Anyone who has a child from toddler age up to the end of high school knows that there is no such thing anymore as free comprehensive education. In my youth, it was all about creating well-rounded individuals. It seemed that from First Grade, up to graduation from high school, we engaged in a bit of everything as an introduction and opportunity to discover our interests, skills and talents. Then, life seemed to be about school and home, whereas now students scatter after school to various expensive, time-consuming activities before going home.
Then
From early on, there were school-wide spelling competitions, school musicals and plays (not just a Nativity at Christmas) and athletics of sorts. In secondary school there were classes in art, sewing, cooking, woodworking and drama during school hours. I once participated in a fund-raising drive that had us sewing, stuffing and selling fabric dogs, turning our classrooms into a buzzing mini-factory. I have long forgotten what the funds were for, but I remember the excitement we felt about replacing academics with something fun, never realizing that we were learning teamwork, strategizing, leadership and commerce, not to mention needle skills.
The point is, these activities were optional and free. More often than not, my brothers, friends and I went home after a day at school for a snack, a bicycle ride or some other way to release our energy or creative drive and then the dreaded homework. It was "free" time in more ways than one. We left any fee-paying courses for weekends, if at all.
Now
As a counterpoint, it seems that paid activities from infancy are an accepted part of today's culture. Mum & baby swimming lessons start as early as 8 months. Gentle music classes teach children how to coo, clap and turn around before they can talk. Then, there are a tumbling sessions, messy arts & crafts and ballet. Now, with my children at primary school, we are trying to fit in swimming lessons, gymnastics, Brownies, creative writing, French lessons and tutoring. If my son ever discovers sports, I will have to figure out how to be in two places at once while working and getting dinner on the table. Combined costs this term for my two are just over £500. Now multiply that by three terms per school year.
What We Have Lost: Control, Money & Time
I don't believe I am alone in thinking that somehow the state-run schools have shifted so much off their shoulders and on to parents that we are being drained of personal time, energy, focus and money. We even get billed for their participation in the odd cultural activity that they bring in during school hours, as well as field trips. In the economic crunch, it occurs that we could cut down on some of these extras. But, ask my daughter which activity she would be willing to give up and she just replies "Muuuuuummmmmyyyy" through gritted teeth and gives me the evil eye. Additionally, I would actually like the kids to just be after school (I'm big on dreamy, imaginitive play), rather than do. It seems somewhat selfish to even consider that we parents would like more time to be with our children than just at the breakfast and dinner tables.
Many Questions; Few Answers & One Idea
So, why can't more of these after-school and weekend activities be included in the curriculum? Is it completely about money? Are teachers not paid enough to consider staying after school to run a club or team? I don't have the answers, but I do have an idea. We could extend the school day by 40 minutes like many private schools; 20 on each end of the day. This would also allow parents to get jobs that start before 9:30 a.m. The Education Minister could surely fight it out with the chairman of the 2012 Olympics, perhaps diverting just a teeny portion of the hundreds of millions earmarked for the P.R., the exclusive parties and the O.T.T. building works. That might actually give all school-age children the chance to find out whether they are talented in sports, arts, music, and drama, regardless of their parents' financial and time constraints? We may actually discover future Olympians, not to mention writers, scientists, and musicians.
If you have ideas and comments, I would love to hear them.
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