The Vent and Rant Thread

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

It still chaps my hide that everyone expects children to all be able to perform the same physically. Some kids can run .... some can't. I had exercise induced asthma (well, pretty much anything induced asthma in me), and when the teachers would force me to do laps (because I failed so miserably at gymnastic exercises), I would generally end up unconscious with my face in the dirt and bronchial spasms suffocating me.

We used to have to do cross country running at one school - there was a group of us who always came in last, including those of us who just couldn't run (I can't run. I can walk all day and then some, and I'm above average in strength, but I get exhausted running down half a platform to catch a train!), those with asthma, and those who didn't see the point. We came in last because as soon as we were out of sight (which wasn't very far at all) we stopped our feeble attempts at running and walked instead!

*checks* Still in vent and rant thread, good

The bit that gets me is that people expect all children to be able to perform the same, period. Be it physically or academically. And it seems to have been getting worse over the years. All children seem to be expected to be able to be high achievers in all the important subjects (emphasis very much sarcastic - important subjects seem to be those that make the school look good in the league tables), to be able to learn in the same way(*) and at the same pace. In reality, of course, not every child is going to be able to get excellent grades academically, and go on to get a 1:1 at university. And if they could, then surely that devalues the whole system anyway?(**)

I very strongly suspect (***) that the problem doesn't lie with the teachers on the ground, but more with govt ministers who don't know when to stop fiddling with things.

(* One of the things the place I work at is involved in is looking at alternative means at getting students who, for whatever reason, have difficulties learning in a typical classroom environment to learn; and it's apparently meeting with some success.)

(** I don't believe that university degrees are the be-all and end-all, either. They have their place, but so also does experience. And I've never understood why companies advertise vacancies for the most mind numbingly boring office jobs and then demand a 2:1 degree or better - unless the company is very, very good, they will have left before they have a chance of getting promoted)

(*** Again, this is a feeling I get from some of the people I work with)

[slayda]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

...

It still chaps my hide that everyone expects children to all be able to perform the same physically.

...

All you have to do to prove that we can all perform the same is watch the Olympics!

[desertgrandma]

I want to dis-engage entirely with the world.

I want to throw the TV's out the window.

Disconnect from the internet.

Shop online for anything I may need and have it delivered.

Make my home a cozy nest, and never feel the anger and brutality, hurt and craziness that is out there.

I'm tired of being assaulted at every turn with lies, from government to television commercials.

I"m tired of seeing children who need just a caring parent, having parents too busy to care for them.

I"m tired of the blame games going on, this side blaming that side, for the massacres being committed to day, here and all over the world. There is no solution in sight.

I'm tired of worrying about China, North Korea, Venezuela, the middle east, and Russia.


I'm just sick and tired of it all.

Thanks for listening.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I want to dis-engage entirely with the world.

I want to throw the TV's out the window.

Disconnect from the internet.

Shop online for anything I may need and have it delivered.

Make my home a cozy nest, and never feel the anger and brutality, hurt and craziness that is out there.

I'm tired of being assaulted at every turn with lies, from government to television commercials.

I"m tired of seeing children who need just a caring parent, having parents too busy to care for them.

I"m tired of the blame games going on, this side blaming that side, for the massacres being committed to day, here and all over the world. There is no solution in sight.

I'm tired of worrying about China, North Korea, Venezuela, the middle east, and Russia.


I'm just sick and tired of it all.

Thanks for listening.

Aaaaah! Poor you... all of that gets to all of us at some time. When I feel that way, I zone every news form out of my life for a while. And it works.

A "play outside day" also helps, gardening, cyclotouring or just plain physical labor. Those do it too.

If everyone were like you, the world would be a better place.

Hope you feel better soon. : patonback:

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Just keep in mind that statistically, you have a great chance of outliving the bastards and, when they are dead, you can dance on their graves.

Wow.. you've got a way with kids Ricky.

BOb

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Disconnect from the internet.

Shop online for anything I may need and have it delivered.

Wait what?

BOb

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by slayda

All you have to do to prove that we can all perform the same is watch the Olympics!

And, pump us full of steroids and other drugs.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Wait what?

BOb

I saw that too.

But, she's a friend, so we shouldn't rub it in .....

[slayda]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I saw that too.

But, she's a friend, so we shouldn't rub it in .....

Maybe that's just what she does need - a good relaxing back rub from a friend.

[phenomshel]

I know the feeling, DG.

[Curly]

I know how you feel desertgrandma. I usually enjoy reading the Sunday papers, but gave them a miss today. Between the newspapers, TV news, and the internet I sometimes feel I am bombarded with too much news and much of it has been sad, frightening and worrying of late. It can be hard to find the good news amongst the bad.

I read some advice a long time from Mr Rodgers (the children's TV presenter) to parents about helping children understand frightening news reports. His advice was to help children look for people who were helping. In other words, firefighters rescuing people or aid workers providing food. There are many, many good people out there doing small things that make a big difference.

And sometimes we all need a break.

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I want to dis-engage entirely with the world.

Happy to listen to you, grandma. I think we're with you. Please don't give up entirely on everything. But a healthy action right now might really be to throw that damn television away - literally. For me, it only causes grief as I see what we let marketers do to all of us and the small amount of enjoyment is not worth it. I'd rather spend the time doing something productive or enjoyable with family and friends.

[vivaldirules]

...and smile a little.

[nekokami]

DG, go ahead and get rid of the TV. I think that would help a ton right there.

When I get to feeling like this, I make something with my hands, and give it to someone else. It doesn't matter much who. I made a pair of amethyst and silver earrings and gave them to my therapist, and she gave them to someone else who needed a boost. It made me feel good. Making and giving away cookies has a similar effect.

ShortAndCuddlyAM, I am completely with you on the different needs of kids, which is why I'm pursuing a doctorate in education (thank you for reminding me that there's some point to this enterprise). I want to try to change the system from within. I understand the language of statistics, so I'm hoping to be able to come up with some arguments that the policy makers will have to listen to.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Oh hell .... I've had a hard time cutting my own toenails for years. Nothing to do with my weight and everything to do with the fact that I have zero flexibility.

I was the one kid on the playground that could not do a summersalt to save my life. Couldn't touch my damn toes even when I was a skinny little kid. Couldn't do either of those things during the period that I was in my peak shape, body fat 12 percent and able to bench press more than my body weight. My body is simply not made to do those things, and never will be.

It still chaps my hide that everyone expects children to all be able to perform the same physically. Some kids can run .... some can't. I had exercise induced asthma (well, pretty much anything induced asthma in me), and when the teachers would force me to do laps (because I failed so miserably at gymnastic exercises), I would generally end up unconscious with my face in the dirt and bronchial spasms suffocating me.

Ah well .... maybe a year or so ago, I was speaking with a girl (maybe 12 or 13) who was really upset at the grief she was getting from the adults, about her looks, her weight, her grades .... you name it. I left her with the best advise I could possibly give her ...

Just keep in mind that statistically, you have a great chance of outliving the bastards and, when they are dead, you can dance on their graves.

I recently found out that I have my family's congenital hip malformation that will eventually need a replacement. When I think of all the windbag PE "teachers" who railed at me for being lazy as a child, I just want to go around to their houses and show them my latest 1040 and go, "Fark off, fatso!"