Sunday, January 6th, 2008
I read an interesting article on the blog Been There last night regarding television and how impressionable our children are when watching it and the responsibilities of the channels airing the programmes. It was honing in on Jamie Spears, sister of Britney, who at 16 has announced she is pregnant.
One of the authors, Cooper, wrote an open letter to a newspaper which I could relate to regarding some of the teen programmes which show children in a really rude and sometimes obnoxious light. I applaud her speaking out on a subject that has upset her.
Jamie Lynn Spears and My Open Letter to Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel
Originally posted on The Huffington Post:
Today, when my kids arrive home from school, I predict the first thing they will want to talk about is the fact that Zoey 101 is going to have a baby.
And then the questions will start. "Mom, isn’t she in like 9th grade?" "Mom, Jamie Lynn Spears isn’t married." "Mom, how can a kid have a baby?"
Click here for the rest of the article.
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Obviously the answer would be not to let them watch the tv programmes, but is that letting the channels off lightly? How often do we really question things at a higher level and how often do we just let things go because it’s just easier that way?
The other reason this article stirred me is because I’m in a quandry at the moment regarding my son and school. If you read my articles before Christmas you will know that my youngest son, who is now in year 2, is finding going to school unbearable.
The reason, as far as we can tell, is that school is no longer fun. The games have reduced and there is more ‘hard work’ due to the pressure of SATs. Although we have a sympathetic teacher, her hands are tied because of government objectives.
At ages 6 and 7 should our children be pushed when they sometimes haven’t even grasped the basics? I am not interested in SATs, I’m not interested in the results if I’m honest. I would rather know that my child can write well, knows how to spell, can formulate his sentences properly and knows the basics in maths. In other words the three R’s.
For goodness sake they only teach them the 1 - 10 times tables at junior school. (We rectify that at home.)
If they are being pushed because of timing limits in schools to the detriment of the basics, no wonder results are not good. My son at infant school is doing things I didn’t touch until junior school. My son who is at junior school is completing things I know we didn’t touch until senior school. I consider that I had a good education.
My reason for rambling is because as a parent I think there is something fundamentally wrong. I am fortunate to live in an area of good schools, I am fortunate that my children are intelligent. But if school becomes a chore at such an early age what chance do we have to get them through the later years.
We know my son’s teacher is in agreement with us about the SATs and when I suggested it should go further, she agreed. She actually wished that more parents would raise the issues.
That is such a telling statement. I also have teacher friends who say that they are no longer ‘allowed’ to teach, having to fit in with such bureaucracy even to the point that in one school she worked at, they cut minutes from play time to keep in line with government guidelines.
I am also aware that my son does get on with work once I get him through the doors, but he does not enjoy it. With him starting a new school in September this worries me immensely. I know that through working with his teacher she is taking care to watch him more in class and other members of the teaching staff are being ‘nicer’ to him.
But with my daughter just starting out on the education ladder at nursery at what point do I say stop. My eldest son also found it difficult reaching year 2 and it put him on a back foot for when he started junior school. So I am more alert to the problem than the first time round.
Would I even make a difference? Would it be worth even trying? Maybe, maybe not, but I think I have to have a go to be able to say I tried.
What do you think?
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