I’m reading this book, The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth- Popularity, Quirk Theory, and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School by Alexandra Robbins. Here is an excerpt that really struck me as a teacher, I felt that it gave a name or a face to the feeling I’ve been having as the years go on.
“Whether alone or in groups, these geeks, loners, punks, floaters, nerds, freaks, dorks, gamers, bandies, art kids, theater geeks, choir kids, Goths, weirdos, indies, scenes, emos, skaters, and various types of racial and other minorities are often relegated to subordinate social status simply because they are, or seem to be, even the slightest bit different.
Students alone did not create these boundaries. The No Child Left Behind law, a disproportionate emphasis on SATs, APs, and other standardized tests, and a suffocating homogenization of the U.S. education system have all contributed to a rapidly conformist atmosphere that stifles unique people, ideas and expression. The methods that schools and government officials claimed would improve America’s “progress” are the same methods that hold back the students who are most likely to further that progress.
In precisely the years that we should be embracing differences among students, urging them to pursue their divergent interests at full throttle, we’re instead forcing them into a skyline of sameness, muffling their voices, grounding their dreams.”
This starts in Pre-K. Shouldn’t we be giving them as many experiences as we can? Shouldn’t they feel accepted no matter what? Shouldn’t they feel comfortable enough to take risks and try new things? Shouldn’t our reach be broad and international?
Maybe as teachers and parents, we need to expand our definition of normal and accept others’ differences as uniqueness and strength.
educatorsdesktop 