Keeping School Doors Open Wide and Free (or in the Ballpark of Affordable..)

 Okay so let's brainstorm for the villages which I happen to feel is now at survival levels in the northwest corner of CT but also around many parts of most states whether related to schools, churches, community groups and various learning communities.. We gotta think TEAM and Collaboration. Ideally ongoing FB groups or other blogs could keep the details and options running for any particular area.

 

These ideas would need fine tuning based on whether there is a charter school, a public school, getting more people to homeschool if that would help keep the 'schooling energy for kids and families vibrant in an area, particularly a small rural one..but even larger areas need coordinators to show up or pitch ideas and help bring people together in consistent, meaningful ways. Helping people feel welcomed and setting guidelines to help people join in and address concerns through social networks and other measures such as mediation and cooperation would be good to keep in mind as well.

 

Not having some group coordinators can allow small issues to loom larger, for rifts to form and people to go their own way when perhaps more flexible arrangements in scheduling, addressing social skills and issues and networking outside of one's area or in new ways within it would alleviate many concerns. Regarding kids, they are on the move and on the grow, so keeping an eye out for future groups of students is helpful as one is making their mark on the world. Kids learn from one another on many levels and that includes over the span of a few years.

 

Some of these ideas may land more easily than others, but in any event, it's time for many people to think about the cost and value of educating youth and others in effective ways, perhaps with libraries, faith groups and other non-profits or even for-profit consultants and programs filling in the 'blanks' or realistically providing higher quality options for enjoying learning over the seasons and years. For a little inspiration see online videos on youtube of The Grumbling Gryphons, Also see the Steiner school curriculum and simple ways of nurturing children with a play-based, natural materials and homemade toys in the first five years. Simple songs and stories are shared but not pushing 1000 books to get kids literate by first grade as the mainstream public schools push for.  

 

The suggestions of 'delaying formal education' below to ages when the students can benefit from the time and effort it takes to go to school and apply oneself to learn in more traditional ways draws on some of the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner and other traditions such as homeschoolers who are 'unschoolers' and do not pressure children to read too early on in life.

 

I realize these are controversial topics but 'protecting childhood' by not having kids innundated by media and plastic electronic toys, fake food (versus things that grow from the earth and are more homemade and natural), not pressuring them too early on in life to perform and imitate adults is addressed by putting kids in formal programs around age 6 in Kindergarten and age 7 in first grade... somehow there's more time to evolve and comprehend subjects and keep up with the demands of the day physically, academically, socially, athletically, musically (later on practice time is very helpful).

 

The resources in any given communiity could be used more time on weekends and in summers or breaks. Perhaps co-housing could be promoted and reduced tuition for students being hosted by a local family could allow some families to assist in having other children attend the school's with declining populations. Fundraising, scholarships and even tuition assistance to attend public schools could all be helpful to explore. More parent and adult networking likely could take up some of the slack when it comes to caring for children.

 

One playgroup in every town would be worth groups funding to help parents network early on even with other adults who could be helpful in caring for children (yes, with background checks and ideally a few watching kids at public playgroups and playgrounds, etc.) Taking more of the guesswork out of parenting is a win-win for many. When children grow up with a secure orientation in the world they are generally better at learning than if in chaotic, uncertain care situations. Thanks to all who do devote time to these critical but not necessarily glamorous topics...

 

Regarding schools, I ran this idea past one high school principal in a regional district of six towns in CT who said it could be helpful... and some of you know the theories more than others for Why...but starting kids in Kindergarten at age 6 (or even 7 if that's a help to either the child, family or school...) then onto first grade at age 7 (or 8, which is what one child (name changed for this post) Kyle had turned in 1st grade entering at age 7, so that's part of how I got used to that idea...). 

 

Then do a chart but see that kids would be 8 going into 2nd, 9 into 3rd, 10 into 4th, 11 into 5th, 12 into 6th, 13 into 7th and 14 into 8th (or yes, a whole year Older...). With this option, more kids would be psychologically more mature and intellectually up to par to learn the more advanced curriculum and Still be kids, play sports, do music, go on field trips, raise funds, work, and hang out with friends (and attend family gatherings too...or those of their friends...) 

 

That is what worked for some kids (names changed here) in the 1990s through 2004 Lucy and Kyle, and even Susie as a Jan. gal and Jan was in first grade at age 6 and a half rather than 5 and a half (which was going to be the case unless I homeschooled her after she'd done a 4 hr kindergarten day at age 4..it was about politics not what was good for her or us...)

 

With this plan, more kids would be able to go to a regional middle school or even a middle school-high school combination if need be (One high school blended with a 7& 8 Grade program or nearby it )has this but they do end up with more pregnancies in the early teens.. so maybe some voluntary segregated classes could be offered too or more supervision, etc...)

 

Many freshman at HVRHS are 13 or a young 14 upon entering, something one principal told me he understood to be a disadvantage in general. Maybe some could get college credits with AP classes or summer programs, online and so forth. 

 

Other brainstorm ideas include doing More for the students at the high school and region on the weekends (most private schools have sports and activities on Saturdays) and even in the summer. Maybe offer swimming at the FV Pool, yes with some other lifeguards etc, but teach everyone basic water safety and do some hikesand local internships and even more studies, learn permaculture which can make everything better (more comprehensible especially with how tricky our world scene is..)

 

Likely more co-housing and ways to allow more low-cost tuition students (even from far away to come live with host families would make sense...) Okay, back to my scene in the city which is overflowing with people and also has high prices... ciao for now, Cath