Not Preparing Children For Life Is Preparing Them For Failure

Our world is changing by the nanoseconds daily. So are human minds and how they raise their children.

I volunteer as a teacher’s aide to sixth graders who are preparing for the Primary Exit Profile PEP, which will determine which high school they attend next September. While in a conversation with a few of them, talking about which high schools they want to attend and what grade those high schools demand, one of the females said, “My mom said I shouldn’t worry about the future. Focus on now.”

Silence spoke. I broke it, asking, “Which traditional high school do you want to go to?”

Here, we used to have high schools and secondary schools. They sent the brighter children to the high schools. Now the government has changed secondary schools to high schools. So now we have traditional high schools and non-traditional high schools. Children only want to attend traditional high schools that demand an average over 90. The competition was stiff.

The high school her mom chose for her demands a 95% average, but will take the highest-grade students who choose it. She was in the slowest class.

She went on to say, “I don’t go outside, nor do I talk to anyone. Only at school and sometimes on my tablet.”

“Do you study for your tests?” I asked, shocked.

She looked at me as if I had asked a stupid question.

“Studying for a test is planning for the future. By studying, you will pass your tests and get good grades so you can get into the school of your choice,” I explained.

Curiosity and confusion lined her face.

“The traditional high school that your mom chose demands a 95% average, and they have 222 spaces for first form. They are taking the 222 highest averages,” I informed her.

With popped eyes and an agape mouth, I continued to educate her, “Without knowledge of life, living, your education, choice, and what you want for your life, you will fail. Didn’t your mom know this?” My anger demanded.

She nods.

I had to ask, “Your mom didn’t know that the school she chose for you demands a 95 average?”

She went on to tell me the rest of the schools her mom chose, as they got seven choices. Every high school on her list demands a 90% and more average. They were traditional high schools, and each one takes the highest-average students.

Approximately 31,000 to 33,000 children are expected to sit the grade-six PEP exams next year. [1, 2]

There are approximately 15 to 20 prominent traditional high schools located across the corporate area of Kingston and St. Andrew. [1]

20 to 30 public secondary, technical, and non-traditional high schools operating across the corporate area. [1, 2]

These are the options she faces now in her area.

Every parent wants their children to attend the traditional high school. Most don’t prepare their children for the grades these schools demand.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I asked.

She shrugged her shoulders.

With wide, shocked eyes, I asked, “What do you like to do?”

She smiled as if no one had asked her that question, then said, “Art. I love to draw, paint, and create things.”

The pain that exploded in my heart caught me unaware as shock embraced me. I want to strangle her mother. Studying her features, she looked timid, scared, and shy. Her voice was soft-spoken too. Looking at her, you could tell she was from a good home. She was properly attired according to the school rules, from her hair to her shoes. She was respectful too. How she carried herself screamed fear. Fear implanted by a mother who is probably terrified of a world that gave her a reason to protect her child or children any way she can.

She was the kind of child who didn’t know how to stand up for herself. Looking at her, most people in my culture can read her and know that she is an easy target to walk over.

She is the underdog who needs protection.

Children need to know their world. And the earlier they meet it, the more success they have access to. Ignorance of life, living, education, hope, dreams, what could happen tomorrow, which high school she wants to attend, how she wants to live, her hopes and dreams, etc.- she needs to know. Not tomorrow. Not next week or next year. She needs to know it now!

I want my children to be happy, so their lives are their decisions from childhood. I introduce their world to them early, then guide and help them to survive in it. After providing them with lots of information, I ask them what they want to be when they grow up. Which traditional high school they want to attend, and then help make that dream possible. We can’t protect our children from the world, but we can prepare them to protect themselves and survive in it. Without that knowledge or ability, they will face failure. Teach them to go into things with knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and common sense as early as possible.

PEP is more than six months away; all I can do is pray for this child. Encourage and motivate her when I see her. Our world is cruel to children now. Our children need help. Please, help a child whenever you can. A kind word, thought, or idea goes a long way..

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed.