I can't let it go...

Not yet, anyway. For an interesting peek at our elementary school teachers, check this out. It's probably a good thing that the person responding to this post did so anonymously. It's probably not such a good thing that they let the world know that they are a fifth grade teacher.

Growing up too fast?

When I was a kid, I remember adults always talking about how fast kids have to grow up. Even now, I don’t really know what the fuss was all about, but I’m still seeing all kinds of adults saying that kids need to grow up too fast these days, or, at least that kids want to grow up too fast. Now that’s something I can relate to. I doubt there’s ever been a time when kids didn’t want to grow up because of all the neat stuff adults get to do. Then again, kids don’t really want to grow up because they don’t want to take on all the responsibilities that go along with doing all that neat stuff. Heck, I would love to be able to do all the good stuff without being responsible for my actions.

And maybe that’s the way life in the U.S. is heading. After all, if we make the mistake, despite health warnings, of starting to smoke, we blame tobacco companies for our cancer. If we load up our car so much that it becomes top heavy, then drive at “normal” highway speeds, we blame the car manufacturers when our car rolls over. If our mortgage rates get reset higher, we blame banks for not giving us adequate warning, or for not making sure that we will be able to make the higher payments before they gave us the mortgage. We expect pharmaceutical companies to rush new drugs onto the market to cure disease, make us feel and look better, and overcome whatever our weaknesses may be, and then blame them for rushing those “happy pills” too quickly to market. If I get fat, it isn’t my fault I eat fast food every day; it’s the fault of fast food makers. And the list goes on.

The problem as I see it isn’t that kids have to grow up too fast, and it never has been. Kids have always wanted to grow up, and have never wanted to take responsibility for their actions. The same can be said for a lot of adults. And it makes sense to feel that way. After all, if I’m not paying attention to my driving, I’d really rather not be held responsible for any accident I might get in.

These days, society doesn’t teach kids to take responsibility for their actions. For example, when I was in elementary school, I was expected to do my homework. I was expected to remember to do my homework. Now, as a parent, I get notes from the teachers telling me to remind my kids to do their homework. When doing one of the myriad of art projects kids do in school these days, as long as they turn in something, it’s “super,” or “wonderful.” If it’s a sloppy mess, that’s just the kid being “creative.” If they’re late to school, it’s my fault. And the result is this: I have two kids that think they should be allowed to do whatever they want, whenever they want, and it’s always somebody else’s fault when things go wrong. Usually mine.

I started writing this post as a response to some of the things said in this article, which talks mostly about cell phones for kids and a statement made by Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute that says, “Limit cell phone use because of the possible cancer risk — especially when it comes to children, whose brains are still developing.” It amazes me to see many parents still arguing that their kids “need” cell phones. Generations of kids haven’t needed them. Generations of kids have “begged” their parents for things that they didn’t need, and parents used to say no when it was in their kids’ best interest to say no. Generations of kids got mad at their parents because of this, and generations of kids got over it. Now, let’s say we give in and let our kids have cell phones, and it turns out the warnings about cancer are true. Who will we blame then?

Anything to attract readers

The first headline I saw this morning was God accused of selling cocaine." Of course, it wasn't a reference to THAT God. The story itself isn't even newsworthy; it's just about some guy who got busted for selling drugs on a street corner and who happens to be named "God Lucky Howard." On the other hand, it was next door to a church...

And now there IS a real choice?

According to this article, Justice of the Peace Gustavo Garza can no longer give parents the choice of paying a fine or paddling their children in open court when their kids break the law. The reason: three families are suing the judge saying that the choice left them with no real option. So, a judge has ruled that Garza may no longer offer the choice of paddling. Obviously, there are way MORE options now. Interestingly, according to the article, paddling was the option chosen in 98 percent of the cases, and was chosen by the parents who initiated the lawsuit. Perhaps it is the FINE that they wanted done away with?

