Goodness knows where we are headed. I think the most important lessons, lessons in humility, grace and love, cannot be taught. I also think that far too much is crammed into our childrens minds long before they are ready to really understand it. I remember having to help each of my children memorize stuff that was way beyond their ken, and how frustrated they all got because they did not understand something. I explained that knowing when they did not understand was the most important learning they could do.
It was difficult for me to focus on your words, because the collection of photos is so fabulous! I got me some instant gratification from them.
Maybe they can't be taught, but they can be learned. I think that the conditions needed to learn them can be built.
I am not a fan of learning by memory - it isn't flexible and can rarely be applied by most people in the right way, at the right time.
And this is one of my favorite sets of her. It is from a few years ago obviously, but she had a ball playing!
The conditions to learn those things exist just going through life. But I agree that schools are the one place in life where those lessons are squelched. Obey the teachers no matter how wrong they are. Don't get openly angry at any classmate, no matter what horrible thing they have said to you. If you're not reading as well as the kid next to you, you are a failure. Squelch yourself at all costs. It's awful - I hate schooling now. It is nothing more than a great dumbing down in the US. Many students seem to thrive in schools, but those who don't are often gravely harmed psychologically, emotionally, and socially.
You have such a great eye!!! And smallsteps is a great subject for photos.