lol - I KNOW there's too many 'weeks' and a week for everything - but still amusing that now 1/2 the kids are nuerodivergent - but hey don't mention it!!
Went to parent evening this week at my daughters high school for next year. So many specialist programs for academic excellence and accelerated learning, the parents were confused let alone helping the kids choose what to apply for...and what if you are just a regular kid, likes school but no shining star...at 12 yrs old some don't even know how to tie their shoelaces. Competition is not always good, exclusivity isn't the way. All kids are special right???
Oh I found the decision-making for choosing electives in Year 7 with my son so stressful - it was a major anxiety inducer for him. He had no idea what it was all about! I love that they have choice in their creative electives but once again, this suits some and not others.
I work in a school in NSW, I see teachers, kids and staff all struggling on a daily basis. Children need dynamic learning and life skills. They don’t need to be in trouble everyday thinking there is something wrong with them.
Probably the only kids who are possibly thriving are those who aren't marginalised in any form. Teachers, I'm not sure many are thriving. Suviving would be a better word.
From the perspective of a mother who's two neurodiverse kids who attended a mainstream primary and a private girls secondry school the system is wrong in so many ways.
A curriculum that in no way caters for neurodiversity. A system that does not readily consider the LGBTQIA+ youth. Ridiculous pressure on the young to perform at insane levels. Year 12 was unbelievably stressful for the students, the teachers and parents. In what world is it normal for kids to stay up most of the night getting on top of their work?
We know it can be done better, we only have to look to Finland to know that to be true.
"Beginning with the individual in a collective environment of equality is Finland’s way." (from the World Economic Forum). That sums up what I would like to see in the schools.
I work in a private school as an administrative assistant to the head of primary, upper and lower primary coordinators and primary year level coordinators (P-12 school). Several people cover a duplicate role for the high school. The staff I assist often tell me if I wasn’t available to them, they would be doing this work late into the evenings or on the weekends. I’m so glad that I get to do a job that I enjoy and enable others to enjoy their role because my assistance.
I’m not surprised about educators wanting to quit, every person I know who works in public facing jobs say people are just feral since the pandemic. Really rude, nasty, and horribly entitled. Imagine how much worse that is in a schooling environment where many parents have no capacity to hold an objective perspective about their own child(ren).
My kids go to IB schools (both are public schools). Their less individualised, more collective and collaborative approach to planning and delivery seems to benefit both the teachers and the students.
Coincidentally I was out with a friend last night whose kid is neurodiverse. He attends an online school specifically for neurodiverse kids which they’re really happy with so far. Interestingly, the more she told me about the methodology the more it seems inspired by elements of the IB system, albeit delivered entirely online.
I love IB - my friend Toni in Munich (who I interviewed on the podcast when we were staying there) teaches at an IB school and I loved learning about their approaches. The IB is only available in Year 11 and 12 where my son goes (and the girls will go as well). It's a public school too. There's so many things our schools are doing really well. It's just, sometimes school isn't the best model for every kid. I love hearing about alternatives.
And yep, can totally imagine the landscape has completely changed after the pandemic. It really did alter so much. I find it strange we aren't still talking about it more.
I feel quite positive about the fact that these conversations are happening and that so many different models of education are popping up.
I get that it’s tough when we’re in transition, and a lot of people who are at the front line of that change are currently unsupported, but as a society it is a huge feat to offer public education for all. So the fact we’re now in a phase where we’re collectively exploring how we individualise that is pretty cool.
My son had no interest in swimming sports day ...how much effort should I really put into that fight? He didn't go so of course was marked away...but he didn't really miss science or maths by his decision..that is just the school getting their hours in! By high school kids know if they are interested in swim racing or cheering. There is no mandatory annual choir day! The Victorian department of education thinks students should have less than 5 days off a year. So what one cold? The local doctors and most specialists don't operate on weekends so that seems pretty unachievable for us right now.
Attendance is really triggering for me because we have been there, working really hard and adjusting things. We were having fortnightly meetings with the school to get a school refuser comfortable enough to get back to school. Missing work to provide care to a kid who just couldn't get to school.
I have a problem with the preferred term of "school can't" it's such a final statement (where is the yet).
I wish there was catch up flexibility. Like the option of Saturday school for kids who had appointments in the week etc. Or some catch up weeks in holidays I don't know something other..
I think the union might be benefiting. Not sure who else is thriving with this system!
