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Missing Socialization in Today’s Public Schools

October 28, 2016 By Nancy Bailey 10 Comments

Post Views: 1,423

How do democratic public schools address the socialization of students? How are children brought together to make a kinder world? Does anyone even ask that question today?

This past weekend I read “My Pedagogic Creed” by John Dewey (a little light reading on a Sunday afternoon), and I was struck by how far our public schools have strayed from addressing the social needs of children and their families.

Even if you are no Dewey fan, his ideas about schools growing out of community, with special consideration of the child’s home life, are compelling. Dewey believed schools should be about this social connection.

He saw schools as “social institutions.”

Think how far we have strayed from this concept today. The total focus is on the student’s future. Yet, what we need most is to teach students, not only how to get along, but, and excuse me if it sounds mushy, how to be friends.

Several anti-social conditions surrounding today’s public schools jump out immediately.

Recess

School districts eliminated recess for years. Around 2002, I watched a new elementary school being built near my home in Florida. They didn’t include a playground!

We worry whether preschools allow children enough play!

Recess serves as the primary way children socialize within the school environment. Not only is it anti-social to get rid of recess in elementary school, students in both middle and high school should be allowed times when they can mingle freely.

School Lunches

If you ever visit a school at lunchtime it will give you a headache! Children are corralled into the cafeteria with little time to eat their lunches.

Probably, in part, because they have had little or no recess, and because many schools are overcrowded, children are especially loud when eating lunch. Lunches are usually patrolled by cafeteria helpers to keep students in line.

To manage the lunchtime fiasco, some schools enforce silent lunches. But not being able to talk to those eating around you is as anti-social as it gets!

In the movie Where to Invade Next, Michael Moore visits a school cafeteria in France. The children are treated with respect, and they are fed delicious and healthy meals.

If you watch how children eat lunch in France, you will be ashamed at how U.S. students are treated in their schools at lunchtime.

Competition

High schools have become highly competitive with the push for everyone to attend college. Assisting students from lower socioeconomic homes get to college is important. But since the privatized College Board and Advanced Placement classes became a part of the testing culture in high schools, students have been pushed to become more competitive. High school class rankings create an elitist system. Many poor students simply cannot afford college.

Inclusion  

In a perfect world, inclusion would be the crème de la crème of socialization—bringing all students, including those with disabilities and second languages, together. But large class sizes and an increasing push by school reformers to eliminate special services often result in an opposite effect.

Segregation

School districts should work towards embracing diversity—not drive it away. Where in all the discussions about school reform do we see any serious planning about bringing students together in our schools? If we never help children value each other when they are young, how will they get along when they are adults?

Parents    

Dewey saw schools as an extension of the home and community. Today’s school boards and charter schools are often corrupted by outsiders who don’t even live in the community!

We have been led to believe schools should be accountable to parents, but that is not what today’s reforms are about. When the word “stakeholders” is used, the reference is to the economy—primarily corporations.

It should be about families.

silhouette of daddy and small girl on the beach at dusk.

Teachers

In Dewey’s world, teachers were “social servants” not meant to “impose” their beliefs and knowledge on children, but to help find what influences would assist the child.

It was very much about the here and now.

Teachers have been manipulated for years to do what they are told by outside individuals and groups far removed from the classroom.

While one can argue that students should be prepared, focusing too much on the future means a disconnect with the student and their current needs.

Instruction

Education thus conceived marks the most perfect and intimate union of science and art conceivable in the human experience, said John Dewey.

Currently, schools fail to teach children to think creatively about their existence in relationship to others. Instead, those who have taken charge want schools to micromanage what children learn.

We see this even with young children. How badly has kindergarten been restructured into the new first grade with little attention given to child development?

Technology

Technology can have a positive effect on socialization because it permits students to connect to people all over the world! The Internet and social media is good in that sense.

But it will always be critical that students learn to relate to each other directly—face-to-face.

Too much online time can be isolating—even addictive.

