Exhausted

This has been another long week for this Grandma.   On Tuesday night..she became THAT Grandma.  The one who has a very small filter on her vociferous thoughts.  I hate to continue to dwell on the education being offered in our small school district but I'm still far away from being a happy camper.  I'm very glad the district provided a forum for learning, explanation, questions and concerns.  If only 2 people had attended, it would have been worth it.....there were more.  We listened to a presentation given by our Superintendent, who btw, I believe is as caring, compassionate and skilled as ANY we have ever had.  Although, strictly as a layperson, I disagree with much that was explained.  No one can tell me that Common Core Standards are not politically generated.  New York applied for a piece of the *RTTT grant....losing out the first time but reapplying and and getting a piece of the pie..........$48,000 was given to Moravia.... a mere pittance actually and as was explained "it amounts to about a penny!"   So, we're Racing To The Top*  for a penny.... on the way up the hill, kids are falling, being bruised, feeling defeated and  often unhappy!....for a PENNY!  The government touted that Common Core Standards needed to be put into place to get our students college and career ready.  I'd say our district has done that pretty well throughout the years.  We have graduated engineers, doctors, nurse practitioners, military leaders and educators, teachers, truck drivers, laborers, hair dressers, chefs and a multitude of bright people who now contribute in countless ways to keep America going. I understand the concept that we can always reach higher and aspire to bigger goals and expectations but SLOW DOWN and by all means let's not jump on another government band wagon.. They're not exactly doing a bang up job........on anything.

It is new and a lot of us have a problem with change...that's not really the issue.  The issue is we're pushing too hard and too fast for possibly the wrong reasons.  I know children and adults need to learn how to handle failure.. as well as defeat BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE it is our school's or our government's role to purposely set them up for such!

The "disease" metaphor was used in the presentation and it's a good one.  It feels like this year the children are being exposed to a new disease (common core ELA/Math) and they're not feeling very well!  They're then sent home to Moms, Dads and Grandparents to recuperate and feel better. Although this disease is unfamiliar to us.  We're not really sure how to treat it.  Do we feed it (by sitting and trying to feel our way through symptoms we don't understand or do we starve it by saying don't worry about it this will pass and you'll feel better.

I think my theory is:  We're a pretty good school.... in fact, "A School to Watch!" We have compassionate, talented teachers and staff, caring, bright administration and we've turned out some pretty amazing graduates.  Let's continue to be innovative. We don't have to drink the koolaid...we can make our own drink....This district has the knowledge to write our own ticket.  Our kids can be educated while continuing to be kids.  They can walk in the leaves, they can draw how they feel, they can write about life, they can use their imaginations and believe it or not, they're learning with every step...or we can teach to the test, evaluate till the cows come home and proliferate a generation of children who know how to take a test and help solidify aid!  We shall see which path is best!