I agree with you Austin. I found the
"looking glass" between school and work
to be very interesting and true.

I am going into school to be a middle
school teacher. A special ed teacher for
students with behavioral disorders, so all
of my kids will probably be on tracks. I
think that the difference of rigid rules
between the upper and lower classes are
very interesting. I know I thrived in sixth
grade in a class where we were
encouraged to watch the news, form
opinions and explore. I think that kids do
need rigid rules as far as behavior is
concerned because they know better than
anyone how they should be behaving. I
think that an excellent teacher has many
rules as far as behavior is concerned, but
encourages less chew it up and spit it out
type of education. Children know when
you are teaching them below their level
and it teaches them that we don't expect
anything extra from them.

Schools need to return to intellectuallyy
challenging their students instead of fluffy
learning and grading. Children want to
accomplish something and if they don't
get in the habit of reaching way above
their head to learn when they are young,
they will expect to stand at a counter, a
corner, or elsewhere in their lives. If
teachers don't believe in and challenge
kids, why should and how will they learn
to challenge their self concepts, personal
goals and surroundings???