According to the Springfield News-Leader, Marshfield school district suspended three students because they mixed some chemicals in a bottle to see if after throwing it in a field whether or not it would blow off the lid.
According to the school superintendent, “The students were told that they would have to be punished because they could have hurt themselves.”
Marshfield school district “blew” it. (Sorry…couldn’t resist the word play.)
Why is suspension the answer in something like this? Because it’s quick and easy and the least amount of problem for the school district?
Here you have three students who were clearly interested in science. They may not have thought about it in that manner but they had a curiosity about chemical composition and reactions. Suspending the students punishes them for that curiosity when instead it could be a golden opportunity to drive these students into learning in the future.
What if instead of tossing them out of school the “suspension” would be having to spend a few afternoons working with a science teacher on additional projects? Maybe the school could have contacted a local business that works in this area and asked them to host the kids for a day to show them how they do what they do. Instead of essentially telling these kids they’re bad we could take that opportunity and show them the possibilities of their curiosity…and show them how working hard in school could get them the chance to learn more and more about it.
Yeah, I know, rules are there for a reason and you can’t make “special exceptions.” Or can you? I look at education today and see how America is falling so far behind the rest of the world and wonder if there can’t be a better way. This looks like it could have been a chance for learning and encouragement and redirection of motivations instead of just a time for punishment.
Public schools love to educate inquiry and curiosity right out of kids, among other things.
I’m glad you’re spreading the bad news from an insider’s point of view Jack. The government schools don’t have education as a goal, they have institutionalization as a goal. They want good little workers who don’t question authority.
As always, there are exceptions (Jack of course) and many other teachers who as individuals truly want to inspire and mentor children along the way. However the bureaucracy squashes hopes in teachers just as often as it squashes children.