Embellishing Options for Caring for Students and Families in One's Area..small town or otherwise
After reading about concerns on Reg One Community FB page about the dicey prospects of the new program at the high school, I shared the following. Overall the idea is to use the permaculture principle (which are online and in a post on the online Turtle Garden Permaculture Game) to have many ways to meet needs...and multiple supports to get a job done..whether gardening or educating others (and one another...)
Also 'conserving energy' would speak to having a support group for each grade if not each class rather than have every family work hard to help their own child/ren succeed. Maybe that's part of the overall effect...to keep students with more support succeeding and those without the economic, social and other abilities behind..but we lose out as a society. Everyone can learn over a lifetime and groups like OLLI (in Great Barrington),Taconic Learning Center, Foothills Adult Ed, Toastmasters, and many online programs speak to that.
There is greater attention now to How one learns as well as what one studies... and how to remember and implement the knowledge and skills... so there's plenty for everyone to pitch in and pursue..collaboratively...
I was eager to work with schools in our area since I grew up in this area...finally I thought we could find ways to help all kids feel valued, included and connected... Everyone could find ways to help kids get basics together for school and even have help in a friendly way to get their routines and spaces at home organized to get kids on that path to self-reliance, competency and asking for help early on to manage their time, learning and other interests...
How hard could it be? I found out quickly there were many disconnects...and many adults needed or wanted to 'leave anything beside casual help during a class or school event to others' or not push it. Same with the recreation programs and scouting... whoever joined fine, but if others didn't no one was bothering to invite them in with some rides, scholarships and so on. Eventually one after school program did offer 'one free class per student' if some criteria were met or if a family asked.
Overall it seems there should be enough parents for these very small classes to essentially help all the youngest children feel supported in their learning...Running supportive programs through the recreation and library services seems the most logical...if not after school to help all kids keep up with their learning. A school that had a daycare in the school and eventually kept kids there until 5 or later as needed for the working parents was a big help to some parents. I assume the kids did their homework there.
There were some after school make-up sessions or Homework Club, even one meeting on Saturdays. Over all the idea of tutoring youth through school seems to be more acceptable and guidelines to help adults do so effectively without doing the work makes sense. Then there could be skype or phone sessions..
Things like math and science or music would make sense to have skype sessions for. Support groups for tutors and parents would also make sense to more people felt they could 'show up for their kids.'
I have heard of some parents spending hours on doing math or other homework with kids on a regular basis. With four kids going to the same school, I would learn some of the curriculum by chance..but mainly parents were not allowed in the class or encouraged to come in.
That varies with schools so overall the idea of additional ways for students and parents to network but to clearly comprehend what students are studying over the year, each semester and in each class would make sense. It shouldn't be a secret but more of a team learning project.
The logistics of keeping in touch with one's children over their school years could also be spelled out. Many children live with one parent or at a few places in terms of being cared for whether day or night. Some parents work nights or late, so it wouldn't hurt to talk about nutrition and healthy sleep habits and routines for waking up and being prepared, transitioning and having extra supplies at various locations to address changes in weather, supplies for learning or hobbies and clothes just to be practical and help a student feel ready to meet the day with all the bases covered.
Then there's that learning help... many schools post info for each class online whether spelling lists or due dates for homework and projects. Not everyone has a computer or access at all times so having some study buddies (yes, parents ready to call each other and check in as well) would make sense.
Some parents and caregivers may miss many years of helping their own kids or others...but it's never too late to consider What Could Help. A Study Group for each class even through high school and college could be a great way to promote shared learning and better comprehension.
That is not to cheat or do work for others, but to help everyone feel they know what is expected and how to go about learning and getting support when needed. Maybe that's idealistic, and clearly there are serious issues such as physical, mental and even dental health or social and legal issues (relationship and housing status, managing to make ends meet or plan for some security for basics during a year and more...and any number of family or social challenges whether in one's own family or a friends', a neighbors, a group or faith circle...plus there are the 'cultural stress and needs such as holidays and life events...new people or family members to greet and maybe others to care for.' )
Prioritizing all of these needs for families could be discussed in more detail. There are ideas from permaculture such as cooperatives and saving energy that may be helpful. There is a lot of online support as well. So hopefully with more people caring about the overall situation, we could create more meaningful networks, highlighting existing strengths and shared goals, to see more families and students and schools thrive...not just survive... or not even that.
Thanks for letting me thing this out here and I'll put this on www.livfully.org along with other details anyone would like to share in the comments or message me and I'll include in updates...The year is still young fresh so hopefully more families can find support and ways to make the area function more soundly. Mount Everett HS and Undermountain Elementary seem to have a lot of positive folks up there... so maybe some networking with them would make sense..and even folks from NECC, North East Community Center and the Millerton area... Ideally all libraries at the schools, public and private, could chime in with what they could offer in terms of space and ways parents and others could coach kids in life skills and studies.
The Kellogg School located nicely by the DM Hunt Library and even the FV Congregational Church (which has a nice hall and kitchen), as well as the town of FV has enriched the experience for the students at Kellogg and the FV Daycare sometimes joins in..and the librarians take programs to those places as well. Why not see which people in a community have a shared interest?
The HVRHS community could also look to FV to be an extension of the campus body and offerings to help students feel they are connected to the real world. Toymakers Cafe, (as well as Mountainside) and basic town services could perhaps offer the student body and their families an 'auxilary membership' in the town..and do more outreach to those at the private schools to help them feel more connected to local efforts as well whether fire and ambulance depts, daycares, libraries, faith groups, businesses, fitness or other services for practical care and life needs....
Most people have many talents and use services, to streamlining efforts could be a win-win. Canaan also offers a great many services within fairly reasonable distance, so ideally if students had banking needs or needed to go to Stop and Shop (where cash can be obtained from one's bank via a credit or debit card) that could be accommodated (especially for families from Kent etc).
Planning to succeed on all levels can be a shared goal. More inspiration from Great Barrington MA (at the co-op, Sruti and Crystal Essence as well as in general seeing what BCC, Berkshire Community College on Main St which is where Southern Berkshires Toastmasters meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from a bit before noon to 1:15pm) offers would also be helpful... along with NCCC in Winsted CT too.)
Again for all parents and students and others in the community to have more shared experiences. For free, attend a Toastmasters meeting so that could be part of the resources and role model for having meetings...but also more informal networking such as lunch at the co-op or another simple venue...Collin's Diner in North Canaan or the FV Inn (for a fancier venue and to keep local businesses in mind.)
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