Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2006 > October > 19
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Define lazy
Blogger/teacher Get Lost, Mr. Chips says his kids really are lazy … when they’re in school.
When they’re out of school? Not so much. That’s when they work — and they work hard.
Could these two issues be related?
Back in April, I wrote about some intriguing research — a paper that argued American kids work too much and it’s part of the reason they’ve fallen behind the rest of the world when it comes to academic work.
While we romanticize teen-age jobs in the U.S. as character builders, there’s at least some evidence that these jobs, such as slinging burgers, don’t really translate into usable skills. But the energy spent on those fast food jobs and the like is energy not used on school work, which could perhaps be more important?
This also put me in mind of the recent stories about how kids who are good at math also hate math. (Alexander Russo critiques the media coverage of that story here).
At least one theory bounced around in the news stories about why kids who do well in math hate it is that, like exercise, only a certain type of kid enjoys the reward of the punishing work it takes to get better.
It’s interesting so many of our kids decline to learn math and yet appear not to mind grueling fast food work. Isn’t there some way to channel that energy and dedication back into challenging subjects like math?
(Image credit: www.youthink.com)
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: My Favorite Posts, Teaching and Learning
“Tag you’re it,” and other dangers
Sorry for the sparse posting. Major computer problems required me to get a new laptop.
Lots of education news out there this week. I was somewhat tickled to see this Boston Globe story about a school that banned kids from playing tag getting tons of media and blogosphere buzz.
It’s funny because this is a pretty old story that’s been reported in several other cities. I even blogged about it back in February.
As I said back then, I thought this was a joke until I started asking educators. Indeed, they are afraid of kids being injured playing tag. My own daughter’s school forbids kids to even chase each other! Jeez, what’s more natural for young grade school kids than to chase each other around?
It’s another example of our society’s fearful and litigious nature. It’s ruining the fun for our kids.
(Image credit: http://everydaymusings.blogspot.com/)
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Student Health and Safety
