February 25th, 2013
Jack and his son Reno had a great time at a recent science workshop [1] for parents and their kids.
“You have such passion for science, John Paull,” Jack said after the class. “Bet you had a great science education………your school must have had a wonderful science program.”
That made me think.
No, My elementary school focused absolutely on reading and writing. [2] My science classes (biology, chemistry and physics) in my secondary school did not capture any part of my brain – or my curiosity.
So, where did my passion for science come from?
Well, it must have come from my childhood. When I was a very young kid, the family went on Sunday afternoon walks to the beach and to the quiet country lanes. Although my dad, a true country lad, left school at 14, he knew a great deal about both. His excitement when spotting tiny blue crabs and bullcods darting under rocks, collecting wishing rocks, pointing out hidden birds’ nests and small mammal tracks, and everything else that caught his eye, was infectious.
Thinking more about those long-ago times reminded me of a very
interesting email that a colleague of mine received from a friend.
Pablo, her friend’s young son, had a great summer helping his mum and dad keep their gardens in shape. Pablo loved being out and about.
One day his Mum accidentally cut a worm in half. Pablo became very upset when he saw the two halves of the worm writing on the ground. Sensing his anxiety, Mum picked up the worm and reassured Pablo that it was ok – a worm cut in half can, in fact, develop into a full bodied worm again. She took the worm inside her home and she and Pablo made a worm home…..and, sure enough, one half of the worm did live. Pleased with themselves, Pablo and his mum returned the worm to the garden.
Here is the lengthy email the mum sent my colleague, describing Pablo’s first week in his new kindergarten.
After getting school supplies the day before the first day of school, Pablo was VERY excited about school and the possibilities.
He turned to me and said:
‘I think I know what’s going to happen is the teacher will say, “Class, does anyone know what happens when a worm gets cut in half?”
‘I will raise my hand.’
If she picks on me, I’ll say, “Um………..it grows a new body?”
She will say, “YES!! Exactly!!”
So, Thursday, when I picked him up (almost exactly at the end of his first week), I asked him how school was and if he had chance to raise his hand yet.
He looked up at me with a sad face and said:
“No. No one is asking things like what happens when a worm cuts hisself…”
“They’re talking a lot about rules and stuff, like no chewing gum and things.”
“ I think maybe I’m at the wrong kindergarten.”
I think I need to take him in the garden again…..and again….and again. J
Pablo’s mother, personal email
The moral of the story? Perhaps Pablo was unlucky with the choice of school, but he is very lucky to have parents who share with him the delights of nature.
So, parents, don’t leave it to the schools………feed your child’s curiosity by sharing your delight, your knowledge and your questions about the world.
John Paull
PS
Take a look at Last child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Dead good. makes a strong case about the impact that video games and the internet are having on young children's behavior in school.
[2] Two teachers, though, validated my passion for nature, Miss Harvey and Mr. Jones. See my account of being in their classes, Through My Eyes, published by Xlibris, 2012.
This is the slide presentation of Pablo's story.
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