Education beyond academics...

I guess you could say that there are really two separate camps when it comes to how families treat the schooling process. There are those who simply fall in line, go because "they have to" and it's a good way to get the kids out and under anothers care for a while. Then there are those who feel that school is an important step in a child's rearing, and should be an all-encompassing part of that process to include not only the basic academics, but also instill a sense of self and of community.

I guess you could say that we fall into that second group. Unfortunately, I don't think as many can be counted in that group as one would hope.

Because, you see, I said that school should be a PART of a child's life. Sure, it's a big part - between transportation and the school day, they are gone for 8+ hours a day. Yet when they get home, there's still learning to be done.

"How was your day?"

"What did you do?"

"How did you do on that math quiz?" (aha - first you have to know that there WAS a math quiz!)

"Did anything funny happen during lunch/study hall/on the bus?"

"How is your friend - still sick?"

"Do you need any help with your homework?"

The questions could go on and on and on...especially when you have a talker! And if you don't, there's still no reason not to ask. Even if they don't want to answer right away, it always feels good to know that someone cared enough TO ask. How is that learning? It teaches compassion. That is something that isn't taught in a class at school. It isn't even taught in a single "lesson." It is learned throughout life, and must continue -- "use it or lose it," if you will.

When Boy got home from school yesterday, before he even had a chance to jump on the Wii and zone out to Sonic or jam out on his guitar, I put on Adventures From the Book of Virtues. At first, being the 12yo that he is, he rolled his eyes and just looked at me, as if to say "Mom, I am too old for these baby cartoons." But would you know, that within just a couple minutes, he was drawn in, anxious to see just why it mattered that Annie had used lower quality products when making weathervanes to sell for a school fundraiser - a lesson in integrity.

I really don't know where I was going with all of this. I have a cold, my head is clogged, and my train of thought has jumped its track. Hopefully the episode I found of the Book of Virtues continues to work, so sit back and enjoy -- and take part in their life education.