Perceptions of Public schools in the media

[Anglyn]

Just something I have observed. I have seen threads around discussing are there books that are prohomeschooling because ps seems to be the "default" and its true. But, Ive noticed that almost all the refrences are negative ones. I was reading to dd the other day and the books kept talking about mean teachers, the evil principal, bad food etc. Kids shows do the same. Now,of coruse not all teachers are mean, I and my ds have had some wonderful teachers. My point is, it seems that even though ps is seen as the default and the way it 'should' be done, even the advocates dont seem to like it? Im confused really. Has anyone else noticed this? Its in movies, tv shows and books, for children and adults alike. Has it always been there and did I just miss it before? Or just take it in stride that ok, we dont like school and thats a common thing that unites kids? We have literally hundreds of books and the more of them we read through, the more I notice that yes, going to public school seems to be the assumption and the "normal thing" (and it is of course, the most typical thing done) but none of the refrences Ive seen are anything that are gonna make my kids go "yeah, I want some of that!" They all paint a pretty dim picture of it really. Is there some underground consiracy movement to undermine public schools in the media going on around here that Im not aware of?

[kathymuggle]

I don't know.....a lot of the media seems to paint schools in a very positive way. My youngest likes High School Musical , and it is all happy - happy-happy.

I think the media (of all sorts) use what sells. I tend to think extremes sell - either happy-happy or miserable - both of which are often unrealistic.

Kathy

[Dar]

Moved from Unschooling to Learning at School.

Dar

[Anglyn]

Oh yeah, high shool musical, Ihavent watched that one! We were reading Captain underpants and the main point of the book seems to be these two boys at constant odds with theier teachers, principal (whom the hypnotizeand turn into a superhero) coaches etc.

And our little ten year old cousin, the shows she wathces, the characters are always complaining about school. After the third or fourth kids book that portrayed school as a kind of antagonistic kids vs. staff I started wondering about it. Im trying now to think of books that were positive. I thought of one, Frindel. My oldest loved that book. A teacher inspired the main character to create a new word.

But overall, most of the stuff Ive seen is negative. Maybe its just the stuff my kids pick!! And one of my favorites, Enders Game, which paints school as really,really evil, but thats in the future....

[MusicianDad]

I've noticed things getting more negative where schools conserned.

It's been a while so I might be wrong. But I remember the book Sideways Stories from Wayside School being positive.

[supervee]

I think most kids must not like school, and that unites children. I mentioned to my husband that I really enjoyed going to school as a child, and he said I was a freak.

Public school can be bad or good, like everything else. I really dislike when people think the only choice is private or homeschooling. I understand that schools are "bad" in some places, but they ("they") say that our school system is bad, but so far it's a great fit, and I like DS's teacher. There is so much support for him and they have so many resources, in money and facilities. The teachers are very well educated and creative.

Well, I still really like school.

[Stella_luna]

I have noticed the same thing. I just can't relate to it. I always loved school (I even wore black the entire last month of HS, mourning the end of high school--I know, melodramatic, I was deeply entrenched in theater and a very dramatic 16-year-old ). All my friends loved school too. And now my DD (who is in the same district where I went to school) loves it too. But the public/media perception is that public school is hell. I know that there are lots of bad schools out there, but there are wonderful ones as well. I guess it's not as interesting/entertaining to focus on the good stuff.

[annethcz]

It's very interesting. I think that media aimed at preschool and younger elementary aged children is almost universally pro-school. Young kids are often hesitant about school, so all of the references to school are about how fun schol is and how important it is to go. Once kids have gone for a few years and they realize that it's not all good, the negative references start sneaking in.

My DS had an emergency dental appointment a month ago and the dentist (who I normally really like) made a comment about how lucky DS was to get a morning off of school. I think that the assumption is that kids want/need a break. When I told the dentist that DS goes to school because he CHOOSES to be there, the dentist gave me a strange look and just kind of mumbled, "that's good."

I think that school is view as a necessary evil by most of our society. It's something that's done for the kids' own good, whether they like it or not.

FWIW, I really enjoyed school. I got together this past weekend with a bunch of my friends from high school (some of whom I haven't seen since I graduated in 1995!) and all of us had overall positive memories of high school. I thought that was amazing.

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by Stella_luna

I have noticed the same thing. I just can't relate to it. I always loved school (I even wore black the entire last month of HS, mourning the end of high school--I know, melodramatic, I was deeply entrenched in theater and a very dramatic 16-year-old ). All my friends loved school too. And now my DD (who is in the same district where I went to school) loves it too. But the public/media perception is that public school is hell. I know that there are lots of bad schools out there, but there are wonderful ones as well. I guess it's not as interesting/entertaining to focus on the good stuff.

I hated middle school (6-8) and was ok with the earlier years, but I wouldn't say I enjoye it after second grade or so, although I loved my 4th grade teacher.

That said I loved high school. I was a on the school paper, a swimmer, and in drama club. I felt useful and challenged.

My 14 yr old doesn't homeschool with the other children because he has a public school option that works well for him and our family. He was in DC and Annapolis this week with his music program. They won the whole freaking national championships in their division and there was joy everywhere. When he called us, we could hear his friends laughing & crying in the backgroud. Talk about a wonderful and growthful experience. I've found that if your child has something they enjoy doing, and is respected and safe, where they follow their chosen passion doesn't matter much.

Some kids *are* suffering terribly, with uncaring schools, admin, stressed families and abuse etc. The news should report that. Some of it is overblown, perhaps, esp how horrible teens are, but I also think some terrible things, and most of the wonderful things go unreported.

[mommy68]

Originally Posted by UUMom

Some kids *are* suffering terribly, with uncaring schools, admin, stressed families and abuse etc. The news should report that. Some of it is overblown, perhaps, esp how horrible teens are, but I also think some terrible things, and most of the wonderful things go unreported.

I agree.

I think what people fail to take in to consideration is the home life of a lot of the children in public schools. All it takes is one child with a bad home life to go to school and make school life h*ll for other children that they end up bullying. IMO a bad school can be bad for many, many reasons, too many to list here. But I attended public school the whole 12 years and hated some years and loved others, just depended on those around me and what my home life was like. But, IMO it's not always the teachers, staff and school lunches that make or break a school. It can sometimes be the students.

[Mizelenius]

At DD's school I've seen children wear various T-shirts with negative school slogans. One was a camo shirt that said, "Homework is my enemy."

Why would a parent buy that?

[karne]

My dd was terrified of going to a school with a "principal" because kids at her former private school told her that principals were ugly and mean and didn't like kids. Mind you, none of these children had had a principle, and supposedly none were exposed to media. Hmm. Wonder where those ideas came from? To dd's suprise her principle is lovely, caring and really seems to connect with all of the children on a very persnal level. We have nothing but praise for her.

[cottonwood]

Just off the top of my head, Magic School Bus, Arthur, Rosemary Wells' books. All very pro-school. Maybe it's what you're sensitive to? I believe you that you're seeing all these anti-school stuff, but it seems like everything I see in the media directed at kids is rah-rah school...

[mtiger]

I loved school. Both of my kids (now both in HS) have loved school (with a few minor exceptions - welcome to real life) throughout.

Yes, there are poor teachers & principals out there. But the majority are good and are teaching because they love it.

As for students... the majority are good kids.

I've found the main problem to be with parents, quite frankly.

[EXOLAX]

Originally Posted by Anglyn

Is there some underground consiracy movement to undermine public schools in the media going on around here that Im not aware of?

I believe that if we actually sat down and looked at it we may find it pretty much averages out. There are some kids books and tv shows that show school in a positive and neutral light, and others who don't. I would compare PBS to nickelodeon on that one. Our eldest has noticed it though, interestingly enough. We were listening to the radio and a Naked Brothers' Band song came on, something about "I don't wanna go to school". DD started talking about how she likes the music, but not the words because she really loves school and "can't relate" to the lyrics. Then she started talking about homework and how most kids can't stand it but she loves it and wishes she had more. Much of what we see in the media is a representation of the culture at large. I'd be curious as to what statisticians say regarding the average childs' view of school. O.K... off to goggle it, bbl.