Summer is rapidly coming to an end for students across the state of Mississippi. Surprisingly, many of our public and private schools are starting the last week of July.
Yep, you read that correctly. Many Mississippi schools will begin the last week of July.
As a retired Mississippi teacher, I know that sometimes the calendar falls in such a way that school appears to start very early. But it’s still the same 180-plus required school days. But as a grandparent, I also know that July (and August, if the truth be told) are usually the hottest days of Mississippi summers. So, it hurts to think about our babies having to go to school during those hot days. At my age, it also bothers me that we are taking away some precious summer fun from our kids.
During my childhood, all Mississippi students returned to school after Labor Day. And if the truth is told, we covered just as much educational ground, possibly more, without going to school practically year-round.
I was pondering these thoughts on the upcoming school year during a recent road trip with one of our grandkids. An honor roll student with great manners and an inquisitive mind, my grandchild’s knowledge and awareness of today’s technologically driven world astounded me.
Yet, as we travelled, it also became obvious that my grandchild had no clue of the general geography of our trip, our state, the surrounding states, or the entire United States. Nor did this amazing kid know the most basic historical timeline of our last 250 years as a nation.
So, even though my grandchild loves to read graphic novels and other modern, age-appropriate works, we could not discuss history, geography, classic literature, or the scientific principles behind favorite school subjects. Again, this kid is amazingly well-versed in technology, modern authors, various sports, and the Bible. (It gave me special joy to explore and discuss the Bible with my grandchild as we travelled back and forth on our vacation.)
Keep in mind that my amazing grandkid also scores high each year on required state tests. But the missing parts of an obviously top-notch education left me questioning whether we are losing more than we are gaining in our kids’ current educational process.
To address those questions, my grandchild and I agreed to explore the strengths and weaknesses in what he knows versus what I know through several unique ways. It is becoming our personal learning quest.
First, we now play our own sunrise-sunset orientation game during each car ride. Without the car’s GPS, my grandchild figures out which way we are driving – north, south, east, or west. And each time our direction changes, that change is noted.
Second, we want to read titles from each other’s favorite genre and discuss those literary works honestly. Of course, the English teacher in me also wants to connect those conversations to the past, present, and future.
Most importantly, we have already begun visiting museums and venues in our state (and beyond) that connect those three time periods to relevant events and needs in the world around us. We also set some learning challenges for my grandchild. These tasks will coincide with our travel adventures, tasks such as listing our 50 states – and eventually, our 50 state capitals. (But the possibilities are endless for this part of our challenge.)
These three tactics alone have already facilitated some amazing talks about the legacy of our family, our state, our nation, and even the world. I pray these talks will continue.
So, this school year, my grandchild and I challenge you and your grandchildren to begin your own learning quest. We challenge you to make your own lists of fun learning activities to complete, books to read, and places to visit.
Here are a few Mississippi websites to help grandparents and grandkids plan and fulfill those learning quests:
- Explore the Visit Mississippi website (https://visitmississippi.org/things-to-do/museums/?sf_paged=2), especially the multiple pages with descriptions and information on various museums located throughout our state.
- Check out tours available at several Mississippi governmental buildings and historic homes at the Kid-Friendly Mississippi website, (https://www.kidfriendlymississippi.com/jackson-metro-historic-homes-buildings).
- Visit Jackson (https://www.visitjackson.com/) is another great website offering information on a wide array of learning venues located throughout our state’s capital city.
- Mississippi State Parks always offer wonderfully fun and educational learning experiences. Go to the specific “State Park Locater” page (https://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations) on the official Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks website for more information.
