Learning at Large

"Every minute of instruction a child misses will never be made up," said Keither LeLeux, Calcasieu Parish School Board director of child welfare and attendance. "There is just no way to make up for lost instruction time."

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I totally disagree with this statement.

I'm thinking of all the children who will sit in a classroom this year and waste away precious hours of learning that only life outside those four walls can offer.

Why? Why? do educators and society at large think that learning can only happen in an institutional classroom? Why?

I am also thinking how void it is for any of us to not trust a child's learning ability. Children's minds are like sponges; they will learn...given the right tools and environment.

"Every minute of instruction a child misses will never be made up?"

Come on now!

Have these naysayers forgotten all they've learned in the years since graduation?

Comments

[Paula in MN]

Your thoughts are so true to our current situation. I couldn't agree MORE!!

[Kimberly]

I read that quote and scoffed! The idea that you lose precious instruction time because of a child being "late" is ridiculous. I think of how many times I'm waiting for someone to come to the table for our teaching time and I AM THE ONE to delay the start...so we can look at the trio of butterflies supping out of our window. Or when the hummingbirds join them. Or when the silly squirrel is hanging upside down to eat the seed bell we put up for the birds.

Yes, I guess there is some truth to that statement. I'll never get the "table" time instruction back, but we learned so much more!

The entire article was just a sad commentary on the world's view of eduction.

[Diane]

I agree with your assessment of the statement. I've been a teacher for over 15 years, but now that my oldest is getting ready to go off to kindergarten in a few weeks, I'm filled with trepidation. I'm hoping his learning will be hands-on and relevant. I've taught at amazing schools (usually private) that provide an environment for incredible learning. But even in my son's preschool experience last year (which was good), it was hard for me to care about his pencil grip--a real concern for his teacher. My friends who have kindergarteners talk about homework and worksheets and no time for recess when the weather turns cold. My little guy learns so much by observing nature, managing money, and learning about dinosaurs. Worksheets and "instructional time" . . . we'll see. I just hope it's worthwhile.

[Sarah]

What a ridiculous statement.

[Lisa]

I really enjoy reading your blog every day, but I must disagree with your interpretation of this statement, or its being singled out of context. I took it to mean that instruction can take place anywhere and at anytime; however, we sometimes allow our kids to engage in things that can not promote anything but brain death. It doesn't matter how kids are officially educated. I teach in a public school. Learning takes place all the time - in class, on the playground, on the bus.....it's called life skills. But sometimes, parents can be so "busy" that instead of continuing that learning process, kids are placed in front of a tv, computer game, nintendo, etc. And once a minute of possible learning is gone, it is gone forever. Lots of those valuable minutes are wasted everyday.

[Cay]

Dear Lisa,
I do understand that statements are hardly ever black and white. And, surprisingly, I can agree with you about minutes being gone forever. I dare not think of the minutes I've allowed to escape my fingertips. Ouch! I also agree with your accessment that "valuable minutes are wasted everyday." I also agree that far too many parents use technology as a babysitter. I also know that our children better know how technology "works" are they will be out-of-the-loop.

I believe I agree with you more than disagree. I also agree that children can be formally educated in a great many ways. Hsing doesn't work for all. Neither does public ed.

Still, I don't think I took the comment out of context. Kimberly read the article too. Perhaps she'll chime in.

My point in sharing this comment was to show the lack of trust adults have regarding youth and their capacity to learn. Einstein wrote that imagination was more important that knowledge. He would never have scorned a child who was sitting at a desk daydreaming.

How do we know that in those moments of daydreaming, the child is not wondering and pondering all the wonders of the universe or going on an adventure that sparks his brain cell activity far beyond what the teacher is writing on the board?

I think of how many times I sat at my desk while the teacher was not present, visiting out in the hallway with another teacher. And the other students got disruptive.

This article was talking about penalizing parents for the students being tardy. What about tardy teachers?

And, if I may be so bold to offer a solution, we could all glean a better harvest of lost learning if we simply picked up a book and read more. The child reading a good book is becoming better educated than a child sitting in a classroom where unruly attendance prevails.

I'm not saying this is the case in all classrooms or all schools. My oldest dd graduated "summa cum laude" this past May from a public high school. Her father and I are very happy with her performance and the education she received. But I give Kayleigh most of the credit for her education. She had some great teachers. She also had some not-so-good-teachers who would have served her better by handing her a good book.

I saw the amount of time she spent hsing herself, making note cards, sitting Indian-style on her bed studying those cards, nose pressed inside a book, brow furrowed. Had she not done her own schooling at home, the formal hours wouldn't have been as productive. She took her education seriously. She took ownership and control over her education. It belongs to her.

Very interesting discussion. Thank you for writing and offering your insight, Lisa.

[Kimberly]

Cay,

I am convinced that we did not take this statement out of context. The article was discussing the new penalty for students being late to school. It never talked about learning taking place any where but in the classroom.

I agree with you that hschooling is not for everyone, but to insinuate that ONLY classroom instruction works is a bit ridiculous.

Standing by my original comments,
Kimberly