Friday, September 30, 2005

"Rule of Four" my ass!

Small Boy is miserable. He's teething - again! The "rule of four" is that, in general, babies cut four new teeth every four months. They generally come in matched pairs - first the bottom two in the middle, then their upper gum mates. Then the next two up top, then their lower gum mates. Okay. So much for the general. In the particular Small Boy got his first two teeth the weekend of August 15. Then between Sept 2 and Sept 12 he got FOUR on top, and now he's getting two MORE on top. It's not fair, he doesn't deserve this. He's trying to put on a brave face, but he's just miserable.

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2 Comments:

At 05:19 , Blogger christina said...

How interesting. I love coming to your blog to get a bigger perspective on issues that matter. I'm so interested in this. & I totally agree with your view. Hmm, i'm suprised though that it's the Swiss who are claimed to over schedule their kids. I can think of several other demographics that might better fit that particular description!!

 
At 10:04 , Blogger swissmiss said...

Christina - I haven't finished reading the report (63 pages in bureaucratic German! Gah!), but when I read the summaries in the newspapers I was quite surprised too. Especially when I then look at the Swiss school day for younger kids which is, um, how to put this? Relaxed? They don't start school until they're 6, and it's Kindergarten but sounds more like what in the States would be pre-K. They often don't start to learn to write until the 1st class - in some Kantons (states) teachers are actively discouraged from introducing reading and writing in Kindergarten. Then all throughout the early school years there is usually at least one half day, they get 1.5 or 2 hours for lunch because they come home every day for lunch - at most schools kids are flat out not allowed to stay over lunch, the schools simply don't have the facilities.

On the other hand, I used to take the train to the city with the Gymnasium kids, and by the time they hit that level MAN did they seem to have a lot of homework.

I'll have to read the whole report and see what they're talking about - it's possible that they're starting from a different base level so that for a Swiss kid to be overscheduled might look very different from an overscheduled American kid.

I keep meaning to blog more thoughtfully about Switzerland the way Mausi does about Germany, but I just run out of time, especially now with Small Boy teething so much that his day time naps are just a joke. I can't get anything done. One day.

 

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