Children say learning isn't working

"There’s got to be something better I can be learning." says Devan Whitaker, a forth-grader. The idea behind the entire Tribune article summed up into one sentence. Their problem is I have the answer. There isn’t! Children these days (and many adults too) seem to believe there’s something better than what’s currently available. They appear to think elementary schools should be preparing students for jobs in the real world. I say now just how does that work? These kids are in forth grade and inquiring whether what they’re learning will help them succeed in life. I want to know if they even plan on graduating high school. Most people I’ve seen, who think they have better ideas than the ones we’ve used for generations, end up dropping out or schooling for 6 years to acquire a GED. So just what are we teaching our children? To question the current system so that it’s changed, then blame that new system when you fail and expect everyone to just let you move on with your life?


Tribune Quote:
“The teacher’s like, ‘Well, in August of 1805 blah, blah, blah, blah’ and I’m like, OK, I lost you at ‘Well,’ ” said Quincy Cerabino-Hess, a fourth-grader at Winterhaven School in Southeast Portland.
End Tribune Quote:

I tell you, some children must to learn respect. What kind of forth-grader says something rude like that? I’m interested. I want to know what happened in 1805. I’ll admit I don’t remember much of anything specific from my years in grade school, but then that’s not really why you’re there. You’re there to learn about how to learn, and about getting alone with others, being respectful, and securing your basic understanding of reading, writing, and arithmetic.