August 16, 2006
Knee Jerk Policies
So on August 5th I was running around the family picnic with my cousin on my back - piggybacking as it were - and, long story short... I'm sure you'll hear the long one at a workshop sometime this year... we fell. Hard. Arse over teakettle as they say, glasses went flying, the bandana flew off my head. It was pretty bad. Of course Jordan hopped up like Tigger while I was face down on the cement bleeding all over myself. I ripped a hole in my pants and banged up my knee and elbow pretty bad.
Point of the story - if this had happened at the preschool I would bet dollars for donuts that come Monday morning there would have been a meeting or a memo or BOTH saying that a NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO PIGGY BACK ANY MORE.
And that makes me sad. Yes, we fell. Yes I got hurt. But guess what? I got back up again. The long term memory that Jordan and I will share of that afternoon, playing, laughing and running will last much longer than the pain in my arm and the scab on my knee.
I HATE knee jerk policies. They are reactive and short sighted. Much like the new airplane rules. For the next 2 months it will be insane and out of control. No blistex, no water, no lipstick, no this, no that. Reactions. Not preventions.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Maybe more than just a cliche. Maybe something to think about. Does it apply to our classrooms? Sure it does! Being ready for them, getting the room ready for them. What might they need here? What might they do with this item? How might they use this space? Giving thought to questions like these assists us as teachers. We are going where the puck might go instead of just hanging out where it is. (Remember my Wayne Gretzy story---- if you don't know it call or email)
So that's what I'm thinking about today - - hope you are well.
all my best
lisa
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