Let the kids be kids!
You may have seen it mentioned across social media already, but what is Let The Kids Be Kids all about? This is a guest post from Marina about the campaign.
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On 3rd May 2016 many parents and carers across the country are holding a STRIKE in support of our schools and teaching staff.
Many teachers find teaching and having to get children to pass certain standardised tests a measure of their own capability to teach.
Many have left the profession as this isn’t how they thought teaching would be when embarking on their vocation. Ofsted regulates everything including how our children should be taught and what levels they should be learning.
Pressure from them to pass these criteria often leads to our children feeling like failures as they don’t conform to set standards. Our children are nothing more than lab rats and we want to allow them to be allowed to be being taught in play-filled and fun learning environments without these added pressures for both students and staff.
On this strike day, we aren’t using it as a ‘bunk-off’ school day but a day to learn without the confines of restriction.
Many mums, dads and carers are taking their children out to join in local organised learning events all over the country and I’ve chosen to organise one for Ely, which is my area.
A map of the organised events:
I’m hoping as many people who chose to turn up will do so. We will be collecting natural materials to make a natural collage… or if it’s bad weather we will bring wellies to see how it feels to jump and play in the mud. Many are choosing to take their children out to learn at home also.
This will be our strike as we hope Nicky Morgan will hear our voice and implement changes. If you moan and whinge about how worried your child is about learning or the fact they don’t get enough time to play - look at the page and please pledge your support!
You need to be active, how else can we effect change?? If you’re a working parent and aren’t able to bring your child out you can also use a template letter in support of what we are doing - pass it onto your teacher and show them you support them.
Nicky Morgan - Secretary of State for Education
I’m sure everyone can remember the passion a teacher had when they were young. Personally, I remember many names and many instances that make me smile and I know they really enjoyed their job. How many of our children will be able to say the same when they’re older?
This strike is NOT about the lack of faith in schools, teachers aren’t to blame for the way things are they are so limited with how they have to teach and this limits how our children learn.
Use May 3rd to educate your child in a different environment. Take them to the seaside to collect and identify different things.
Take them to locally organised events. Show them the buildings around where you live. There is so much around us to get them to learn without realising and without pressure to do so. Our children are only young for so long, let the kids be kids for the day.
Thanks, Marina.
That’s helped me to understand what is happening with Let Our Kids Be Kids and why, and I’m hoping it has helped everyone reading too.
There is a list of Let The Kids Be Kids events happening on 3rd May and it’s growing rapidly.
There is also information about what you can do if you want to help.
by DannyUK
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This is a great campaign. I’ve seen how my kids got pressured in school when they were young.
Twitter: gina_caro
on April 29, 2016 at 8:58 am
Love this idea! I’ve noticed recently a big rise in parents choosing to homeschool their children and is it any wonder? Might have to pop down to the event in Bixham, it sounds like fun
Twitter: luschkavo
on April 29, 2016 at 9:37 am
As a homeschooler (or home educator if you’re using the legal term) in the UK I am so glad to see people standing up to this. It’s just one of the reasons my children are educated at home and I really hope this will effect change for all children. Children need a childhood! Good on everyone taking part.
Twitter: countrylifegem
on April 29, 2016 at 11:26 am
This is amazing. Such a great campaign, lets hope it helps to enforce some changes in the classrooms x
Interesting campaign! Hopefully it will have the desired effect!
So cool to see parents rally for change. Kids need a good education.
On May 3, I will bring my boys to a park near our place so they could play basketball, swing and monkey bar. We would eat ice cream and burgers and watch butterflies fly. This would be something different from our usual routine for weeks already. I like the idea of May 3.
This is a fantastic movement to help teachers and our kids. It’s nice to raise awareness about these things, especially since our kids are involved. As a parent, it’s important to be invested in your child’s needs, education is one of those things and it’s tough when they are pressured by their schools to learn or follow a certain path in order to pass. It’s not healthy at all and it’s not helping improve their knowledge either. I totally support this.
I agree that there is way too much standardized testing pressure. Schools are obsessed with it now.
Twitter: stephc007
on April 29, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Great idea to show support for all the hard-working teachers. Also important for parents’ voices to be listened to; it’s a real shame it’s got to the point where mass action is necessary 🙁
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Twitter: ccassara
on April 29, 2016 at 5:23 pm
Moms who homeschool have so many great ideas for out of the box learning events. You can check a lot of home school mom blogs to find them. I am blown away at how fun and creative they are
Twitter: torontonicity
on April 29, 2016 at 11:28 pm
I hadn’t heard about this campain on social media although I realize it’s in the U.K. Sounds like a great way to bring awareness to inadequate teaching methods.
