What do you look for in a school? Academics? Social aspects? Teacher/student ratios?….
All of these things mean something, sure. It’s important to have a balance in what goes into a school. However at this stage of Tot’s life, I’m sure adamant about a few things.
- Kindness and Love. When Tatum and I enter a school, how do we feel? Do we feel the love of Jesus applied? Is it modeled or just taught? Is Tatum loved by the staff and by the teachers and other students? How is it modeled in the classroom?
OK, so why is this so important? Aren’t kind people walked all over? Aren’t they like doormats? Jesus would say no. Why? Because one can be kind and still filled with strength. He/she can have pride and honor in who they are (a child of God) and then have boundaries and how to be treated. Then, he/she can treat others the way God would treat those “others.” SO, it really does come down to love and kindness. - Hands-on. Do these teachers and staff get down on the kids’ level and read with them? Play with them? Respect them? Teach them manners? It’s not about just teaching, folks. It’s modeling and gettin’ dirty with ’em! We are all in this together, and these kids need to see our humility in the process of learning too. They see that we are doing the work with them! They will honor that process we engage in with them, and then WANT to be engaged too!
There are many more, but at this ripe old age of 3 and a few months, I’m pretty sure that is what I want in a school.
She’ll get her numbers, letters, colors, shapes, etc down eventually.
I’ll get her reading and loving it! But the school? Well she’ll be ENGAGED with OTHERS and learning kindness and love in action WITH (fill in the blank!). Yes… WITH!! (not “at”.. )
She’s swinging into action!
(this picture was brought to you by the fabulous Douglas Hay)
Thank you, Paradise for Tots. I think we have a winner with your school!