Group of friends at a restaurant with all people on the table occupied with cellphones

Summary

We have strayed dramatically from Dewey’s concept of schools and socialization. But the need for humans to socialize and learn how to work out problems—and enjoy one another—will never get old.

Public schools have a responsibility to help children socialize with each other and the adults in their lives.

Reference

Dewey, John. (2009). My pedagogic creed. In D.J. Flinders & S.J. Thornton (Eds). The Curriculum Studies Reader (34-41). New York: Routledge.

 

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Competion, elementary school, High School Public Schools, instruction, John Dewey, parents, recess, School Lunches, schools, Schools as Social Institutions, Segregation, Social Institutions, socialization, students, teachers, Technology

Comments

  1. Monica says

    October 28, 2016 at 7:16 am

    This is so relevant to me personally. One of the most common questions I get as a homeschool parent is “What about socialization?”. He gets more socialization now than he ever did in public school. And, judging by your post, students in school are getting less than they did 3 years ago when I pulled him to homeschool.. My son is out in the community every day. He interacts with everyone. He belongs to a homeschool co-op and a social skills group, each meeting once a week. He participates in Tae Kwon Do and takes therapeutic horseback riding lessons. His life is full of socialization, and not only with his peers.

    It is shameful that corporate interests have control of our schools. They know nothing about education, socialization, child development. They see our children as commodities, nothing more. It is truly disheartening. I know I am fortunate that I can homeschool. I may not have a child in school, but I continue to fight and speak out for those who can’t.

    Reply
    • Nancy Bailey says

      October 28, 2016 at 8:49 am

      Well put as usual, Monica. It sounds like you are doing a great job homeschooling.

      I can’t help but feel bad, however, that your public school is missing out on you and your child. I always wish things were different.

      How many parents now home school because their public schools failed to meet their child’s needs? And one of those needs was socialization.

      Thank you.

      Reply
  2. Máté Wierdl says

    October 28, 2016 at 7:34 am

    As always, right in target, Nancy. I have one additional observation: why do kids have to go from classroom to classroom during the already ridiculously short breaks? Instead, they should have their own room which they can treat as their own, and teachers should go from classroom to classroom.

    This certainly would add to their socialization, and feel better connected to their school.

    Reply
    • Nancy Bailey says

      October 28, 2016 at 8:52 am

      Thanks, Máté. Great point. Use that time for recess breaks instead!

      Reply
  3. LisaB says

    October 28, 2016 at 7:46 am

    We live in a world void of compassion, sympathy and empathy due to lack of socialization. Is it any wonder why a person would resort to picking up a gun and shooting someone (or a crowd) over a mere disagreement? The “human” factor has been removed from society.

    Reply
    • Nancy Bailey says

      October 28, 2016 at 8:53 am

      Scary. You remind me of a road rage incident I witnessed yesterday. It was pretty frightening.

      Reply
      • LisaB says

        October 28, 2016 at 11:39 am

        I wonder why some scientist hasn’t applied for grant money to study the contrast of the school reform movement to the upswing in violent behavior. 15+ years of reform and I have certainly noticed an upswing of violence over the past 15 years. I guess no one wants to fund it because the truth would hurt the billionaire bunch who have forced this “bunk” on our children and dehumanized them. I feel sad for my children every day that I send them out the door to get on that school bus.

        Reply
        • Nancy Bailey says

          October 28, 2016 at 12:03 pm

          Great question! And unfortunately an equally great answer to your question. Thank you, Lisa.

          Reply
        • Máté Wierdl says

          October 28, 2016 at 5:07 pm

          Now there may be a wider implication there: some think that the lack of vacation time in the US contributes to the high rate of violent crimes here.

          Too much stress, more violence—it seems common sense, don’t you think? The reforms increased the level of stress: less recess, more home work.

          Reply
          • Nancy Bailey says

            October 29, 2016 at 9:05 pm

            Yes. I agree. Thanks again, Máté.

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