10 Comments
User's avatar
Kate Umstatter Thompson's avatar

Beautifully said. One of my biggest wishes in life is to build a world that is more inclusive of the diversity of minds, bodies, ages, races, cultures that exist here.❤️

Expand full comment
Megs's avatar

I absolutely love this and once again find myself wishing we could meet for dinner and talk for six hours because I have so many thoughts and questions. I agree with Stefanie — I believe many parents are caught in the same generational habits and beliefs as schools/teachers. But for those of us trying to focus on repair instead of punishment at home, it's frustrating when punishment still occurs at school. ESPECIALLY when it involves taking away recess. That should be made illegal. Depriving kids of fresh air and movement? Are you out of your freaking minds? Anyway. I love you and your mind and your writing.

Expand full comment
Kate Umstatter Thompson's avatar

🔥 yes, Megs. That dissonance between what you are trying to at home and what can happen at school must be frustrating for all involved...especially the young people. And hard agree on recess *never* being taken away (and to someday having a six hour dinner). Love you!

Expand full comment
weems23's avatar

This speaks to me in so many ways, but most of all as a parent trying to teach my son to be fully himself in a world that isn’t built for him. Too often, punitive measures are the default approach in school (and in society in general), when instead we should be questioning the root cause of the transgression and examining where the system has failed to meet the needs of the individual (rather than the other way around).

Expand full comment
DadaScientist's avatar

A bolt of lightening strikes and the thunder rolls across the plains.

Expand full comment
Esther S White's avatar

I’m anticipating co-creating a community agreement for our homeschool co-op next month... I’ll let you know how it goes! It’ll be my first time engaging in this kind of work outside our little family.

Expand full comment
Kate Umstatter Thompson's avatar

Ooh I am so excited to hear how it goes, Esther!

Expand full comment
Stefanie's avatar

Beautifully stated, Kate. As with nearly everything related to children's behavior...you have to start with the adults around them. I wonder, too, if you rewrote this piece and substituted "parent" for "teacher" and "home" for "school" how many people would see themselves as reactionary parents. Thank you for bringing it to the fore.

Expand full comment
Kate Umstatter Thompson's avatar

Yes, Steffie! Excellent point.❤️

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Aug 17, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Kate Umstatter Thompson's avatar

Making mistakes is a daily (hourly?) occurrence for me. I used to try to hide my mistakes, and now try to be as transparent as possible.

Expand full comment