What Happens When Kids Have the Chance to be Happy?

No, this is not the opening line to a classic joke every 5 year old might learn as part of his repertoire, nor, is it a rhetorical question.


It is, in fact, one of the many questions we should be asking ourselves everyday.
What, indeed, can occur when a child is not coerced, controlled, diagnosed, criticized, punished, bullied, antagonized, shamed, manipulated, or simply afraid to be themselves?

What if we celebrated all differences instead of pathologizing.

What if every child was offered choices, instead of directives and absolutes?

What if every student was honored instead of patronized?

What if kids were provided the space and opportunity to learn from their mistakes instead of being reprimanded.

What if we revered cooperation and took away competition?

What if we expected equality and justice instead of entitlement?

What if education became a conversation instead of a lecture?

What if flexibility replaced rigidity?

What if a youth's ideas and interests were affirmed and validated instead of disparaged?

What if every decision a young person made was not based on desperation?

What would our planet look like if every youth was given the opportunity to follow their spirit of independence?

​I will argue, quite strenuously, as usual, that we would discover a world filled with people who are creative, intelligent, interested and interesting, witty, empathetic, emotionally healthy, funny, talented, giving, wise, passionate, intuitive, compassionate, resilient, imaginative, courageous, honest, real, ingenious, ethical, hard working, dedicated, intrinsically motivated, outside the box thinkers, who are committed to ensuring others have the same opportunity to simply be happy.
Sounds like a great place to inhabit --- will you work with me to make this dream a reality?

• This post was inspired by multiple conversations and stories from this past week, that, in turn, made me unbelievably furious and incredibly sad. I apologize to all kids on behalf of the adults who have ignored all the above possibilities and made decisions that directly impact your life based on societal, institutional, or organizational dictates and pressures.

DRC NEWS


Mid - Winter Break Week
There is still space available. Sign your child up today for artistic, scientific, “play - tistic” fun!

​Our Growth Spurt Continues!
We are signing on several new kids each week. If you have an interest or talent you would like to share, a suggestion for raising funds, or any other ideas that will help DRC through this exciting time, please contact us.
On a related note the DRC board has recently instituted committees to facilitate all the work we do. Members of a committee do not need to be part of the board of directors. If you would be interested in joining a committee, contact Maria or Karen Gagne the Board President.

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