Sir Ken Robinson PhD - You, your child, and school: navigate your way to the best education

If youre a parent of school-age children this book is for you. My aim is to help you get them the education they need to live productive, fulfilled lives. Ive worked in education all my professional life. Along the way Ive had countless conversations with parents about school. Im a parent too and know firsthand that being a parent is a challenge as well as a pleasure. It gets more complicated when your children start school. Until then, youve been mainly responsible for their development and well-being. Now you entrust a major chunk of their waking hours to others, giving them enormous influence over your childrens lives during their most formative years.

Seeing them go to school on that first day brings a suite of emotions. You hope theyll be excited about learning, make good friends, and be happy and inspired at school. At the same time, you probably feel a good deal of trepidation. School brings a whole new set of relationships. How will your children respond to their teachers? Will the school see whats special about them? What about the other parents and children? Will your child rise above the new social hurdles or trip over them? As your child heads into school for that first day, its no wonder you feel a catch in your throat. You think things will never be the same. Youre right.

Emma Robinson (no relation) is a teacher in England. Shes also a parent and knows how it feels to leave your child at school on that very first day. She wrote a poem called Dear Teacher, which has since been shared by thousands of other parents. Heres an extract:

I know youre rather busy

First day back, theres just no time

A whole new class of little ones

And this one here is mine.

Im sure you have things covered

And have done this lots before

But my boy is very little

He hasnt long turned four.

In his uniform this morning

He looked so tall and steady

But now beside your great big school

Im not quite sure hes ready.

It seems like just a blink ago

I first held him in my arms

Its been my job to love, to teach

To keep him safe from harm.

I know as I give him one more kiss

And watch him walk away,

That hell never again be wholly mine

As he was before today.

Parents have always worried about handing their children over, but these days they have even more on their minds about school. Many are exasperated about whats happening in education. They worry that theres far too much testing and stress at school. They feel that the curriculum has become too narrow because of cuts in important programs in the arts, sports, and outdoor activities. Theyre concerned that their children are not treated as individuals and that schools are failing to cultivate their curiosity, creativity, and personal talents. Theyre anxious about how many young people are being diagnosed with learning problems and being medicated to keep them focused. They worry about potential bullying and harassment. If they have children in high school, they worry about the rising costs of college and whether their children will be able to find a job whether they go to college or not. More than that, they often feel powerless as parents to do anything about it.

Recently, I asked people on Twitter and Facebook about their biggest concerns in educating their children. In less than an hour, hundreds of people from all over the world had posted responses. Bec, a young mother in the United States, spoke for many when she said that childrens strengths are not valued and their weaknesses are magnified. Their grades are more important than their sense of self. Kimmie, another mom, asked, Will my children discover their true potential and be guided to a career that they love and are passionate about. Conchita wrote, I have all sorts of worries about my two daughters. I feel the current system will not let them shine and my ten-year-old may not get what she needs to overcome her learning difficulties and anxiety.

Jon is worried that children are gradually being taught to not enjoy learning: that its somehow an arduous rite of passage were all forced to go through with no solid reasoning. Its a constant battle to keep that spark of curiosity and delight about learning alive when the system packages it and sets narratives about education the way it does. Karin said, Education is broken. Theres too much pressure, too many tests, too many demands, too much assembly line. How can we reboot? How can we prepare our kids for a radically different life from the one the current system prepares them for?