(no subject)

[dampscribbler]

This is probably not going to be nearly as well-articulated as I would like, as I've been wordless for so long that I'm losing all skills, but I had a thought last night and I want to grab it, because it's important, and I want to think about it and I want others to think about it, too.

Our schools have all of these resources for identifying "problem" kids -- bullies, troublemakers, reading-challenged, math-challenged, what-have-you.  These resources are poor and underfunded and miss many kids or maybe the kids get the program but it's not the right program for *that* kid, so it doesn't help, or it doesn't help enough, or whatever, -- but -- the programs are there, and we're trying.  

What we don't have, and I think we legitimately need in the schools, are programs to identify kids' strengths.  Who is a future engineer? attorney? medical researcher? climate scientist? plumber? carpenter? mechanic?  Why is there so much focus on weaknesses and so little on strengths?  

That's all for now, I'm off to see my daughter's painting.  :)

Comments

[wordsrmylife.livejournal.com]

There are those that would argue, that's what Gifted and Talented programs do. However, I think you are asking a much deeper question, one that is extremely important. I don't care who the kid is, they have an interest and a strength that has the potential to give them direction and help them become self-sufficient adults. Once they have know where they are headed, then they have a reason to work on whatever it is that they need to work on (behavior, math, reading).

The bottom line: kids need purpose (just like the rest of us). Purpose is what keeps us going through challenges.

I know a guy who said, the only things that got me through school were shop and music. Guess what, he went on to design a new mandolin and receive a patent for that design, and he ran a mandolin company for about 10 years.

So, along with identifying areas where kids need extra help, we need to find out what they are good at (everyone is good at something!) and we need to find out what they are passionate about.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's it exactly! *Every* kid has strengths to build on, whether the kid is identified as "gifted and talented," "troubled" (or "learning disabled") or is simply one of the vast middle. What better place to identify and develop a kid's talents than at school -- and yet it seems to be nowhere in the mission of the schools or of "education" to help kids understand and pursue what they are actually good at.

Thanks, Kathy! :)