Over the years, I have been writing about misconceptions regarding the schooling process. The purpose of these posts is to explain why I disagree with various comments that I have heard people make about schooling. These are meant as personal thoughts rather than conclusive proof, and I will admit that I'm not always the best at explaining my thoughts. Regardless, I have decided that I should be willing to share these posts when I encounter someone online who makes an argument that I have already discussed.
There has been a big debate over whether or not schools are embracing curriculum that is age-appropriate. There's a big problem with this debate. What different children need can't be established simply by looking at their ages.
When you really think about it, age-appropriate is a ridiculous concept. Different children have different needs. Even within a specific age group, needs vary quite substantially. Anyone who emphasized the importance of age-appropriate curriculum is showing that they fail to see children as more than their ages.
If anything, curriculum should be individual-appropriate. Children should be learning what is best for them, not what is best for a number. This requires flexibility on an individual basis. This is why I openly oppose misguided attempts to establish age-appropriate curriculum. It's also why I openly oppose attempts to lump children together into rigid age-based grouping. Children are more than their ages. They are more than just numbers.
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