Education?

Sometimes I would love to be a fly on the wall of Caleb's school. Some of the things I hear from him.... He was reminding yesterday that he does not have school today. He said the reason he does not have school is because the teachers are celebrating a man that got shot. I asked what else he knew about this "man" that got shot. He said that is all he was told.

Also, tomorrow Caleb has a program at school. He also has basketball practice that night. I told him he could choose which he wanted to do because he absolutely hates singing in front of a crowd. He decided he wanted to go to basketball practice because "he chose to play that, and he has a team" (that was what he said). I told him that was fine, but he needed to let his teacher know.

He came home the next day upset saying he HAD to do the program. I asked why and he said that his teacher said that basketball is not important and that he needed to be there. How dare a teacher tell a child what is or is not important to that child. I told Caleb the choice was his and that if basketball was important to him, not to let anyone tell him otherwise. I also explained that he does have a team that counts on him. He responded with, "well, I am not doing anything in the program but singing with the group of first graders. I don't sing by myself or anything."

I can understand a teacher wanting the children to be there, and I would love for Caleb to do it, but Caleb needs to start making decisions on his own. If I make him go to the program he is going to stand up on the stage and pout and not participate. AND, he could definently use the help with basketball!