Have you wondered what school actually looks like for teens today? Aaron, a high school teacher and home educating father to three girls (aged 6, 5 and 2) is here to lift the veil. In this episode he shares his perspective on the challenges students are facing and grants all parents permission to take the pressure off kids to perform and follow the path of joy instead.
SUMMARY
- Aaron fondly recounts his own positive schooling experience in Devon, England attending an all boys Grammar school where he thrived in a competitive academic and sport centric setting
- Accidentally becoming a teacher and how his experiences of teaching in both Australia and the UK differ
- How his perspective has changed from climbing the career ladder to focusing on enjoyment as the benchmark of success
- What high school looks like today for teens and the rise in mental health challenges he has witnessed over his career
- Anxiety, stress, competition, rankings - Aaron shares stories of the pressures his students apply to themselves that he believes they needn’t be worrying about
- All schools are judged by their results and until the end game changes you won’t see whole scale change
- What school would look like if Aaron were principal for the day
- He advocates for always choosing the path that you know will bring you joy
- Keep kids being kids for as long as possible. It’s easy to grow up early, especially in schools now and they've got plenty of time to be old
- Many of the issues he sees arising in kids at school are based around interactions and technology, and misguided use of technology
- You don’t need a VCE certificate and if you do get a VCE certificate it doesn’t mean you are going to do well at life. It doesn’t matter. Find something you love doing and do more of that.
INSPIRATION
Doughnut Economics - Kate Raworth
Practising Simplicity - Jodi Wilson
This One Wild & Precious Life - Sarah Wilson
Stolen Focus - Johann Hari
Consider asking your local library to order in a copy of these books if they don't already have them in their collection
The Imperfects Podcast
Futurestead Podcast
Australian Homeschool Stories - Episode 3 - Sarah
CONNECT
mraaronwilliams@hotmail.com
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This podcast is recorded on the lands of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be aboriginal land.
Original Music by Daniel Garrood @garroodcomposer
Listen on Spotify here