I’m not a parent, I’m 28 years old and at a stage in life where I already have my degree and formal qualifications — I am lucky. A Londoner, I’m living in the Western world and so my viewpoints here are through a particularly privileged lens. But as I scrolled through BBC news and various articles yesterday around the struggles of homeschooling children I thought — why are we even bothering?
Despite not being a parent, I have been surrounded by children all of my life — growing up with my mum working as a childminder in our home before coaching basketball as a part-time job at university before then graduating University and moving to London to be a science teacher.
I’ve observed a lot of young people’s behaviours and actions over the years — one stand out thought is that continuously forced learning has never been very effective.
Too much stress causes young people to become unhappy and no one who is unhappy learns, they just become damaged. I’m not saying young people shouldn’t have to do things that they don’t want to do — everyone in every job has to do that, almost on a daily basis. But here’s “my two cents” on why stressing out on ‘Home’, ‘remote’, ‘distanced’ learning — whatever you want to call it, is not going to benefit the world and our young people:
The goal of homeschooling is ultimately to give young people a chance at success in later life — but ultimately this is the real picture of education at the moment:
- Schools that are half-open are given different criteria, rules and regulations to meet almost weekly with little prior notice — balancing the act of virtual learning with face-to-face for key worker’s children.
- The threat of inspection, ‘meeting standards’ and making sure students progress looms over Headteachers and senior staff — a stress passed down to all staff.
- Schools have overworked, stressed and exhausted teachers who couldn’t keep up before (through absolutely no fault of their own) and who are now planning virtual AND in person lessons at the same time — an impossible task to do well without the right resources.
- Parents are lost — juggling working from home with no idea of how to facilitate a child’s learning on Second World War History as well as teach their child French, Geography, English and Art and ensure they get enough exercise each day to stay mentally and physically healthy.
- Ultimately — students are currently left confused, unhappy and feeling like they are making no progress. It is a dangerous, demotivating and destructive feeling for any one let alone a child.
The question — what the hell are we doing and why?
The education system is broken as it is, I’m sure 99% of teachers would agree with me yet we are trying to then take the broken system and bring it into our homes because we think this is what will make our children succeed.
Succeed in what exactly?
The only way children can fall behind is by comparison and everyone should know that comparison is the thief of joy.
So stop it.
We all need to stop it.
We live in ‘unprecedented’ times (if I hear that saying out loud again I’ll lose it!) but it’s true. We need to accept that life isn’t ‘normal’ right now and that maybe breaking the mould rather than trying to change the mould is what we need right now.
If we did this, if we were brave enough to escape the expectations of education then we could see some fantastic outcomes at the end of the covid tunnel for young people.
Schools will, eventually, go back to functioning with laughter. There will be classrooms full of debate. Silly questions being asked. Teachers making fun of themselves. Work being celebrated. Passions being realised.
But until then, breathe. What is best for YOUR children whether you are a teacher or a parent?
If you’re lucky enough to have internet. If you’re lucky enough to have a phone or laptop. Use YouTube — it’s free and you can learn anything on there if you search for the right things. Personally I’ve learnt how to become a filmmaker entirely through YouTube. Allow your child to learn about things that widen their horizons — if they don’t have a passion yet, let them explore, let them find it.
And if you don’t have internet. Pick up a magazine, pick up a newspaper — analyse what is going on the world, be curious, be innovative.
If you cannot teach, homeschool or deliver to the high expectations being put on you as a parent or a teacher then do one thing please. Instil the skill of curiosity in the children around you.
Because those who are curious will naturally go on to learn without realising it. They will be passionate about something the world needs them to be passionate about.
The world doesn’t need a child who did well academically through Covid. The world needs a child that is enlightened, empowered and empathic.
And…
if you completely disagree with what I’m saying or that none of it makes sense. Ask yourself — “What is the point of education?”
Your answer will lead to your physical response.