Twitter: missxkrystal
on April 30, 2016 at 12:59 am
This is great. Children learn at all different speeds. Hopefully this can help make some changes in the class.
I know my son (1st grader) still loves school even though it is significantly harder than when I went to school. I’m amazed at the math he’s producing and the words he’s reading. I believe I only knew a fraction of what he knows at the same age. With that said, I don’t know what to think about our current education system. My child seems to be thriving educationally and doesn’t seem to be pushed too far, but pushed just enough to teach responsibility and disciplin. I know that’s not the same everywhere and not every child is the same. I think this is a great petetion to bring awareness to the overtesting issues we have going on.
Twitter: ghostwritermumm
on April 30, 2016 at 11:11 am
I’m an ex teacher and I have no plans to go back to school any time soon. It is so far removed from the career I went into and the assessments and testing is just so unnecessary. However I know that at my son’s school they do no place the pressure on him at all and he is blissfully unaware that there is even a test occurring. I won’t keep him home for school and I have my reasons, but I’m fully behind those who feel it is the only option. x
awesome campaign! Great to raise awareness about homeschooling
Twitter: AngelScheie
on May 1, 2016 at 5:21 am
So encouraging to see how many events there are! Praying that a difference will be made, and soon!
This is certainly a worthy cause. One I think that’s important to take part in. I’m worried about my daughter’s Primary school turning into an Academy. Don’t really want that to happen.
Twitter: existingJEN
on May 1, 2016 at 11:07 am
I am not yet a parent but on my end I would still love the traditional way of going to school however this idea won’t hurt depends on the kid’s situation I guess
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If funding is linked to scores, it becomes all about the money. I don’t like standardized testing when it takes over. It should be a tool, not a front-and-center. Just my opinion. Good luck to the campaign.
Twitter: CraftInvaders
on May 1, 2016 at 4:39 pm
Like the other commentators I feel that to much pressure is put on both the children and teachers in primary school. Hope you have a fab day on the 3rd, it sounds like it’s going to be awesome 🙂
Twitter: mskathykenny
on May 1, 2016 at 6:25 pm
This is definitely something different. I grew up the Asian way so its all about passing standards and the like so I find this very different.
I thought we were the only ones doing standardized testing. We don’t have any organized strikes, but we had a few boycotts in my city of parents going against the testing and not having the kids take the tests.
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Twitter: afableaurora
on May 2, 2016 at 4:39 am
Interesting! I’m glad that teachers are taking action to this problem. A lot of professors here are also going on strike (at least here in California). The California State University system has not given professors a raise since 10 years ago. Something is wrong with our education system nowadays.
Twitter: muchmostdarling
on May 2, 2016 at 4:36 pm
We are big on letting my son make his own mistakes, be silly, and sometimes be a bit of a brat sometimes – its all part of growing up!
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I see why so many parents are homeschooling. American school system do not teach kids to the best of their abilities – its all a memory game and passing of a test. Learning should be more interactive to retain the information better…beyond just a test taking skill.
I’ve just seen these comments-thank you and wish us all luck 🙂
What an incredible campaign. This message is not only important for kids but their parents and teachers as well. Thanks for sharing!
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I support this cause entirely, ive always wonder who are we to judge our kids potential, who are we to standardize their knowledge, rades should measure quality not quantity.
what a great initiative. And Yes… let’s kids be kids, and not be stressed out by society.
Twitter: puritybelle
on May 4, 2016 at 8:24 pm
This is a great campaign, I think it’s awful to see the pressure young kids are under. It’s not quite reached this point in Ireland although we are headed in that direction unfortunately 🙁
This campaign is awesome! Such an important issue! I too think the pressure on kids is incredible.
This is such a great thing! Kids are meant to be kids and that’s that. Too much is put on their shoulders!
I like it. Such a cool idea and great campaign.
What a good campaign. I like this, i like the idea.
Twitter: momyrockinstyle
on May 14, 2016 at 10:12 am
What a great campaign. During my childhood days, my mom always reminds me to study hard and get high grades which is sometimes really frustrating. By this campaign, kids can unwind a little. Thanks for sharing!
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