Saturday 8 August 2009

What's Wrong with Schools


"When I was six years old we lived in an urban Californian neighborhood. It is unclear to me how I came to have ducks there, but have them I did. I remember being sent home on the first day of first grade because I had arrived accompanied by two ducks who would not leave my side."

Jeffrey Masson, The Pig Who Sang to the Moon

The Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, promised before the last election to provide a laptop for every school child in years 9 to 12. He has it all wrong. Kids have more than enough technology in their lives. What they don't have enough of is ducks! Imagine how their learning would be enhanced with the calming, grounding, joy-making influence of a duck by their side. Academic scores would surely sky-rocket, but more importantly these young people would go on to make the world a better place. I call on the Prime Minister of this country to really make a real difference to the lives of young Australians. Provide ducks to every school. 

I personally love ducks. When I see them, I race up to greet them like long lost friends. For some reason they fly off, but I'll persevere.

Life is great with ducks.

15 comments:

Black Jack's Carol said...

Hear, hear! Ducks instead of laptops. Makes perfect sense to me. And I'm a teacher:)

Dexter said...

We are glad that my brother and sister are all grown up so we don't have to worry so much about bad schools.

Momma says that the quality of college grads she interviews at the work place is pretty sorry. Too many digitals, not enough analogs.

Slobbers,
Mango

Ruby Isabella said...

BJ's Carol- We get to see lots of ducks on your blog.

Mango- Ducks are very analogue.

YogaforCynics said...

I can remember, every once in a while, when I was growing up, a dog would get into the school...which of course would bring a moment of happiness to lots of unhappy adolescents...so, of course, the administration would get the puppy out of the building as quickly as possible...

Kim (frogpondsrock) said...

I smile everytime I come over here for a visit. I like ducks too.

Ruby Isabella said...

Yoga for Cynics- Dog in the school! That's where we belong. Whenever we pass a school, I attempt to head in. It would be so much fun.

Kim- Thanks for the lovely words.

kishiko said...

Hi Ruby Isabella!
The picture of ducks is beautiful!
Yes! Docks to every school!
wag wag
Matilda

Ruby Isabella said...

Yeah, big wags!

Amber and Nala said...

I agree....kids need a little more nature and outdoor time! They need to experience what truly matters in life. :)

Ruby and Penny said...

Hi Ruby Isabella
We love ducks too, but they don't like us.
We think the world needs more ducks too.
Love Ruby & Penny

Jo said...

Oh, what a wonderful idea...! I love ducks too. My Aunt Molly had two ducks named Lucille Ball and Winston Churchill. They followed her everywhere.

Kids definitely need more ducks.

Quack...! :-)

Anonymous said...

Ducks and dogs defiantly need more, who else could teach the important things like love, trust,and kindness. They could teach a course in empathy and joy, what a cool thought. At my school someone complained about a Mum who walked the kids to school with their 2 german sheperards, they were perfectly behaved and stayed on their leads, but now they can't come because of the complaint. Apparantly the person complaining thought it was unhygenic the way all the children rushed up and patted them, now maybe if they had ducks at school when they were little they wouldn't be so silly.

Ruby Isabella said...

I'm glad to know that everyone loves ducks. I wonder how Lucille Ball and Winston Churchill would get on. There is an odd couple. Bookpusher, what an outrageous story! Why would someone deny their kids this joy? Surely the woman has the right the walk her dogs to the school gate.

Anonymous said...

Yes she can walk them to the gate but they are not allowed in and I just think she felt a bit threatened by the negative response she got, but it was only one person and it was really ridiculous, and even though the powers that be thought it was silly they felt compelled to put a notice in the news letter and ask the family not to bring the dogs. The dogs were apparently an OHAS risk, way, way to much is an OHAS risk. It just took one person to spoil something that was enjoyable for so many. I have been known to sneak Lilly into school but I always try to make sure the person with the dog phobia isn't around! Actually since working in a school I have discovered that adults can do the most bizzare things.
Oh and we have some chickens at school at the moment, hopefully no one will complain about that, one of our teachers bought in some hatchlings.
More contact with animals would make the world a nicer place.

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