Steve McConnell makes an interesting point in Code Complete. In chapter two he writes about how metaphors help in providing insight and understanding. A good model can help us solve a problem. For example Steve McConnell writes about how scientists use a wave model, to better understand light, and how this model pointed scientists towards new experiments. A bad model can be misleading.
There are a number of similarities between eating and education. Good food provides nutrients for a healthy body. A balanced diet gives the foundation needed for a body to grow. A bad diet will hurt, or even destroy a body. One of the hazards of sailing hundreds of years ago was running out of the right types of food. Scurvy could lead to death.
Likewise education can provide a foundation for a healthy life. Giving children exposure to a wide range of information and ideas will prepare them for the challenges of life. If we focus only on history, or literature, or science, we would greatly handicap a child.
Recently I was thinking about poor and toxic educations. At the basic level some times children are little more than babysat at some schools. The children’s time is being wasted. At the extreme there are times when children are taught things which are harmful lessons. I’ve struggled much of my life with being a bad speller. A large part of this was because I wasn’t taught phonetics.
It is sad to see parents react so strongly to children taking something bad for the body of their children, like poison, but to tolerate years of a poor education.
If you wondered about the education of your child, and I’m mostly thinking of parents who have children in public schools, think about how you would react if your children were eating similar food. If your child is being fed a poor diet, or worse a toxic one, then you need to take action, and not allow you child to continue getting a bad education.
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4 comments:
This analogy seems to exist in the vein of "garbage in, garbage out" philosophy.
You can also apply the same logic to the spiritual implications of the public school environment.
Mimi Rothschild
www.themorningstaracademy.org/daily_education_news
I used to struggle with spelling, too. Now that I've been tutoring with phonics, I can spell quite well! I have some online spelling lessons and tips for all those who need them. They're also a great review for parents who want to teach their children to read: http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Spelling/spellinglessonsl.html. If you don't want to watch the movies, you can read some tips here: http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Spelling/onspellinglinks.html, the first two links.
Happy spelling!
I can't understand it, Henry. I just can't. We live in a horrible, horrible school district and parents are always worried and complaining about it - yet they drag their kids out of bed every day and send them in. It's sad.
The thing they always tell me: "I could never homeschool my kid." I tell them that they absolutely can. They don't hate their kids - so yes they can.
Monica I think the big reason for most parents is fear. They fear the unknown. They recognize that there are many problems with public schools, but it is still scary to step into homeschooling. Most of them have gone through the public school system and were taught that only professional teachers can teach children.
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