The schooling system is definitely broken and is slowly breaking the people who work there. One of the biggest issues is that teachers actually can’t speak out and tell the truth. It is in employment conditions and codes of conduct that we can’t speak to the media and can’t speak contrary to our employer’s (usually the government or large church institutions) policies or without permission. What other profession is completely gagged from speaking their truth?
The school system is not working for my two kids. My younger daughter is autistic (level 1) and has ADHD, and she struggles with massive anxiety. It's hard navigating year 8 with all of that going on. She's doing her best and the school is bending over backwards to do all they can for her, but as you say, it's the system itself.
We don't know what will happen, but we've been down this path before, with my elder daughter. She's also autistic (level 2) - it wasn't diagnosed until well after we came out of the big lockdown in late 2020, with the resulting complete meltdown, explosive tics and mental health issues. The combination of navigating year 7 with covid was just too much for her. We finally got her diagnosis in late 2022, and by last year she still hadn't been able to get back to school.
We tried Virtual School Victoria, but she really struggled with the lack of social contact. She now also has ME/CFS and functional neurological disorder, and her tics have just been diagnosed as Tourette's, and as a neurodivergent kid with lots of struggles she just couldn't get back to a regular school.
We've enrolled her in a senior secondary school for year 11 this year to see how that goes, and she's trying to do three subjects. With only two year levels, it's a small school, and they've structured the week so that kids have Wednesdays at home to study. This is helping her so much, and the school is full of other kids like her, who struggle in other schools. She's finally found a school environment that works for her, even if it's taken most of her high school years to find it. Now we just have to get her ME/CFS and FND under control enough for her to actually make it through!
All of this is a long-winded way of saying I totally agree, for a lot of kids the school system just doesn't work, and we need to find a better way. For my kids a part-time situation would be ideal. It works for my eldest; my youngest doesn't have that option, but she needs to take a day at home every week to cope with the overwhelm. I hope you find what works for you and your family, but it's really tough.
Our school is celebrating like 3 things this week
Harmony Day
Ride to School Day
and some other thing I cant recall
No mention of Nuero diversity Awareness week
lol - I KNOW there's too many 'weeks' and a week for everything - but still amusing that now 1/2 the kids are nuerodivergent - but hey don't mention it!!
Our school certainly isn’t celebrating that either. But yep - other two got the nod!
Went to parent evening this week at my daughters high school for next year. So many specialist programs for academic excellence and accelerated learning, the parents were confused let alone helping the kids choose what to apply for...and what if you are just a regular kid, likes school but no shining star...at 12 yrs old some don't even know how to tie their shoelaces. Competition is not always good, exclusivity isn't the way. All kids are special right???
Oh I found the decision-making for choosing electives in Year 7 with my son so stressful - it was a major anxiety inducer for him. He had no idea what it was all about! I love that they have choice in their creative electives but once again, this suits some and not others.
I work in a school in NSW, I see teachers, kids and staff all struggling on a daily basis. Children need dynamic learning and life skills. They don’t need to be in trouble everyday thinking there is something wrong with them.
Oh goodness YES!
Probably the only kids who are possibly thriving are those who aren't marginalised in any form. Teachers, I'm not sure many are thriving. Suviving would be a better word.
From the perspective of a mother who's two neurodiverse kids who attended a mainstream primary and a private girls secondry school the system is wrong in so many ways.
A curriculum that in no way caters for neurodiversity. A system that does not readily consider the LGBTQIA+ youth. Ridiculous pressure on the young to perform at insane levels. Year 12 was unbelievably stressful for the students, the teachers and parents. In what world is it normal for kids to stay up most of the night getting on top of their work?
We know it can be done better, we only have to look to Finland to know that to be true.
"Beginning with the individual in a collective environment of equality is Finland’s way." (from the World Economic Forum). That sums up what I would like to see in the schools.
I’m with you. The models are there. But is there a willingness to genuinely consider overhauling the system in government?
I work in a private school as an administrative assistant to the head of primary, upper and lower primary coordinators and primary year level coordinators (P-12 school). Several people cover a duplicate role for the high school. The staff I assist often tell me if I wasn’t available to them, they would be doing this work late into the evenings or on the weekends. I’m so glad that I get to do a job that I enjoy and enable others to enjoy their role because my assistance.
I’m not surprised about educators wanting to quit, every person I know who works in public facing jobs say people are just feral since the pandemic. Really rude, nasty, and horribly entitled. Imagine how much worse that is in a schooling environment where many parents have no capacity to hold an objective perspective about their own child(ren).
