The Trap of “Falling Behind”.

I've been reflecting on the state of our education system and how it prioritizes our children.

The global pandemic shed light on the shortcomings of many schools, revealing that they weren't meeting the needs of our children as we had hoped and trusted.

While government funding increased temporarily, it was short-lived, and now we find ourselves back at square one.

Teacher burnout is prevalent, and the vital connection with children is fading. It's disheartening to see that basic needs often go unmet in our school systems as we continue to prioritize product and performance over process and authenticity.

Many of us are merely going through the motions, operating with tired and stagnant energy. Frankly, I don’t blame educators for this. This is where I was in 2017. Tired, defeated, heartbroken and unsure of what role I could play in change.

I recently had a conversation with a mother who was concerned that her child would “fall behind” from being home from school for several days due to illness. She shared with me that the child’s teacher has already expressed that they are “behind in writing”, not failing to mention that this sweet child was a “child of C*-V*d”. These sentiments rang through my ears with a sense of drowning in defeat, fear, and hand-me-down expectations.

(Can you hear my heart aching?)

As you can imagine - I lovingly and firmly reminded my friend that her child is exactly where he needs to be and will continue to learn and grow as he authentically connects to his learning environment, peers, and teachers. Remember, sometimes we learn the most from people other than our teachers.

Our peers, our aunties, and uncles, our coaches - sometimes THEY are who teach us the most important skills that we carry with us for the rest of our lives.

Spending weekends with my dad, and tackling yard work and house chores, became the highlight of my week. Working alongside my grandfather, in the hot summer sun planting trees, and bringing natural elements to properties, taught me to find beauty in the everyday. We would transform dull, ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones in a few days. These experiences instilled in me the values of hard work, ambition, and creative expression.

While I cherished many of my teachers, some still holding a special place in my heart, it was reading aloud to my grandmother and diving into my grandfather's Webster dictionary that truly nurtured my love for language and words.

Here’s the truth friends…I was never top of my class. I was never swimming along with the rest of the school of fish. I was always “performing” just below average.

Average isn’t relevant when we take a whole-child approach. 

An average is not needed when we release the need to control, conform and please everyone who might be watching with a judging eye, and let play and living BE the learning. After all, who the heck wants to be average?!

((This is me, not raising my hand… smiling big.))

The people in my life who genuinely SAW me as I was in every varied moment we shared- taught me the most.

Sometimes these special people are in schools. But sometimes they are outside the walls.

This is a reminder to us all that living IS learning.

No one is behind if we meet each other where we are.

Stay play-full my friends.

Always beside you,

Ade

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