What’s Happening Wednesday: Thousands of students criminalized

It seems like I run across stories about students in schools every week that just make my skin crawl. I truly believe that most teachers have kids’ best interests at heart—but I don’t feel the same way about school administrators and especially politicians. In Texas, for example, around 300,000 kids are actually being arrested and even spending time in jail after police in schools catch them skipping school, using perfume or even farting in class. This nation seems to hate children, as we penalize them for things adults would never be sent to jail for.

Another school banned a little boy because of his Mohawk haircut. Though the school allowed the cut for an employee (a football coach), they claimed the kindergartener’s hair was disruptive to the class and actually sent him home for it! Can you imagine? The parents are cutting the Mohawk off so he can go to school. It’s really too bad; he looks adorable! And what is he learning from this? That he’s not allowed to express himself, that his haircut has consequences?

These students, however, aren't taking kindly to the way they are treated and decided to protest. When their school started treating them like criminals with pat-downs, metal detectors and other practices reserved for, well, criminals, airports and students, they took to the media and used photography for protest.

The latest Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning is online! There are various studies about unschoolers and more information. I am sure families who unschooled in the 70s would have loved to have had this kind of resource—and so many others that are available now—and I feel so lucky that we have it.

Have you ever felt pressured to weigh your child against other kids with a checklist or scale? Most of us are given a “score” as soon as our kids are born via the Apgar! I wasn’t, with a preemie, but ever since everyone wants to talk about charts and checklists. On one, my daughter will be above average; on another, somewhere in the middle, and it’s sort of ridiculous. This checklist to promote thriving in school-aged children, however, is lovely. Exercise, free play time and sleep are key focuses.

And finally, this slideshow of popular dolls without their makeup is really some food for thought.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia