Saturday, March 14, 2009

Saturday 9: School Daze

Wanna play along? Click here.

1. Do you have children in school?
No. I don't have children of my own. And my cats are not like Snoopy; they don't follow me to school and perform better on tests than I do.

2. Did you go to public school?
Up until 9th grade, I went to public school. I went to a Catholic high school. I was bullied so much in middle school that I had to get away from my classmates.

If you have children did/do they?
N/A

3. Are you currently in school or taking classes?
Uhhh...that's how I make my living. I'm an educator.

4. What level of education have you completed?
I have my Master's degree.

5. Do you, or did you have loans out for your (or your children's) education?
I'll be paying loans off for my education for the rest of my life. Or at least it feel like it. Fortunately, I don't have that much debt compared to friends who have attended medical or law school.

6. What are your thoughts on the cost of tuition for colleges and universities?
Ten years from now, college will become a privilege that only rich kids can afford. It's not fair. Make college affordable to all!

7. Did school prepare you education wise for working in the real world?
For certain things, yes. However, most things you experience in the "real world" are experiences that school never teaches you. The "School of Hard Knocks" is the best education of all. I think we learn more from our experiences than anything else.

8. Did school prepare you emotionally for what lay ahead?
I really don't know how to answer this question. I was one of those kids who was bullied in school, and as a result, my confidence has always been shaky. There are some days when I regress emotionally back to that 7th grader who, at one point, wanted to take her own life. I'm not suicidal now, but back then, it was a really rough time. That's one of the reasons why I went into my field of work--to help other kids like me.

9. If you were to run a high school, what changes would you make?
It's important that kids know their ABCs and 123s, but it's just as important that they learn life skills--if not more so. I'd make financial management a required course for graduation, as well as auto repair and home economics. Kids should know how to jump start a car, sew a button, hem pants, and how to boil water for pasta.

10 comments:

drollgirl said...

I am so sorry you were bullied in school. That is just awful. I wish schools could do something about that problem, too, as it can be devastating.

CDB said...

Good call on #9, I agree completely.

Grand Pooba said...

What? You don't take your cats to school?

Lisa G said...

Loved your #9. Too right.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you on the life skills. Not enough kids do those things for themselves anymore and they need to know how!

Mimi Lenox said...

Thanks for the well wishes, Kitten.

Bullying in school is an epidemic and it must be addressed. Parents have no clue what really goes on in schools today. It is so much worse than when we were in school.
Don't get me started.

I'm so sorry this ruined it for you. It's just evil. I'm sure you do make a difference with your students. Only someone who was teased or bullied can know how it feels.

Amber said...

Yes, I very much agree with your last answer. It is so important that the youth learn how to be self sufficient.

Vickie said...

That was awful that you were bullied! I went thru a minor share of bulling. You know, people threating to beat me up and I don't really know them. I wish we could expell the bullies. I fear for my kids school careers.

That is a good idea about classes one should take before graduation.

Country Mouse, City Mouse said...

My daughter in grade 5 is having a lot of issues with bullies right now. It scares me to read that you were suicidal. I am going to have to be very diligent in talking with her every day about what happened at school. I am sorry it happened to you.

Jodi said...

I'm so sorry about what you experienced in the 7th grade. That is just awful. It makes me so sad to hear that. So many people don't realize how children behave and don't see the warning signs. Sometimes even when the parents are told they say 'oh not my son/daughter'.

Some children can say very hurtful things. It made me so sad about the boy who took his life on an online forum while people watched and egged him on. Did you hear about that? How truly sad.

I'm glad that you turned your negative experience into a positive one and I'm sure that your experience can help someone who had/has to endure what you did.