My Bio

I never enjoyed school; I simply got through it. It was a sort of uniformed education factory I attended with other kids I was nervous to befriend. It was a place where I got good grades to show my parents, and if I ever received a less than satisfactory grade, I questioned my worth and abilities. On top of that I've had sensory issues which took me a few years to grow out of, slight social anxiety I still feel the need to mask, and an overactive imagination. People always thought of me- the quiet girl with the tight ponytail and glasses, was smart and always knew what was happening during class. The truth is, I always pulled through in the end to get that "A" on my report card, (something I barely felt pride for,) but in the moment I would be distracted or thinking of a completely different answer than most of the other students around me. Since then, I've learned how to regulate my creative and focused sides, see social interactions as opportunities for growth and lifelong friendships, and my overall sensitivity for seeing the world in a positive light.

My brothers would have never thrived in public school if they had gone from kindergarten through high school. One of them went to a charter school all the way until 8th grade, but then found there was too much freedom and downtime in public school which provided him with other things which motivated him more than the drive to complete schoolwork. 

All three of us went through speech therapy, and my brothers had longer lasting handwriting and spelling struggles. For these to be addressed, we obviously had to be pulled out of class. This, of course, makes sense especially when a student is falling behind in class- yet therein lies the issue. Instead of teachers being equipped to address every student's needs in a single classroom, students who are extra prone to distraction or students on the spectrum are immediately categorized as "special ed." While there definitely are high-needs students, such as those with down syndrome, I'll go as far as to say many "special education" students are being miscategorized. Children are intuitive; if they're constantly told by their parents, teachers, and peers that they aren't trying hard enough in school, they assume something is wrong with them and will then use that as an excuse not to try anymore. They will call themselves stupid and inadequate. What causes a fair amount of high school dropouts? The system telling them they didn't have what it takes. How much do letter grades really matter? Teachers won’t admit that they don’t, unless you’re aiming to get into university debt straight after high school. 

As I heard of my cousin having struggles keeping up in her public school too, I only began returning to these questions. What things has the American education system, which is such a vital part in a child's life, been doing wrong? 

 “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)