Job search

Okay, so it's been a year since I graduated. Top ten percent of business graduates, and the Outstanding Finance Graduate of my class. I've interviewed for at least twenty jobs, and I'm still looking. Today, I had a sort of phone interview, and had to answer the question, "Why is one of the top business graduates still looking for a job a year after graduating?" I wish someone would answer that question for me. I don't know. The only thing I've ever been told is, "We decided to pursue another candidate whom we feel is a better fit."

So, I suppose that means I don't fit in anywhere, since I've applied for every entry level finance job there is. The truth is, I think age discrimination is rampant, and that no one expects a fifty-something college graduate. And here I thought I would be able to overcome that by being one of the top graduates. Guess I was wrong.

New project

I seem to be having difficulty finding a place where management thinks I am the best fit... so I've started a new project making jewelry. Check it out here.

Never enough time

A while back, I posted that I thought it was a little ridiculous that Angel's class didn't have time to take a spelling test because the teacher had some art projects that she hadn't had time to get to before. Well, last week Tony's class won the prize for the all-time best "not enough time" excuse. Apparently, it was more important to get started watching "A Bug's Life" than it was to learn English. I'm sure the experience of watching the movie will have life altering benefits, as opposed to the limited benefits of learning to communicate effectively.

That’s My Boy!

I frequently find myself disappointed in my kids' lack of motivation. I mean, they don't seem to want to learn anything; they don't put enough effort into anything in order to excel; in short, they appear to be happy with being average, and it drives me crazy because they seem to choose the worst case, and define that as average, or even worse, "everybody" or "nobody." I can't count the times that I've heard, "No fifth grader can do that!" Or, "I'm only ten, you know!" Well, I think you get the point.

I thought all that was beginning to change, though, when Tony came home from school and said something about wanting to learn more about science, especially "chemicals and stuff." Unfortunately, he went on to explain why he was so interested: "Because almost all the superheroes got their superpowers as a result of some sort of chemical reaction. I'm particularly intrigued by the fact that Spiderman was formed because of a spider getting hit by radiation and some chemicals."

I'm very proud.

I got suspended

I decided that in order to get a better handle on what's going on with these kids, I would spend the day at my daughter's school. I checked-in at the office... and stood quietly in line waiting for our class to be called in. When I got to where the teacher was standing, I told her that I was spending the day. I couldn't believe the horror on her face. We went on to the classroom, but the teacher ran over to the principal and told on me. When the teacher came into the classroom, I was informed that the principal was waiting out in the hall to speak with me.

I was told that I could either sit in the hall, or go home. That there was plenty of supervision for my daughter in the classroom, and that there weren't any problems in there. I beg to differ. Perhaps I should have taken the notes to school that my daughter has been passing under all that heavy supervision. I wouldn't mind so much about the notes, but she isn't that good of a student. Anyhow, I tried to reason with the principal by explaining that one of the reasons I was there is because of the stories my daughter is always telling me about what it's like here. I told her that I don't believe that the teacher "never gives the class enough time to finish their work," for example. That all of the class never gets their work done. Rather than argue with my daughter about it, I wanted to see for myself, and then there would be no reason for argument. Apparently, the principal thinks that it's enough that I know that my daughter lies. I, on the other hand think it would be better if I didn't have to just tell her all the time that I don't believe what she's saying, because no matter how much I say that, she insists she's telling the truth.

At any rate, to make a long story short, I got the boot from school, although I am welcome to stop by at recess. Probably the one time that I don't really care to be there.

Two weeks

In the two weeks leading up to Easter Sunday, one of our kids got booted out of school, again, and the sheriff had to come out to the house on three separate occassions because of something the other kid did. I don't much care to go into detail about what they did right now. I've heard over and over again that this is all just "normal kid stuff." I don't think so. I've lost count of the number of times the sheriff has visited the house. I've lost count of how many times I've had to pick our son up at school. I don't see anything normal at all about this. To make matters worse, the school doesn't support us (parents) at all. And the sheriff lectures me that I shouldn't be too hard on the kids. So, the sheriff gives my daughter a drink, and sits and sympathizes with her, then presumes to tell me that it's all my fault they had to come out. The school rewards my son for NOT throwing a tantrum, then tells me I have to deal with it when he does. And, of course, in their opinion, I'm too harsh. When I was a kid, people spanked their kids with a belt for these sorts of behavior, and the kids didn't usually do THAT again. Now, it's too harsh to yell and make them stay in their rooms. I'm glad I won't be around to see how this generation turns out.

