If society valued different traits, your kids would feel different about themselves. And so would you. Imagine if teachers sent home these different notes to parents.
(1) Note to parents of compliant kids:
I am concerned about Christopher’s behavior. He lacks initiative–he just sits perfectly still all day, waiting for me to tell him what to do. Perhaps he is energy deficient. I am concerned because he’s not very curious–he doesn’t blurt out or ask questions incessantly like my other students. I am concerned because he’s too compliant and I fear he’ll be a people-pleaser. He never questions anything, he just always does what is asked.
He’s not very creative–he colors inside the lines and follows the directions when building Legos. I am concerned that when he gets into the real world he won’t have the skills to manage a dynamic environment without being told what to do all the time. He is capable of being more creative–he just needs to apply himself. We would like to complete testing to determine what is wrong with your son.
(2) And what if YOU received this note about YOUR child?
I absolutely love having Jacob in my class. He is so curious. He’s always asking questions. When he’s not interested in the topic, he will find five other subjects that really fire his imagination and he’s very persistent in learning about them. He has great critical thinking skills–he always presents the opposite argument. I love that the other students are exposed to his thinking because he isn’t afraid to question everything.
He is so creative. He’s one of the few students who doesn’t color in the lines. He has the confidence to draw from a different perspectives than I ask. He is constantly using the fidgets I’ve given him, quietly, and I love that because it means his brain is awake and he’s tuned in, even when he’s not giving me eye contact. I am excited about Jacob’s future because he is a born leader and not afraid to delegate to others. Plus he’s got a really huge heart. It’s an honor to teach Jacob–sometimes I feel like I learn as much about myself when I teach him!
————————————–
It is critically important that parents and teachers view our kids through a well-balanced perspective.
