political participation in the classroom

Parent Cafe
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<p>I am all for kids being aware of how they can be involved in the community-
however- when they are under ten years old, I feel it is a fine line, between encouraging participation and making them feel the adults don’t know what they are doing. ( even if it is true)
[–</a> Blogmeister](<a href=“Test Seite - Class”>Test Seite - Class)</p>

<p>Our school district must make budget cuts- we have high schools that are built for over a thousand kids that enroll 300. ( many costs are the same- whether we have a building under enrolled or at capacity)</p>

<p>I allowed my younger daughter to change schools @ high school- incidentally from one of the alternative programs that has been around for 25 years or so , to an inner city school- despite misgivings. But that was high school & I hope she knew that if I had thought it was a * really* bad idea, I would have made the final decision.( however- she has learned to make decisions of greater importance over time- so I think it was a way to test those skills)</p>

<p>But in this case- While I would agree that the district is throwing darts at buildings they think need to be closed.
For example- a building that they just spent over $1 million this past summer on maintenance, a building that has a specially designed playground for the severely disabled children who attend there & a building which is at capacity & centrally located- will be closed- and those children will be dispersed to other buildings, unknown,</p>

<p>I am concerned that some kids may be affected long term if their parents don’t have the skills to reassure them, that they are running interference with the world , so they can do the important business of being a kid.</p>

<p>I would say, that I think kids need a voice, when they become aware of injustices, they need adults to help channel energy so that they can affect change- but it can take * soo* long for visible change to occur.
I don’t want the children to become apathetic and feel like they don’t have an impact- but I don’t want them in a tug of war either.</p>

<p>I can’t really remember-any real political agendas in my kids classroom at third grade. Sixth grade, but not third.
( on the other hand- I vividly remember being aware of discrimination by sex in 1st grade & would have loved if my teacher had been part of the womens lib movement)</p>

<p>Im curious what sort of activism is allowed or encouraged in the classroom, especially in the younger grades.</p>

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<p>If they are reasonably perceptive, they will notice anyway. </p>

<p>I was paying attention to politics on several issues in the 3rd grade, and would have resented any adult saying that I should not have been doing so because I should have been concentrating on being a kid. </p>

<p>My big concern here is that this classroom activism may be quashing dissent. What if some of the kids, for whatever reason, think that the school <em>should</em> be closed? Do they get a voice in this project?</p>

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<p>Little Hannah’s writing style cracks me up. But that’s the only
positive thing I can see here.</p>

<p>I’d say it’s pretty obvious that the children here are parroting the
adults, and being taught to have a bad attitude in the bargain.
Change? Oh no! Everyone knows kids hate change. Not.</p>

<p>Are they going to parade the little tykes before the school board next?</p>

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<p>Are they going to parade the little tykes before the school board next?</p>

<p>They have done that already- that actually probably prompted my concern- because I know that in some of the schools- you can’t get parents to come to the parent meetings at school unless they are actually ON the board, but they will bring their 7 year old to hold up a sign to the district meeting, and tearfully cry about what will happen to his education.</p>

<p>I hope that at least in some families, the parents are foremost involved and the kids are asking to be involved as well. But I also hear adults egging on kids, by stressing " unfairness" and downplaying what can be done for a smooth transition.</p>