Rounding Things Out: Katherine on School

If I add up all the school years for my two children – one in college, one finished college – it comes to about 35 years. I hate to say it, but preschool and college seemed the best, and these were both private schools. In between there was big and considered one of the top in the nation Fairfax County Public schools, which seemed to get the job done (they can read and do math), but was ever so impersonal and rigid that it made me want to scream. Instead of screaming I added swimming, and violin, and piano, and voice, and Tae Kwon Do, and Quaker First Day School to round things out.  And there were good public school teachers and always someone who “knew” my children, and lots of friends.  I don’t think school can ever be perfect. We just need to let them go and then be very cautious and intervene only when necessary so they can learn to take care of themselves gradually. And they will.

This piece first appeared as a comment on School!