Home School

Goody summary of 'free range' vs. 'helicopter', but I'd caution against holding young children too accountable. I think a four year old using a lysol wipe is fine, but I sometimes have to resist the urge to use every mess mine makes into a 'teaching moment'.

I recently enjoyed a talk by Ben Bos. She described one teacher's response to: "Do the kids have to clean up [in your preschool]?" The answer was "we think they'll have plenty of opportunity to clean up as they get older."

Certainly we should learn how to staple and register for our own classes long before college, but we don't have to learn everything by four.

"A student once emailed me to say he couldn't attend class because the surf was up."

That is completely justifiable.

Your prejudice against surfers has gone TOO far missy!

Amen, Sister! As a former teacher, I couldn't agree more. Accepting personal responsibility is something that will take children - and young adults - far. Even four year olds can get somewhat organized and recognize that Mom is NOT their personal maid.

Starshine, you're terrific! I very much rue the fact that I didn't do a good job of holding my kids to account when they were little. I now have one teenager who has grown pretty responsible and two who are total slobs - aargh! I'm working on getting them to deal with their own messes, but it's much harder now that they're in the rebellious phase.

Some roots here on why when older these kids see no problem with Floatopia and the like.

Now that surfer guy or gal , in my estimation, was showing accountability for his planned absence from class. He/she took the responsibility of informing you of his reason for missing class, whereas others might just be late or not show up and come up with some lame brained excuse.

Surfing is a strenuous activity and surfers have an appreciation of the forces of nature and a respect for their environment.

As a mother, I understood this attraction to the call of the surf. I often would call the school and write a note explaining that one or the other of my boys was "under weather" for the morning. The school knew this was my code for surfing . It was an honest approach and my kids were never truants.

You think you got problems?
Try teaching at a continuation school!

This is not limited to the education world....it is prevelent in the "real" world, too. If I had a nickel for every time someone showed up to pick up an employment application and ask for a pen to fill it out, I would be a millionaire a few times over. Just visit the lunchroom or restroom at your place of business and tell me who has learned the simple act of common courtesy. (or personal hygiene!) Have you ever had to terminate an employee for multiple un-excused absences or late arrivals and have them question the reasoning behind their dismissal? You could go on and on and on. What rolls right through college, eventually ends up sitting in the cubicle right next to you. Enjoy!

"My students teach me things, too. I've learned, for example, how ridiculous the phrase "Professor Starshine" sounds. "

Not nearly as bad as bloggers who have to remind us that they are doctors.

>"I wish parents would teach their kids to respect other people's time," says a professor I know.

Do doctors respect anyone's time other than their own?

Did you ever have a professor come late to class?

Ten minutes - unless the instructor is a tenured professor, right? Respect/consideration is always a two-way street.

Bajamama makes me laugh, then scream.
>>“I often would call the school and write a note explaining that one or the other of my boys was "under weather" for the morning. The school knew this was my code for surfing . It was an honest approach and my kids were never truants”<<

Just minute. What’s honest about lying? You've set such a great example for your kids, who, by the way, were indeed truants. Not to mention the “look the other way” school. The principal who allowed you to "code your lie" should be fired and you deserve and F in parenting, at least the semester on ethics. I hope you managed the pass the rest of the course.

What's even worse is when these young adults become older, adult professors, have nothing intelligent to say, and bore you to sleep. That's not you Starshine. But it's a spreading virus at universities.