Teaching And Learning

"I never teach my pupils. I only try to present the conditions under which they can learn"  Albert Einstein

I have always had my doubts about school, especially for very young children.  Have you ever really observed a child between birth and 5 yrs old?  Before the school system has a chance to grind them up and spit them out.  There is a great deal goes on before the school system starts to mold them.  The defination of mold is: A shaped cavity to give something a definate shape.  So, before these very young human beings are sent to an institution (school) to be molded, they learn thousands of things, not the least of which is walking, talking, balance and so many other things that they will use all of their lives,  Hopefully they are provided with the conditions under which they can learn, then hopefully again they are allowed to learn.  There is something about school that bothers me.  A four year old being graded (judged) really bothers me, mostly because whoever is doing the judging should, but perhaps doesn't know that that grade (judgement) follows that child the rest of his/her school life.  I remember when my youngest grandchild was 3 years old and in preschool he got a report card and it wasn't meant to be flattering.  Actually parts of pleased me, "he doesn't colour inside the lines" Well shit, none of my family colours within the lines, how boring would that be anyway??? "he won't sit still and be quiet".  He was three for God's sake, he isn't supposed to sit still and be quiet, no three year old should sit still or be quiet.  I guess you get it by now I am not a fan of the public school system.  And from what I have read Albert Einstein didn't read or write until he was ten years old and he seemed to do alright.  I just wish that there wasn't so much emphasis in trying to make all of our youngest people so
"uniform".  Definition of Uniform:  Always the same, as in character or degree, unvarying, conforming to one principle, standard, or rule, consistant.  Now how freaking boring would that be.........................
Monday, Valentines Day, February 14th, 2011.............11;39p.m.