Kelly Thielen

> Many things are taught too early in school,

In December this year, when my dd was still 5 yrs.old, she decided she
wanted to go to Kindergarten, so I enrolled her in the afternoon class
with the same teacher her db had had. She was read to quit after 1
week, but we stuck with it for a month. I was rather relieved when she
decided she didn't want to go to school and especially happy about her
reasons. She didn't like being told what to do and when(wasn't used to
it). She wanted to complete whatever project she was working on at the
time(coloring, building blocks, etc.,) rather than stop just because it
was story time, or whatever. I guess I have been unschooling all along,
I just hadn't labeled it as such.

Here is what I really couldn't believe or understand about her
Kindergarten class. They were teaching them math! I mean everyday they
had to sit down at the table as soon as they came to class(5 & 6
yr.olds), and do an equation. That means they had to not only write it
out on a piece of paper(many of these children were just learning how to
write #'s and letters and had a VERY difficult time with this exercise),
but were supposed to figure it out. The teacher would have a
number(from 1-20) on the chalk board when they came in, and they were to
sit down and figure out what + what = that number. Oh they had number
lines, and little +/= signs, and manipulatives to help them to figure it
out(and 1-3 adults), but they were too young to be force fed these
concepts! I was apalled. The teacher explained to me one day how and
why this was good for them, and I new I was ready to take my daughter
home and keep her there. These kids, for the most part, did not(could
not) understand what they were doing. It was frustrating and boring for
them. My dd tried her best, but this was the first thing she didn't
like about school and the way she experienced it was this: She told me
she didn't like "doing math", that she felt she wasn't learning at
school, and was beginning to think she was not very smart since she
didn't understand what was being "taught" her(actually they were told to
do, without being taught, and then might get some help). This was very
troubling to me, so I told my dd not to worry about "math", that she was
too young(vs.stupid) to understand it, and it didn't matter, just do the
best she could without worry(ya right), and concentrate on having fun,
because that was what she was supposed to be doing. This helped a
little, but it didn't take away her worry and the fact that this was
whittling away at her self esteem, at 5 years old. IT MADE ME WANT TO
SCREAM! For the life of me, I can't believe they do that to those
children. I am so glad my kids do not have to be put through that for
their entire childhood.

Yes, and since bringing her back home with me and her brother where she
belongs and is free to learn what she wants, when she wants, in the way
that is best for her, she has bounced back to her happy little carefree
and very independent 6 year old self. I am so proud of my children. I
just felt like sharing that experience with people who might appreciate
the way that I felt, and who understand the way that we live.

Thanks,
Kelly

Andi Kaufman

kelly wrote:
so I told my dd not to worry about "math", that she was
>too young(vs.stupid) to understand it, and it didn't matter, just do the
>best she could without worry(ya right), and concentrate on having fun,
>because that was what she was supposed to be doing. This helped a
>little, but it didn't take away her worry and the fact that this was
>whittling away at her self esteem, at 5 years old. IT MADE ME WANT TO
>SCREAM! For the life of me, I can't believe they do that to those
>children.


this is the same problem i had with isaac. he did get it and did well in
school but still he didnt relaly want to do it and didnt understand why he
had to do it their way. but it was the whittling away at his self esteem
that broke my heart.

Andi...domestic goddess and active volunteer
mom to Isaac
tl2b@...

Never Underestimate the Power of This Woman!