It used to be that school was a means to an end. That end was the ability to read, write, do arithmetic, and then various arts and sciences. The pursuit of an education was adapted to conform to the demands of life. School attendance varied depending on finances, weather, planting season, and family situations. Many of our founding fathers were home and then self educated men with little formal schooling. An education was a personal responsibility, not a function of a government program.
Now schools have a whole boat load of "ends." The biggest reason isn't the well being of children but the employment of adults. This is followed closely by political power grabs through the indoctrination of future voters.
In some states, they have actually legislated the number of "minutes of instruction." Currently, children in the state of California must serve a sentence of 180 days of public school incarceration each calendar year. This penalty is required regardless of their level of “education” or their conduct. It doesn't matter if the child can read on a 12th grade level and do calculus equations; he still must spend 180 days incarcerated with some unknown juvenile delinquents.
In the old days, if a child was born with some defect, the parents were encouraged to institutionalize the child and go on with their life. Now we do it to "normal" and "gifted" children instead. Kindergarten used to be optional and half day. Now it is mandatory and full day. They are talking about "universal preschool" for all 3 and 4 year old. At some point, parents will just drop their kids off on their way home from the hospital and visit them when it's not too inconvenient.
4 comments:
Kindergarten isn't full-day nor mandatory in every state. In Michigan, you can choose full-day, half-day or not at all. School isn't mandatory here until 1st grade.
I often have said the same thing...but directly to people who complain about having their pre-schoolers still home. Why did you have them, if only to rush to hand them off to others to raise?
Not saying all are like that, as I know a few who spent a teary first few days of public school. But the trend seems to go more and more toward kids being a necessary nuisance, instead of a constant joy!
It is simply part of our overall society's attitude towards children in general. If the purpose of life is to have the most fun (convenience) and/or to achieve the most (usually in the money making arena) than the only purpose in having a child is in how they add to your life and plans. This actually is the pupose of life for most people today, and when they have kids they find them inconvenient and expensive...so they strongly limit the number of children they have and limit their own inconvenience by leaving them as often as possible.
For those of us who have a family and/or religious background that strongly supports the value of children, service, and the family bond; and also offers a clear purpose of life that makes money and convenience ultimately meaningless, finding every opportunity to escape childrearing is truly inexplicable.
However, as I said before, it fits perfectly with our society's values. One example is feminism which puts the woman's "fullfillment " ahead of the child's needs. Another example is divorce which puts the couple needs ahead of the child's. Although it is true that each person's needs must be met for them serve others, today, a child's needs for both his parents time are mostly discounted and swept under the carpet.
I grew up in the middle of the feminist era (1960's). I tortured my poor husband after our first child was born. I was so mad that my freedom had come to a screeching halt. I couldn't see how his life had changed too. I mean, he could take a shower when he wanted. Of course, now that I was at home full time, the financial burden was more stressful with only one income, but that didn't matter to me. I would expect him to change all the diapers when he was home to make up for all the diapers I had changed while he was gone. This is because everything was all about me, me, and me. It took a few more kids to straighten me out.
I want to raise daughters who can go out into the world less self-centered than their mother did.
I also want daughters who can recognize the power that they hold. A wise man once said, “When you educate a man, you educate one person. When you educate a woman, you educate an entire family.” Of course, this assumes mom is actually at home with the family and spends quantity time with the kids.
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