Kids seem to be learning faster than ever these days. The list of kids that I know who can sit down with an i-pad or android phone to play games, text message or read books grows longer every day. It's fascinating to see how 'in the know' kids can get when given the opportunity. But i-pad toting kindergardners aren't the norm. So how well are the average american children being educated?
Let's be honest. When our K-12 program has statistics like these: American K-12 Statistics, it's hard not to worry about children around the nation heading towards disaster. I would like to point out however that I do not blame the teachers of America. I support the teachers and want to thank them for the great sacrifice they have made to try and better our countries growing children. I think the largest problem comes from the school system itself.
It's also interesting to me to learn what it is that our schools aren't teaching. When I think about what children, ages 4-10, should be taught, it seems that learning about all the basic life skills are truly important. So then why where we never educated on how to make our own food? Why is it that I didn't ever learn about how sugar, salt, fruit, vegetables and all the other things affects my body until I was 22 years old, on my own volition? Shouldn't children be exposed to these things far before they graduate elementary school, let alone high school or college?
It's also interesting to me to learn what it is that our schools aren't teaching. When I think about what children, ages 4-10, should be taught, it seems that learning about all the basic life skills are truly important. So then why where we never educated on how to make our own food? Why is it that I didn't ever learn about how sugar, salt, fruit, vegetables and all the other things affects my body until I was 22 years old, on my own volition? Shouldn't children be exposed to these things far before they graduate elementary school, let alone high school or college?
I was lucky to have a mother that had time on her hands to teach my sisters and I the basics of cooking. She would force us to come into the kitchen from time to time to bake a cake or help with dinner. But what about the children who's parents bring them home fast food every other day? Or who have the idea of a family dinner as one of sitting round at Denny's or McDonalds. Where the only communication is done through cell phones or liking someones Facebook status? Growing up without the knowledge of cooking, how to read a recipe or a nutrition label and how to enjoy the community of food is a nightmare on your own.
Learning how to take care of your own body is really one of the simplest things to teach children in order to fuel their lives for a better future. Thankfully there are people from all different walks of life that are coming together and realizing the importance of this simple education.
One of those is Jamie Oliver. This is one of his talks performed at TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) in 2010 about his plan and movement to teach every child about food.
Learning to take care of yourself isn't an easy thing to do. However the simple education of what food is and how to eat it properly is a significant baby step in the right direction.
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