My kids go to IB schools (both are public schools). Their less individualised, more collective and collaborative approach to planning and delivery seems to benefit both the teachers and the students.
Coincidentally I was out with a friend last night whose kid is neurodiverse. He attends an online school specifically for neurodiverse kids which they’re really happy with so far. Interestingly, the more she told me about the methodology the more it seems inspired by elements of the IB system, albeit delivered entirely online.
I love IB - my friend Toni in Munich (who I interviewed on the podcast when we were staying there) teaches at an IB school and I loved learning about their approaches. The IB is only available in Year 11 and 12 where my son goes (and the girls will go as well). It's a public school too. There's so many things our schools are doing really well. It's just, sometimes school isn't the best model for every kid. I love hearing about alternatives.
And yep, can totally imagine the landscape has completely changed after the pandemic. It really did alter so much. I find it strange we aren't still talking about it more.
I feel quite positive about the fact that these conversations are happening and that so many different models of education are popping up.
I get that it’s tough when we’re in transition, and a lot of people who are at the front line of that change are currently unsupported, but as a society it is a huge feat to offer public education for all. So the fact we’re now in a phase where we’re collectively exploring how we individualise that is pretty cool.
My son had no interest in swimming sports day ...how much effort should I really put into that fight? He didn't go so of course was marked away...but he didn't really miss science or maths by his decision..that is just the school getting their hours in! By high school kids know if they are interested in swim racing or cheering. There is no mandatory annual choir day! The Victorian department of education thinks students should have less than 5 days off a year. So what one cold? The local doctors and most specialists don't operate on weekends so that seems pretty unachievable for us right now.
Attendance is really triggering for me because we have been there, working really hard and adjusting things. We were having fortnightly meetings with the school to get a school refuser comfortable enough to get back to school. Missing work to provide care to a kid who just couldn't get to school.
I have a problem with the preferred term of "school can't" it's such a final statement (where is the yet).
I wish there was catch up flexibility. Like the option of Saturday school for kids who had appointments in the week etc. Or some catch up weeks in holidays I don't know something other..
I think the union might be benefiting. Not sure who else is thriving with this system!
So true about the forced attendance at sports days!
The schooling system is definitely broken and is slowly breaking the people who work there. One of the biggest issues is that teachers actually can’t speak out and tell the truth. It is in employment conditions and codes of conduct that we can’t speak to the media and can’t speak contrary to our employer’s (usually the government or large church institutions) policies or without permission. What other profession is completely gagged from speaking their truth?
Wowwww - I didn't know this! I think the amount of teachers leaving the profession is proof enough of the discontent that exists.
The school system is not working for my two kids. My younger daughter is autistic (level 1) and has ADHD, and she struggles with massive anxiety. It's hard navigating year 8 with all of that going on. She's doing her best and the school is bending over backwards to do all they can for her, but as you say, it's the system itself.
We don't know what will happen, but we've been down this path before, with my elder daughter. She's also autistic (level 2) - it wasn't diagnosed until well after we came out of the big lockdown in late 2020, with the resulting complete meltdown, explosive tics and mental health issues. The combination of navigating year 7 with covid was just too much for her. We finally got her diagnosis in late 2022, and by last year she still hadn't been able to get back to school.
We tried Virtual School Victoria, but she really struggled with the lack of social contact. She now also has ME/CFS and functional neurological disorder, and her tics have just been diagnosed as Tourette's, and as a neurodivergent kid with lots of struggles she just couldn't get back to a regular school.
We've enrolled her in a senior secondary school for year 11 this year to see how that goes, and she's trying to do three subjects. With only two year levels, it's a small school, and they've structured the week so that kids have Wednesdays at home to study. This is helping her so much, and the school is full of other kids like her, who struggle in other schools. She's finally found a school environment that works for her, even if it's taken most of her high school years to find it. Now we just have to get her ME/CFS and FND under control enough for her to actually make it through!
All of this is a long-winded way of saying I totally agree, for a lot of kids the school system just doesn't work, and we need to find a better way. For my kids a part-time situation would be ideal. It works for my eldest; my youngest doesn't have that option, but she needs to take a day at home every week to cope with the overwhelm. I hope you find what works for you and your family, but it's really tough.
Wow that's a lot to navigate Brooke. What an amazing job you are doing with your kids. Thank goodness they have you ❤️