actually makes me remember the poem 'the school boy' by William Blake. The poem actually stated in his poem that he takes delight in nature rather than going to the school that he equates to the four walls of the classroom to prison. But how else can we help the students to learn what they want to learn. At least we all go through the same route and become what we are today.
Absolutely. The thing that I reckon the focus of school should be on, is learning itself. How to learn, not what to learn.
It sounds like Smallsteps has really found a classroom that fits her, and that makes such a big difference.
I liked what you said about how the environment shapes learning. It is true for kids and for adults too. When I want to focus on something new, I usually try to clear away distractions and make it easy to get started, even if it is just keeping a book on my desk or a guitar within reach. The setup really matters more than we often realize.
And then, just force the start. once started, it is harder to stop. One minute leads to two.
We have 5 more days of school holidays left. It's so nice to spend them cheerfully. I remember how I wanted the school holidays to last as long as possible.
Any plans?
Tomorrow we will go to the cinema and to the park to ride the rides.
In fact, as you mentioned, today's school is seen as a prison that forces learning. Instead of choosing a subject stream to suit the wishes of the children, children have to apply themselves to different subject streams prepared by the Department of Education. This creates a future generation with theoretical knowledge related to the subject, while a creative generation cannot be created without practical knowledge. This can be clearly seen in the school education of our country. One can only choose a subject stream of their choice at the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level. By then, the child has reached the age of 17, so the innate talents that were present in childhood cannot be brought out.
And this is the issue. rather than teaching how to learn, they kill the motivation to learn, so once out of school, they have lost all chance to truly find their way.
It is good to see Smallsteps in a place where she can really concentrate and do well in her studies :) The recorder might look like an easy option, but as you mentioned, it helps kids learn important skills from the very beginning.
It might help her a bit with the piano too, though she is doing pretty well with that already :)
The purpose of school is to adapt people to the system from childhood. Here, the public good is not the sole concern; whatever is necessary is done to benefit the system, the family, or the company. This is true in poor African countries, as it is in the United States, one of the world's most powerful nations. This system must change immediately. If it doesn't, we must act in ways that are incompatible with the system.
In today's world, there's no need for schools or teachers anymore. A smart intelligence app is enough for that. :)
This is going to happen more and more and we are seeing it over the last decade especially. People are going to rebel.
This is what they say - I disagree though :)
I read this that you Mr. Tarazkp write, and it reminds me that when we think that we finally control the level of our children, they decide to move to the next level, and there we are the parents, without manual and with fewer lives, supporting them in everything that generates well-being for their lives.🤗
Congratulations on the choice of your daughter, now she is going to enjoy learning to play the recorder. I assure you, that makes her smile.
Hopefully it works out for her there and it ends up giving her a little boost into life. Who knows though.
That musical instrument, the recorder, at school, is an excellent instrument for initiation to the wind musical category at any age., in your daughter's case, she will learn about those parenting challenges we all face.
Great post i loved the part about the recorder and how it's used in schools to teach kids about music. It's true that the school system often prioritizes averages over individual potential, which can be limiting for some students.
Right now I am once again going to the day hospital. One girl who is also going there is really hot. This inspired me to exercise more(just push ups and pull ups for now). The problem is that I still have not taken the main step by asking her out.🤦Also yesterday I was running after the bus and fell. That fall ripped of my pants and slightly hit both my hands and legs. So I will not be able to exercise for a few days. Lesson learned In the future I will only chase my goals and dreams and not buses.
The inclusion and other public school crap are part of the reason we sent our daughter to a private school for the last two years... And she doesn't think it is jail despite a very challenging curriculum. She actually likes going to school now.