Memories

Memories are probably one of the most important things you will get from your childhood. Memories can be good and bad but they are the things you learn and grow from. Memories make you who you are. My memories from Clanmore are the best memories I have of my childhood. Full of life, innocence, intrigue, laughter, love, joy and wonderful learning experiences. I always look back at those experiences that I had and the effortless happiness that I got from everything. From the little things like making snack for the class or going on brisk walk, executing a project and seeing the finished product, even listening to the teacher read to you while you're sitting on the plush furry carpet. To the bigger thing like getting support and enthusiasm when I decided to write and direct my own play. Doing fundraisers, which were always the most fun especially if you were doing it for a cause that was really close to you. What made all those memories so amazing is the support and excitement that you got from your classmates. If there was one thing never lacking at Clanmore it was enthusiasm and support.

I find now childhood experiences and memories are lacking from the youth of today, because everyone is trying to grow up so fast. Children have to deal with very grown up situations and therefore miss out on the growing up part of childhood which happens over a long period of time, not over night. Growing up is about making your own mistakes in a safe and understanding environment that will help you pick up the pieces, and that is what Clanmore is.

Clanmore will always be part of my childhood, and I am extremely grateful for that. I said once I will say it again, I don't know what kind of person I would be if I hadn't gone to Clanmore. Once part of the Clanmore family always part of the Clanmore family!

Share your favorite childhood memories by leaving a comment!

Something to think about.

I was thinking the other day about the saying "Ignorance is bliss" and I never really realized how true that saying was. I thought before that sometimes people were just ignorant and insensitive and there is really nothing you can do about it. But I am realizing now, probably more then ever, that a lot of people choose to be ignorant, some people choose to close there eyes and think "Oh no, I didn't see that"; or, "Well, there's nothing I can do about it, that's their problem."
Here, I'll give you an example. Let's say your walking downtown and you see a women drop her purse. How many people do you see run over and help her? Not many. No, the majority of people will step around her and think "Oh, that's too bad." Then go about their business without a second thought. Don't worry if you have done this because you know that everyone has. Hey, even I have done it. All I'm saying is people would much rather step around a problem than look it right in the eye, because once you look it in the eye you can't walk away from it with a clear conscience. Also there is the ongoing art of denial, which a lot of people seem to be taking up more and more. Now, I have been in a few educational systems myself including the public school system. I was definitely not impressed with the public school I attended. That's not to say that the only good schools are private, because I have come to realize that private school can be flawed just as much as any public school.
The reason I think that the public school that I went to (which will remain nameless) was so inadequate was because problems and concerns were blatantly ignored. There was this boy who had a bit of a learning disorder and the boys would push him around and tease him. When this boy went to the teacher on lunch duty and told her about his problem she literally looked at him and walked away. As did all the other teachers. I was totally and completely shocked, because at Clanmore if you had any concern at all it was dealt with right away, not stepped around and waited for an other day to discuss. But what I didn't know was that the worst was yet to come.... But that is another story.
The underlying point that I'm trying to make here is that, next time you think it's easier to walk around a problem or concern (such as really thinking about your child's education), just think, "Will this really fix the problem" or are you just putting it off for a while until you want to do it because - "news flash" - you will never "want" to confront a problem, no one does. That's why I remind you to Just Fix It!

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment or E-mailing me at the-fix-it-movement@live.com

How Schools Kill Creativity

This is a really interesting video that talks about why schools are not set up to help kids who need a creative outlet.

A note from The Just Fix It Girl.

How can something so perfect be viewed as something wrong.

I want to talk to you about a place that means the world to me. In this place I learned to grow, I learned to be kind to others, I learned to take charge of something if I felt strongly about it, I learned how to be an individual and to be proud of it! Most importantly, I learned that to learn you don't have to sit in front of chalk board and listen to someone else talk, you learn by doing. That is what the Montessori school system is all about, hands on, doing it yourself. I am a graduate from Clanmore Montessori school in Oakville, Ontario. I spent nine amazing years there. I sometimes think, who would I be now if I hadn't gone there? Clanmore is not just a school where you learn math and science and English, the Clanmore philosophy is a way of life. That strong philosophy molded me into the person I am today. The reason I started this blog is not to just talk about how great Clanmore is. Clanmore is losing children in there upper elementary (grade 4 - 6). The parents are pulling them out because they don't think they are "learning enough" just because Clanmore doesn't have a huge gym and a computer lab and the kids aren't sitting in front of a chalk board. What the parents don't get, is it's not about what the school has, but what their children would take away with them from the school which is: knowledge, a love of learning and perhaps most importantly, a strong sense of self.

When I was in lower elementary (grade 1 - 3) someone got in a fight with someone else and our teacher (who is the best teacher I have ever had) came up with a little rhyme, No Shame, No Blame, No Apologies, No Excuses - Just Fix It! That is what I'm doing I am going to fix this problem because I do not want any child to miss out on the experience that I had. So you can just call me "The Fix It Girl."

Check out the Clanmore website http://www.clanmoremontessori.com

You can E-mail me at the-fix-it-movement@live.com