We are fortunate to live across the street from a charming elementary school with well-behaved children and a sweet staff. As soon as I came outside, so did about 4 classrooms full of kids, to sit on the steps directly across from my yard. I'm assuming they're waiting on a field trip bus. They came out noisily and full of energy. One of the teacher began raising her voice (and I will assume she did so only to speak over the children to give her the benefit of the doubt) and tell a certain louder child or 2 (to whom I can absolutely relate. Thus is the story of my life.) to sit quietly on the steps. She said "I'm not telling you over and over again. We're not going to do this again. Be quiet." And ever since, they've all been sitting there in silence. All 60 or so of 'em.
I say let the little boogers talk. Heck, let 'em scream. They do have outside voices for a reason! When did we stop letting children behave childishly? (Ignore Victorian era). I've been battling to homeschool or not to homeschool. To Montessori or not to Montessori.
I'd be quite upset if someone yelled at my little booger to "Be quiet. We're not doing this again." just because she was exercising her God-given personality alongside her peers. I understand a time and place for everything, but in a group of 60 of your peers, outside on a gorgeous day, getting ready for a field trip, I'd be beside myself! I, as an adult, could not keep quiet!
I'd like to say that's the kicker. Little Adalai is stayin' home! No Bev-Perdue-consumer-driven-government-mandated-education for my kids! I'm not going to go that extreme in case I can't follow through and then I look like an idiot. But I will say it's food for thought! Let kids be kids! Let 'em talk, laugh, scream, express themselves and be praised for it and guided through it on how to develop these things appropriately! They have the rest of their lives to grow up! And who wants to do that, anyway?
As an elementary school teaching assistant, my advice would be to go to whatever public school(s) you are eligible for and talk to the assistant principal (they always have a better knowledge of what's going on than the principal) about the school's discipline strategies. Ask if you can observe a class, or at least try to loiter in the hall while classes are moving here and there. It will tell you a lot about how a regular day looks. ~Bethany
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