Dear Editor,
The event of a 7-year-old, probably going into the second grade
in the fall, leaving school to find her class should be a wake-up
to all parents regarding the logical thinking skills of their
children.
Dear Editor,
The event of a 7-year-old, probably going into the second grade in the fall, leaving school to find her class should be a wake-up to all parents regarding the logical thinking skills of their children.
Parents and teachers tell children repeatedly at a very young age to find an adult when they need help. In this case, even though the child knew there were teachers in the classrooms next door that there were adults close by in the office, how to get back to the nurse and that none of the chaperones, picnic food or picnic preparation activities were present that morning to signal “picnic”, the child chose to solve her problem by going to the park to look for her class. It appears she thought she could handle this herself and chose not to go to an adult.
While children often seem really smart and aware we forget that their reasoning skills are not mature. I was blindsided more than once by my daughter.
There is no set age where a child’s growth determines mature reasoning skills. Research has shown that the brains of many 20-year-olds still lack the maturity to foresee the dangers of actions like reckless driving. Geez, I’ve got some questions about the reasoning skills of some adults I know.
Explaining and testing children to teach them decision-making is an ongoing process. We can’t assume that because we taught them something that they will actually do it when confronted with a circumstance. Often it is the experience of a poor decision and not words that will make a lasting impression that counts.
I think this event was an alert to teachers who have students at the nurse’s office and to the nurse’s and staff. There was a failure to communicate at the root that made the whole event possible.
The new teachers contract will pay stipends to junior high school teachers next year to remediate math that those students could easily remediate themselves with the help of their parents. First, parents and students should buy or make flash cards. Then, set weekly learning goals and have the students write the facts, orally drill and take tests.
There is also a teacher store in town that will sell parents other teaching materials if they want them. There wasn’t adequate time in class to learn math facts when I was a kid and there isn’t now either.
Beth Dewey, Gilroy
The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a well-written letter.
