Why our schools suck.  And how they are killing off future craftspeople.
My oldest son just started kindergarten.

I remember kindergarten as being a wonderful time.  I was introduced to books, learned how seeds grow, learned how to act in a classroom, learned how to play games like "Duck, duck, goose", "Cakewalk", and others. I never had homework. I still remember getting a little book about Midas as a reward for being good from Mrs. Threllkeller.  Does anyone else know who Midas is anymore?

My son on the other hand has a different experience to look forward to.  We had to sign a contract that we would read him 5 books every night.  A contract!  I read very well- I'm a speed reader.  I love reading.  And I think it's stupid to try to make the average family do this. Every day he brings home a folder with 'homework'.  I refuse to buy him one of the backpacks the other 5 year olds are lugging around.  I was given a printout of the daily curriculum.  Our school loves to send home printouts.  I noted that the whole day was devoted to reading skills and math.  I asked the teacher when they would be learning all the other stuff and she said "What stuff?". 

What about nature, basic physics, art, music, geology, history, science?  Crafts?  Games?  Language?   Philosophy, mythology, poetry?  These are subjects that if not introduced to children at a young age will never be appreciated,  Kindergarten is the perfect time for this.

I was told that because the class had 20 children the teacher thought it would be crazy to try to paint with all of them, and that there was a 45 minute window every day where a volunteering parent could pull some students out to expose them to these other subjects.  Which I thought was odd because my kindergarten class had 35 children and we painted all the time.

The teacher is Hispanic, as are a large number of the other children.  My guess is that the only language my child will be exposed to is Spanish.... out of nececcesity.  What about Latin?  French?  I had a teacher who read to us in several different languages... because she could.

The reason the school has a 25 book a week contract with parents/children is because of the new testing requirements.  They test reading and math.  That's it.  So that's what they are going to teach.  That's nice if you want to be a teacher.  It helps some other professions.  But what about mechanics, chefs, electricians, plumbers, artists, glassmakers, gardeners?  Yes, they all need a basic understanding of language (which soon will not be English), but what they also need is encouragement.  Exposure.  They've cut all the extra-curricular electives in the Jr High and High Schools.  No more welding, woodworking, stained glass, architecture.  No more jewelry making, ceramics, auto mechanics.  All of what used to be considered a "craft".  With every student railroaded into reading and math and good test scores which promise entrance to college to pursue a "career",   what will happen to all the 'craftspeople'?   Anyone who is interested in other fields will have to pay to attend a specialty school after graduation.  Even though 16 year olds are allowed to get their driving licenses, teaching driver's education is no longer included in High School.  How intelligent is that?

I am infuriated at the narrowing of focus in the public schools due to testing.  It does not serve the kids in the long run and does not encourage young people to be diverse in their options of how to eventually make a living.  What it does is pump out a ton of kids whose only qualifications will be to teach the limited curriculum they learned. And it does not ultimately give a good examination of how well they've been taught, or of their future possibilities or what they will be qualified to do to earn money after they graduate.

Although I love to read, and wish everyone did, I think it offensive that the skills required to be a good electrician are downplayed, that carpenters are not admired.  In my opinion this new method of supposed teaching will be the death of a number of professions I call 'crafts'.  And like every other endangered species, it will only be missed after it is gone.