SCHOOL OF A THOUSAND SMILES - Don Hanley’s blog #78

Weekly, I see reports about how an increasing number of American teens and even pre-teens are committing suicide and being clinically anxious and depressed. And I often hear, “What in hell is wrong with these kids? Kids have never had it so good; they have everything they want.” Many articles want to see more mental health services available for these children and young people—many blame adolescents' time in front of their computers and being addicted to social media outlets.

No one seems to realize or even mention the emotional vacuum and inhumane these kids are living in these days. Even if it is nice, an empty house can still be cruel if there are few or only part-time caring people with and for them. Too many kids are saying, often silently, “Who gives a damn about me?”

I was sharing my concerns with my Nazarene cohort, and after telling them a bit about our big schools and how they are set up, I told them how I thought we should make our schools havens for warmth, compassion, and creativity. I told them that my ideal school has these characteristics:

1.    All school personnel are KIND and love children – from principals, teachers, and other school staff, including janitors. 

2.   All schools are Kindergarten through 12^th grades. We are too age-segregated now and need to be integrated. Even retired people help out.

3.    All classes are around 20 students and will be seated in circles rather than rows.

4.   Students will all have laptop computers and can be involved in discussing study topics – teachers are facilitators, not ‘fact givers,’ as students have ‘facts’ available on their computers and smartphones.

5.    Every student will be part of a 10-person cohort with a trained facilitator who will help them learn to care for themselves and one another.

This cohort will stay together with the same ‘tator’ (facilitator)) for four years and continue for four years with a new one. The cohort meets for 2 hours each week.                                      

6.   Each school day begins with all students, teachers, and other school personnel singing and dancing for 20 to 30 minutes each morning. Parents may join in.

7.    The primary concern for administrators is keeping students home when sick.

John nodded and said, “Wow, that sounds like a very positive and kind place to be with others. Each school would have about 250 students. That’s more than all the people of all ages here in Nazareth. And what is holding it back? It sounds like a wonderful plan.” Mary, Ruth, and Joshua all nodded.

“First is the centuries-old belief in an educational philosophy that is built on the idea that children must be ‘made’ to learn and even forced, with punishment, if necessary.”

Mary immediately spoke up, “I totally disagree with that philosophy, and your children should be thankful for such an opportunity. Jesus thought that all children everywhere wanted to learn and just needed to be taught to read, write, and do mathematics. He also thought that the Roman rulers and even the Jewish semi-rulers wanted them to remain ignorant so they would be subservient. Do your upper class still want your children to be ignorant?”

“They say that they do not, but they  just want to learn ideas and principles to help them be hard workers.”

John asked, “And do the places where they work treat them well?” I told him that some employers did and some did not and that it depended a lot on how many needed jobs at any one time. And with that, I vanished … Now, please.

Continue to open your heart and mind, study many menus, and then choose to enjoy the banquet of life.