School is coming. Even if you don’t have kids in school you are surely seeing posts online about the upcoming school year. Or perhaps you’ve noticed back to school sales when you are out and about.
Over at the Threw Mikes Eyez blog he’s contemplating his own school years.
Wishing I Learned , Threw Mikes Eyez
What’s a thing you wish schools actually taught? - - asks the daily writing prompt.
Give it a look if you can. It’s a quick read and it really made me think.
One thing I honestly wished schools had taught me was how to enjoy walking. Yes, I’m serious. When I was in school there was often a big divide between academics and athletics. I was horrible at anything athletic and the big push at home was for me to excel at academics. (If you’ve read my ADHD saga you’ll know how that went.)
Arts education was my saving grace because there was so much more room for kids who, in one way or another, didn’t fit.
Reading Mike’s post make me realize how one very simple thing could have bridged my feelings of disconnection and inadequacy.
I never had any experience in school that taught me that it’s just fun and feels good to move your body. School taught me that you’re either a brain or a jock. You’re either good at sports or you’re hopeless. It never offered me an alternative - - that you’ll always be a brain and a body and you get to choose how that works best for you.
I’m not talking about compulsory laps around the playground here, either. I mean walking to enjoy, discover, ponder, relax, change your focus. Walking to feel better about your body and yourself.
I was a chubby, asthmatic kid. How would my life be different if I had learned the value of walking and learned how to find it a source of enjoyment?
Just the simple act of walking could also connect with many other parts of the curriculum. Walking might inspire you to write a poem, observe changes in nature, form mental maps of your neighborhood, notice changing prices, count or compare things you pass along the way, notice the change in your heart rate on an incline.
There’s also the possibility of meeting neighbors, forming connections, building friendships, or simply enjoying passing dog walkers.
Bonus: the act of regular walking are backed by science and its benefits are lifelong.
I’m certainly not in charge of school priorities and I’m keenly aware of how overburdened teachers are. But, when I read the words, “Wishing I had learned…”
That was my wish.
What about you? What’s a thing you wish schools actually taught?
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