Our world is constantly changing. As parents, it is imperative that we recognize the new challenges our kids face, that are different from what we faced growing up. Are your children prepared for the realities of the new world we are living in? Bullying. On-line predators. School shootings. Social media addictions. Opioid dependence. Violent gaming obsessions. Peer pressure. Our kids are not growing up in the same world we did.
Society is changing at a rapid pace, thus, so must our expectations of school systems. Two approaches can be taken on any given issue in our society: proactive and reactive. Right now, lawmakers and school officials have been forced to take a reactionary approach to keep our schools safe. But what if we also took more of a proactive approach?
What if we back up and try to discover what is causing today’s teens to choose violence? What has changed in our society? What are the contributing factors that could put that level of extreme despair and anger into the heart of an American teenager?
It is time for our educational system to become relevant to what students in the 21st-century are experiencing. How can students learn academic content when their minds are full of negativity and fear and they suffer from anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression?
Consider Finland’s educational system, consistently ranked in the top 10 in the world according (U.S.A. is ranked 31st).
1. NO homework until high school
2. Bullying incidents are only half as frequent as in the U.S
3. Small class sizes; Student to teacher ratio is 1:12 (U.S. is 1:24)
4. Individualized attention and differentiated instruction close learning gaps
5. Shorter school day and 75 minutes of recess
6. Active learning approach vs seat work at a desk
7. High school graduation rate is 93% (U.S. is 87%)
8. Teachers paid the same as doctors and lawyers
9. Loose, general guidelines mandated by government, allowing teachers to design curriculum (as opposed to restrictive U.S. Common Core)
10. Intentional focus on social-emotional learning initiatives, rewarding good character, positive self-worth, and building relationships with students
Finland is taking the proactive approach to educating kids living in the 21st Century, and it is working. To date, Finland has had 4 school shootings since 1989. Since 2013, there have been 2,108 shootings on school grounds in the U.S.
Parents, this is the world into which we are sending our kids for 6 hours each day. And we have two choices before us: 1) Reactive schools that are steeped in antiquated 20th century methodology, or 2) Proactive schools accepting 21st century realities.
Thankfully, you don’t have to move to Finland to find a proactive school. Several schools in the U.S. are rethinking what young people need to prepare them for today’s world. The CinDay Academy, a private Pre through 12th grade school, would love to show you how we are operating in 21st century realities. Go to CinDayAcademy.com to schedule a tour.
