As school starts up for everyone there are a lot of back to school pictures of people's kids and I really love seeing them. I like that parents are proud of their kids and making note of their progress. It's also fun to be a virtual witness to how fast my friends' kids are growing up. It's crazy!
I have seen a couple of posts on Facebook that disturbed me a little though. They aren't posts that my friends posted or shared, they are just one of those posts that show up in my newsfeed as "[so-and-so] likes [such-and-such news channel]" and then it will show that news channel's sponsored Facebook post. The ones that I'm referring to happen to be about parents posting back-to-school pictures for some contest or drawing they were sponsoring, and the ones that won. The photos that won were photos where the parent is celebrating their kids going back to school as a means to get rid of their child, and of course it's being passed off as funny. I just don't think it's funny at all. One in particular showed a woman with her little girl, the woman looking completely overjoyed holding a bottle of wine and a wine glass with perfectly manicured fingernails, and the girl looking sad or angry (I couldn't tell what the posed emotion was honestly) with her arms folded wearing her cute new clothes and backback. Something else in the photo made it appear as if the woman were planning to sip her wine while taking a bath. The mom was also holding a sign that said, "So long [girl's name]!" or something to that effect.
Let's think, also, about the message that sends to the husbands and fathers.
I could really go on about how sad I think it is, this picture, and also for society by the fact that a news media outlet would be promoting the notion that there's something okay about portraying your incredible enjoyment over getting rid of your kid for 6 to 8 hours a day five days a week right to their face. But I won't, I'll spare you, because I think that one sentence I just constructed sums up my feelings about it. I'll just ad this: Poor child.
There is a difference between being proud of your children and excited for their learning adventures and viewing the public school system as a means to get rid of your child so you don't have to deal with them for half their childhood. They're still your kid, get involved, volunteer at the school, lobby to make changes that you think are good for your child! Parents need to be more involved. I'd love for my children to grow up in a world where parents care about their kids education. There is a difference between needing a break from your children now and then and basically telling them you can't wait to have them gone, away from you, the one who birthed them and chose to have and keep them. I just don't get it. Even if you think it, why would you tell it to your kid?
On that same note I do find myself completely confused by people who choose to send their children off to public school (again, NOT CONDEMNING THIS CHOICE) and then are surprised when the government steps in and demands personal data, or tries to dictate medical choices, or family life. This really should be EXPECTED when you choose a form of education run by the government, it should not be a surprise or a shock at all. Do something about it! Stop the madness, don't sit idly by and be upset while conceding to it. Talk to your law-makers, opt-out, get your education degree and get a job at the district, run for office. Take a stand. They're your children and if this stuff angers you, make it known and don't accept it. If you believe in the public school system enough to send your precious minds there, then don't accept anything less than the best. And if you're already following my pleas I admire you so much! I'm not strong enough to do that, that's why I just take it all into my own hands for my own kids.
However I'm praying for the public education system all the time. It matters for our world what happens in those schools. All children deserve the best education. Otherwise, I don't want to think what the heck is gonna happen to our world in 20 years?
I've always been a little bothered by the "hooray my kids are going back to school" stuff, too. I like seeing the first day pics, the cute outfits or the comparison of first day/last day how much they've grown, but I'm with you on the celebratory stuff. People whose attitudes toward their children are that they are a burden, a nuisance, and something to get rid of, make me sad. Since we are now fostering, I'm having to interact with the public school system for the first time (and I have a teenager!) and it's such a bizarre, foreign world. At Meet The Teacher night I literally felt like I was visiting a foreign country. It's as if schools are designed to be the central focus of a family's life, every activity you do, the times you eat your meals, how much time you have at night or on weekends, what you buy (if you collect box tops), what food your child eats, all are centered around the school. It has made me even more grateful for the opportunity to home educate my children.
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent post. Back to school is a time to take a look at your children (in a school picture or just observing their growth) and thinking about their talents and abilities. As parents this comes naturally. When the parent is the teacher this type of reflection can help in tailoring academics to each child. In a system where students are in a group a personal approach cannot be done. It's impossible. An option is for the parent to be involved in the academic experience no what choice of schooling -- either being the teacher or the coach (after public school studies).
ReplyDeleteI love the comment about hoping all children have a good educational experience. Our society is dependent on the educating of our youth. With that said it can be disappointing when the masses overshadow the one.