"Teaching" kids that life does not revolve around them - Page 3

[meemee]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

certainly taking a debate class will not solve it for all, most tend to dislike that type of confrontation(as others have also pointed out), thus the reason the teacher said others have already dropped out, to many it adds stress and defeats the whole purpose of learning such skills 

serenbat you certainly make a lot of assumptions dont you? they dropped out because they felt it was BORING. not adding stress. though of course you could call boring = stress. though a couple of them are now thinking of joining back when they heard what the group has been doing this week. unfortunately new ones joined and i dont think there is place for them any more. 

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

certainly taking a debate class will not solve it for all, most tend to dislike that type of confrontation(as others have also pointed out), thus the reason the teacher said others have already dropped out, to many it adds stress and defeats the whole purpose of learning such skills 

I really disagree with this statement. One of kiddos is in an elective right now called Petty Arguments which is a combination debate and persuasive writing class at her class. The kids LOVE it. They like to argue, and they want to be better at.

Some kids don't like confrontation, but a lot of adolescents thrive on it.

I suspect kids dropped because it they discovered it required effort.

[serenbat]

meemee, you certainly have all the answers

first a respectable teacher would never discuss with another parent the reason(s) others have left the class, you and not entitled to know and if this happened I would have reported the teacher and not took what they said for low value- it is none of the other parents business and you can only hope that teacher is not talking about your child as well - most would refer in generalizations and I highly dobut you know the full reasons

secondly most children (even at age 10) use the word boring and would not communicate/articulate that they were under stress- I'm sorry you are unaware of that

[lab]

Originally Posted by mtiger 

Are they also required to do something in the arts?

I'm curious what sport your daughter chose. Does she actually play, or is she stuck riding the bench?

Hi mtiger, 

My daughter chose running.  She runs cross country, winter track and spring track.  She never sits out a meet and has participated in every meet and practice (daily) scheduled.  She has also run a couple 5K's with her dear ole' mom.   As a matter of fact, cross country season begins in June; about one week after school gets out.  My three kids get up every morning at 8 am all summer.  Every day.  All summer.  Since they were in the 6th grade.  None of them complain.  Who was the poster that commented about having the expectation that your child will do what you ask? Maybe it was another thread.  But I agree with that idea wholeheartedly.   

My kids are not required to participate in the arts during the school day.  The high school curriculum where they attend offers many (MANY) art and theater classes.  Also, I'm sure you are aware of the statistics involving youth and sports.   I realize they are a generalization - but it is a generalization that I am willing to bet on.  So far, I'm doing pretty good!  

She has participated in the arts since she became a high schooler.  She enjoys piano quite a bit.  She stopped playing with a teacher because running interfered and she was unwilling to attend practice on Saturday mornings.  She plays a lot on her own at home and likes to teach herself new pieces.  She is also a writer and LOVES to create, develop and write stories.   She is very well rounded, well read and generally the best 17 year old girl I have ever met.

 I appreciate your interest.

[meemee]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

first a respectable teacher would never discuss with another parent the reason(s) others have left the class, you and not entitled to know and if this happened I would have reported the teacher and not took what they said for low value- it is none of the other parents business and you can only hope that teacher is not talking about your child as well - most would refer in generalizations and I highly dobut you know the full reasons

there you go assuming again. it wasnt the teacher who told me. it was the students themselves. i know what the students have told me and nothing more. 

secondly most children (even at age 10) use the word boring and would not communicate/articulate that they were under stress- I'm sorry you are unaware of that

yes you are right the term 'boring' could mean so many things in 10 year language. but its interesting that you immediately think stress instead of just lack of interest. i wonder if instead of a debate class if it was an art class would you still call it stress.