Fifth grade math

According to my fifth grade son, his teacher says they have to use a calculator in class to do fractions. The reason being that if they don't learn how to use a calculator, they'll get left behind by the other kids that are learning to use them. My question: How long does it take to learn that to add, you push the "+" button... to multiply, you push the "X" button... I'm also wondering when they're going to be teaching him how to convert back to a fraction from a decimal answer.

Analysis?

Okay, I have a little bit of a problem with accepting the analysis of a source, in this case the AP, that states that "[consumer confidence] was the worst since the index began in 2002 and surpassed the previous low reached in February." I mean, if it's the worst ever, how can it be anything but worse than the previous worst.

Entry level scapegoat

Okay, so I guess I've been looking for a job for too long now. After listening to my employed friends complain about being blamed for all sorts of things that they had nothing to do with, I've decided that I will just start looking for work with that specific intent. Hire me, with the understanding that you can blame me for anything that goes wrong at all! I won't take it personally... I won't even develop a bad attitude, because taking the abuse will be my job. Of course, we would need some sort of bonus structure tied to the number of times I can be blamed and still keep my job. I think there are a lot of employers out there that could use that sort of employee. Blame me, and don't upset your long-term employees. Think I'll go work on rewriting my resume now.

Cursive writing and other elementary stuff

According to this article, it takes a year for a child to learn to write in cursive. Um, my kids have taken... I believe it's close to three years now, and they still can't do it. It's not just them. I've seen other kids' attempts to write in cursive, and I have yet to see an example of any fifth grader that actually can write in cursive. The explanation: "I don't know how to write in cursive, so I don't." And the teachers don't make them write in cursive, so they never get any practice. And even when they do write in cursive, the teacher doesn't correct the mistakes. Perhaps the teachers are afraid they're going to hurt the kids' feelings.

Not that I think cursive is all that important to learn. I haven't used cursive writing in more than twenty years, and I don't think I'm any less intelligent because of it. But, it is a skill that is supposedly being taught in our schools; time is being spent in the classroom teaching it; but no one is ensuring that the skill is being developed and used. Much like most of the subjects being taught in elementary schools here in Utah.

Reading is a good example of what I'm trying to get at. As it turns out, my kids love to read. It is perhaps their favorite thing to do, and I think both of them read "above grade level." But, they don't use the skill for other than their own entertainment. Here's a good example: my son has the responsibility to feed the dog every day. We keep a big bag of dog food in the basement. Once I bought a different brand, and even though it was sitting right in the same spot, and had the words "dog food" on the bag, he couldn't identify it as dog food because it had different labeling. In other words, though he could read the words "dog food," it wasn't fun, so he didn't, I guess. Instead, he went downstairs, looked at the bag, and came back up and informed me that we were out of dog food. It's the same with instructions. It's not fun to read the instructions, so ask Mom or Dad how to do it. And if Mom or Dad are not around, just guess, usually with bad results.

Now, most people that know me know that I don't hold the Utah elementary educational system in very high esteem. Perhaps my expectations are too high. But last night, we had a disturbing discussion with our daughter. I was trying to see if she had any idea about World War II, and I said it had taken place (I wasn't sure exactly when) in the 1930s or 1940s. She guessed the Revolutionary War. Then, to make it worse, she said she thought the Revolutionary War had something to do with slavery. Well, I don't remember all of the details now, but I think she said something about the Civil War being in the 1600s. And on it went.

The point here is this: the schools here spend most of their time teaching random facts and little time actually practicing the skills they are teaching, and then, to top it all off, they apparently spend no time teaching the kids how to apply what they've learned. I think it's time for a change.

Huh?

Me: Why did you cut your blanket up?
10-year old girl: I was going to make note cards out of it.

Help!