education is so doomed in this country

The two big “kids” have more or less settled easily back into secondary school this week. They know what they have to do, and therefore, just do it. The only blip on the back to school road map - was having to lay down the law to my 14 year old son who thought he could continue to work every night after school.

Montana has taken to working this summer in a really big way. His sister got him a job at the bakery she was working at. The bakery was in desperate need of a few good men, and in spite of some initial misgivings centered around his age, the bakery decided to give him a shot. It’s not every 14 year old boy who can be counted to arrive every day at 4:30am and be ready to put his shoulder to the grindstone.

The bakery bosses like him. He does exactly what he is told to do, he doesn’t whine or complain, and he can be trusted not only with money but to be on time. What’s not to like? Besides, they have also taken to feeding him lunch. But I really think the real pull is the money thing for Montana. He does whatever his boss wants and then they pay him in cash once a week. For him it is all good, though he has developed the rather strange habit of staring at his bank balance in a kind of wistful way.

In comes Momma to rain on your parade every single time. You can count on it. Not only did I insist he be home every night for dinner but I still say he needs to fit things like boxing, guitar lessons/practice and homework in his schedule - so work is cut back to one night a week and a Sunday or no job.

But it is my youngest, Isaiah Sender, who has my eyebrowing twitching this year. I suspect this year will so suck for him. Not only did he have probably one of the worst summer vacations known to man (watching his grandparent’s marriage go south) he got the ‘crier’ for a grade 8 teacher. I loathed her when Montana had her. She goes running out of the classroom on a regular basis in tears while the class sits in utter befuddlement as to what brought that on.

Call me old fashioned, but I don’t think a serious depressive should be teaching children. Apparently the teacher’s union doesn’t see it as a cause for concern or dismissal. She started the current school year by informing the class of the need to be really nice to substitute teachers...as she always needs a great deal of sick days. Gee, go figure.

Yesterday, Isaiah Sender brought home this children’s book catalogue published by Scholastic Canada. I suspect every parent in the country has their children bringing home these magazines from school. The magazine allows you to order discounted Scholastic children’s books. I was looking over the description of the books in the “Teacher’s Pick” section and was forced to conclude there must be a severe literacy crisis in this country. Here’s a word for word description of a Newbery Medal award winning book:

76. THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY.
By Susan Patron 144 pages Gr.6-up Girls

Life is hard for Lucky without her mother. When she about this Higher Power by eavesdropping on support groups, she sets out in search of it hoping for newfound happiness.

Or the entire editorial staff at Scholastic has been taught language skills by a compulsive/depressive crier.