What is so wrong with this method of education? And I'm not talking about art class, but learning altogether.

Question

Once a little boy went to school.

The teacher said,"Today we are going to make a picture."

"Good!" thought the little boy. He liked to make pictures. He could make all kinds. Lions and tigers, chickens and cows, trains and boats. And he took out his box of crayons and began to draw.

But the teacher said, "Wait until I tell you to begin."

"Now," said the teacher,"We are going to make flowers."

"Good!" thought the little boy. He liked to make flowers. And he began to make beautiful ones with his pink and orange and blue crayons.

But the teacher said, "Wait! I will show you."

Teacher drew a flower that was red with a green stem. "There," said the teacher,"Now you may begin."

The little boy looked at the teacher's flower. Then he looked at his own flower. He liked his flower better than the teacher's but he did not say this. He just turned his paper over and made a flower like the teacher's. It was red with a green stem.

Answer 1

This is a very telling story, and as a classroom teacher, I do have to defend us just for a second - state standards, testing, policies, budget cuts, and benchmarks have all but stripped away the creativity from our classrooms. Many teachers feel the same way the small boy did - I want my students to draw their own flowers, but often, the standards mandate what kind of flower the child should draw. (Not literally, obviously.) It is stifling and frustrating to teach in these times, and unless the teacher is naturally very creative, it takes a lot of the enjoyment out of teaching. In California, elementary teachers have to grade students on more than 70 standards! The time for report cards takes away the time for field trips, fun activities, and art. So although many of us try very hard and have very good intentions, and make our assignments as creative as possible, it isn't always a possibility.

Answer 2

This makes me sad every time I read it. Urgh. There's a time when things have to be right, because there is right and wrong. There are times when right and wrong don't exist. How can there be a right and wrong way to draw a flower when you are five? Besides, everything takes so much longer when everyone needs to use the red and green. I never saw a classroom with enough pencils.

Answer 3

The little boy's flower would've come out nice and pretty if it hadn't been for the teacher drawing one for him since he imagined those pretty flowers himself. That's so sad because his flower was better than hers. I wish if there was something someone could do even though I didn't skim through it and read the full story because I don't like reading that much when it's too long.

Answer 4

I've read that story before, and I get sad every time I do, because it is so true.  Kids are not allowed to have an imagination anymore.  Nor are they allowed to be kids.  They are made to mini-adults from the time they come out of the womb, to the time they really are adults.  

I say, let the kids draw what they want, make out of clay what they want, and let them play what they want.  They, and you, will be so much happier!!

Answer 5

Nice story.....nice ending......true picture of REAL homeschooling!  

Thank you for sharing this