MercyL
Member
I work with elementary aged students, periodically.
Springtime arrived, this year, and I broke out my summer weight clothing. I have a great little blouse that I love wearing, so that was the first shirt I put on for the next day.
One of the students in the class complemented me on my blouse and asked where I bought it. I told them that I made it, which I did. It's a sweet little Simplicity pattern that I want to use for more shirts, if I can save up for sari material...but I digress.
The student did not believe me, so I added that I also made the jewelry in my hair - a chignon fork with beads - and the bracelet I had on - blue and green cloisonne beads on copper wire. Again, the student was aghast at the thought of my being so creative that I could string beads on wire.
I find that disturbing.
Now, I remember my maternal grandmother making nightgowns for myself and my sister, using old newspaper to sketch out the basic shape of each gown. These children have no one in their lives who sews, beads, crochets....you get the drift. I think today's students are not only missing out on the sense of accomplishment that comes with wearing items you have made with your own hands.
I worry that our country has successfully trained the creativity out of high school students, and intends to slowly expand the march toward learned helplessness into the 1st and 2nd grades.
We can better understand the changes within our own borders by listening to how the under 15 crowd defines "normal", "possible", and "desirable". Making your own clothing and jewelry was not normal for the student I talked with just as cooking a chicken stew, from scratch, was a new concept for one of my neighbors.
Do you talk with young people often? If so, do you see or hear evidence of learned helplessness?
Springtime arrived, this year, and I broke out my summer weight clothing. I have a great little blouse that I love wearing, so that was the first shirt I put on for the next day.
One of the students in the class complemented me on my blouse and asked where I bought it. I told them that I made it, which I did. It's a sweet little Simplicity pattern that I want to use for more shirts, if I can save up for sari material...but I digress.
The student did not believe me, so I added that I also made the jewelry in my hair - a chignon fork with beads - and the bracelet I had on - blue and green cloisonne beads on copper wire. Again, the student was aghast at the thought of my being so creative that I could string beads on wire.
I find that disturbing.
Now, I remember my maternal grandmother making nightgowns for myself and my sister, using old newspaper to sketch out the basic shape of each gown. These children have no one in their lives who sews, beads, crochets....you get the drift. I think today's students are not only missing out on the sense of accomplishment that comes with wearing items you have made with your own hands.
I worry that our country has successfully trained the creativity out of high school students, and intends to slowly expand the march toward learned helplessness into the 1st and 2nd grades.
We can better understand the changes within our own borders by listening to how the under 15 crowd defines "normal", "possible", and "desirable". Making your own clothing and jewelry was not normal for the student I talked with just as cooking a chicken stew, from scratch, was a new concept for one of my neighbors.
Do you talk with young people often? If so, do you see or hear evidence of learned helplessness?
