I genuinely believe that travel, being with family, socialising, eating out, visiting world-famous sites, attempting to speak other languages, and generally doing non-academic things, is possibly the best education any child could have.
It didn't seem so at the time, but I'm certain that my own time abroad, as a young person, was far more educational than 1000 Geography lessons.
This may sound strange, but I can clearly remember when about 8, on my first visit abroad, being quite surprised to discover that in France they had classical orchestras; just like we did at home. On reflection, I suppose the only things I'd ever previously learned about our near neighbours were the dates, protagonists, and locations of wars, and I'd ended-up thinking of them as an uncivilised, bellicose, people.
On that same first visit I was taken to a wonderful open-air restaurant (somewhere in Normandy) which boasted a stream running between two distinct sides of the semi-open-air 'building'. Every so often a chef would appear with a giant net, and scoop-up a couple of kilos of wriggling silver 'tiddlers' which were immediately dropped into a huge vat of boiling oil. They were then scooped-out almost at once, lightly salted, and served to the eager diners; including myself. This to me, aged 8ish, was the height of sophistication.
Symphony orchestras, and dining with flourish; why had I never been taught about such things at school? Maybe that was the start of my life-long love of France, but no thanks to my Geography teachers.
Symphony orchestras, and dining with flourish; why had I never been taught about such things at school? Maybe that was the start of my life-long love of France, but no thanks to my Geography teachers.
I have often thought schools are sadly lacking in teaching kids things they need to know to get along in life or enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI have heard that the reason schools were started originally was to teach farm kids to be on time and such so they could work in factories. I've no idea if this is true but I suspect there is an element of truth in it.
My own school (one of the world's oldest; officially founded 960, but much older), was there mostly to teach Latin. Latin meant power!
DeleteI think you're probably quite right. Actually seeing and experiencing anything usually results in greater understanding and often whets the appetite for acquiring more knowledge and understanding of other cultures.
ReplyDeleteSchool trips try to employ this method of enhancing children's learning and I often see groups of students on trips to fabulous places in the UK where their history comes alive. I wish I could have taken my students to some of these places.
I'm afraid to say (I'm showing my great age) that in my time, school 'field trips' had yet to be invented. Experiencing must always be better than sitting in a classroom.
DeleteWhat a lovely story Cro. I agree travel and immersing yourself in other cultures is best education!
ReplyDeleteI take Louis out of school to travel because I can't always take leave in school holidays and its way cheaper. It'll going to be Barcelona and then skiing in Andorra in the first week of January. He's brilliant at skiing but because he's dyspraxic finds school games humiliating and a bit of a chore so I'm encouraging a sport outside the curriculum that he can enjoy and will keep him fit in later life. I am made to feel a criminal by the education authority for doing so. It gives out a message that only school based learning is valuable. Off on a road trip through Spain and up the western coast of France today for his learning pleasure!
ReplyDeleteDon't they even fine parents for taking children out of school? Personally I think they should pay them, to help with travel costs!
DeleteGeography was such a dull affair when I was at school, no colourful media or documentaries, just text books with a few black and white photos. But our French teacher was something else. A Yorkshireman who was passionate about France. All we had to do was ask him about his student travels and off he would go, waxing lyrical about his adventures and we could get through a whole class session without practising our verbs! Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI work in a school and, yes, from September the Government is clamping down much harder on parents taking their children out in term time. Unless it is classed as 'exceptional circumstances' (and each school will have their own)it will be classed as unauthorised absence and, the story is, parents will be fined for every day they are away, although we don't yet know if this will be the case.
ReplyDeleteMy Head (and he was the Head of my boys' first school) has always maintained that family holidays are important to a child for many reasons and that they will gain far more by the experience than by being in school for those two weeks or so. We took our own children all over the world, starting from 12 weeks old (we had twins) and he remarked on how much general knowledge they had by the time they started school. We did, occasionally take them out for an extra week after the Christmas holiday as we had our own business and it suited us to take a main holiday at that time.
I feel extremely sorry for those parents who, for financial reasons cannot afford to take their children away in school holidays and take advantage of lower costs at other times. It strikes me that if the Government want this to stop, then they should approach the travel agents to stop increasing their costs during school holidays.
It's a no-win situation; high prices during the Summer holidays, or fines during term time. Having been a teacher myself, I do understand their concerns, but occasionally there is no alternative.
DeleteYesterday, someone sent me a photo of Hitler standing pretty much exactly in the same place as your boys at the Eiffel Tower, also having his picture taken.
ReplyDeleteCro, I so agree. in Cambodia I meet a Canadian Family, and the man said 'if more people travelled there would be less hate and more understanding'.
ReplyDeleteI so believe that statement. I would be in trouble with the school all the time if we had kids. There is no text book, that could give the sounds, smells, tastes of visuals of actually being in say Marrakech. Or going out into the wilderness with berbers, with the highlight of seeing where Star Wars was filmed. to spark their interest and love of travel and language I think nothing can touch being there.
I remember vividly a smell of lemon zest in Amalfi with my family. Spiked with nivea suntan cream and my mothers perfume. Eating out side with watered down wine, with an Italian family. The noise of them all I thought they were fighting. They were only talking about what we would eat being British... lol
Wonderful memories. I'm a HUGE Marrakech fan too!
DeleteI couldn't agree more Cro - I always adored Geography and couldn't wait to go abroad and see what it was really like. My first visit to Djma el Fna in Marrakech was an utter revelation and immediately obliterated everything I had ever been taught about Morocco and everywhere else - get kids out there and let them experience things rather than reading about them. I suppose it applies to everything really though.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the most wonderful place. My absolute favourite open air restaurant!!!
DeleteMy Gk's have been saying to me since they were three "When are you taking us to Ireland?" And I always say soon. I think "soon" is here.
ReplyDeleteWe could never afford to travel abroad with our kids, but we took them to as many places in this country as we could. And we took them out to eat from the time they could sit in a high-chair. We felt it was very important they learn how to behave in a restaurant. People used to think it was very cute when they'd get settled in the high-chair and proceed to put their napkin on their laps. :)
ReplyDeleteVery cute pic of the boys, what fun they must be having. And, talk about fresh fish...can't get much fresher than that!
You're absolutely right. A geography lesson can only take us so far. Seeing the places with our own eyes teaches lessons far beyond what any teacher can impart, no matter how good a teacher he is.
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