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I have thoughts about the importance of education and teachers. Or more specifically Grade 1. A thread.
As a generalist reporter, I occasionally cover education issues and have often over the years quoted educational experts talking about the importance of early education and continuity. Why here’s an example from just last week! https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-quebec-will-require-masks-for-students-in-grades-5-and-up-in-common/
It’s only recently that I actually started to get it in my gut.
I’ve got three boys, the youngest two were in kindergarten and Grade 1 last year. The pandemic has highlighted some things I didn’t notice with the eldest.
I’ve got three boys, the youngest two were in kindergarten and Grade 1 last year. The pandemic has highlighted some things I didn’t notice with the eldest.
About six weeks into school, parents meet the teacher for Grade 1. I’m sitting at my kid’s desk leafing through his work. I stumble across this. Took me 5 minutes but I finally understood. Laughed my ass off. From a standing start, he’s already writing stories!
His birthday is later in the fall. One day his mother starts getting texts from parents asking for more details about the birthday party. « Birthday party? »
The moment the boy had half a clue how to write, he drafted and distributed birthday invites without his teacher or parents noticing.
The new year rolls around, and he’s stealing his big brother’s books. He’s got a library on the go.
March hits. I’m terribly worried about him and his older brother missing out on vital knowledge.
But really they’re ok because they can read. They can sit down to exercises and at least get something accomplished. They both spend hours in books.
But really they’re ok because they can read. They can sit down to exercises and at least get something accomplished. They both spend hours in books.
It’s the kindergartener I started worrying about most.
The guy in kindergarten spends the spring drawing pictures. And drawing more pictures. And playing games. And drawing.
His drawing is ON POINT. But he’s literally doing nothing else.
His drawing is ON POINT. But he’s literally doing nothing else.
I get him writing alphabet, which the teacher didn’t want us to do, no doubt because I’ll mess him up for years. (They only learn cursive here.)
I get him sounding out some Cat in the Hat. He’s a clever boy and is catching on but it’s clear I have no idea what I’m doing and this will take years.
From my privileged perch, the first time I’m seeing very clearly how a kid could be left behind in this pandemic. If Grade 1 gets canceled or turns into a shit show for whatever reason, what happens to the reading timeline to millions of kids.
Some of you will say « they’re young they’ll catch up. » sure. Nineteen percent of Quebec is illiterate and a third of us have trouble reading. Im sure the system is well equipped for catch ups.
Some of my Grade 1 kid’s classmates probably didn’t take to reading like he did. Will they catch up? Is pandemic Grade 2 likely to deliver that?
My family has many educational issues on our plate. None are as important as making sure my youngest can read in 2021.
Things get lost when school is cancelled and there’s no guarantee they can be found later.
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Things get lost when school is cancelled and there’s no guarantee they can be found later.
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