"Why would you want to do that?" I asked him.
He continued, "Oh, I just miss you during the day. And school is boring."
It was very sweet of him to say he missed me, I miss him, too, during the day.
I gave him a hug and said, "But Caleb, you are doing so great! You love art and music and PE! You're reading very well and your papers and tests look great!"
"I'm just bored."
I looked over at Josh, and he said in a whispering type way (so that Caleb couldn't hear him), "Maybe it is boring for him?"
The thing is, I never used to believe this line of thinking. I know friends who have very bright children, and they started their kids a year early in school, working around the system and getting them in, fearing they would be bored because they were so smart. I always thought that everything would balance out, and kids are just kids after all. Surely they can find something to do at school that they like?
Let's brag about my own elementary days for a moment since they are so long ago, it's not like it really matters! :) I was in the top reading group right from the start, always tested WAY above level, always made all A's and probably wasn't satisfied with anything other than 100%. I was academically competitive even at an early age. But I don't remember ever feeling bored. I wonder if this is a boy thing? Maybe this is why our school systems have been criticized as failing our boys?
Fortunately his behavior is not an issue (which is sometimes the case with boys who are bored). He has received Student of the Month, which is based on behavior, and his teacher tells me he is a nice boy. I'm not sure what the solution is. The solution is not necessarily me homeschooling again (that's another post altogether), but I do wish I could see what his day is like. I do wonder what it means for a 7-year-old to be bored during the day at school.
4 comments:
...or maybe our boys have conspired together to try to get out of school, because Hunter tells me the same thing!
Probably, Ashley! :)
Oh don't get me going on this! The entire school process is messed up I think! It all revolves around the stupid kids and "bad" kids. We have to make sure those kids pass.....and graduate. While the smart "good" kids just sit there feeling bored.
This topic can really get me heated!
-Sonja
I remember being bored in school at times, but with good parental direction and a little help from willing teachers, I was able to redirect and learn more. I would have a discussion with the teacher and come up with some activities that can help him go above and beyond the material presented. This type of self-directed activity is a great skill to teach early and if you can get the teacher on board it can make all the difference.
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