Teach Perspective
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Teach Perspective
As for myself, I don’t remember what it was like to be in elementary or middle school. I imagine however, back then and now there is a large focus on child compliance. Which is understandable.
My daughter, Camila, informs me of points that her teacher gives because of compliance. Or star stickers she gives away when kids “behave.” So I asked Camila what is “behaving in class?” She responded with, “being quiet.”
I don’t like this. I don’t like the idea of a teacher shuttering in who my child is or any child is. Too often a teacher is responsible for reshaping who a kid naturally is. So this school year I’ve been teaching my daughter the difference with compliance and cooperation. The lesson is to allow my daughter to decide for herself, who she wants to be and based on her teacher she can work with them and not simply comply. I personally don’t want a robot for a child or a child that grows up making everyone else happy and deep down she isn’t herself.
Cooperation looks like working together. Yes, in school there are certain rules and standards but that does not stand in the way of the individual that you are. Teachers have a hard job. Because their jobs are hard it does not give them a pass at reshaping how we get to raise our children. Interesting isn’t it. They want parents to help them by teaching children how to follow orders, not taking into account the family structure of the philosophy parents have at raising their own kids. Instead, they want a family and a household to reform themselves at the will of the teacher in order to make her day “easier.”
No thank you.
As previously noted - I have strong willed kids. Meaning they are not difficult but are independent and determined. They are sure of themselves, who they are and what they want. Add in that Camila has been raised to make her own choices. From what she’s going to wear to what she’s going to eat. There is a slight shift in our talks to account for perspectives. Her teacher wants compliance - to follow all requests. We’re teaching cooperation - where each side works together. Even at home we don’t want compliance, we also want cooperation because who Camila is is beautiful. Her personality and identity should flourish how she desires and not be bent to be something she isn’t.
Quiet kids should be the opposite of what we want. We want kids that speak up and speak out, Kids that ask questions. Kids that challenge assumptions, norms and traditions. Kids that can express themselves and not be shuttered in because of a sticker or the teacher wants things to go easy. Quiet kids don’t learn and they don’t become the future we are leaving them with. They become insecure. Unsure of themselves. They become miserable adults. They become addicted or depressed or average. A classroom brings together kids from many walks of life and backgrounds. Honor that and them. Who wants a bunch of rule followers when the rules here hardly matter.
Yes, there are rules to follow. Being “quiet” is not one of them.