Overwhelming Chaos

In my Ancient Civilizations class today, everything fell apart. It might’ve been the

substitute teacher, or the free seating. Either way, nothing was going

productively, and I couldn’t focus.

When kids have their freedom limited, they use every chance they have to take it

back. Assigned seats hurt their ability to bond with who they want to. A lack of

free time reduces their capacity to make their own choices. And strict directions

diminish their skill to think outside the box and accomplish the same goal in many different ways.

Because of these constraints, the kids “exploded” as soon as they were

removed, causing the classroom to be filled with the energy of a shooting star

and the volume of a thunderstorm. Aspects of school meant to help studying

ended up backfiring in an unorganized space of gaming and arguing.

Some other constraints that are present in students’ lives are actually set by

themselves. As burnout and anxiety are rising at a rate never seen before, it is

necessary to relax every once in a while. By accepting that you aren’t and can’t

be perfect, you will have removed a burden as large as a mountain.

I believe that if kids have more freedom, they will benefit from mental health and

more efficient work. Sometimes, the best way of control can be freedom.