“Animal School” Feedback!
by Ellen C. Braun
Filed under Raising Small Souls Movies
RaisingSmallSouls’ popular movie, “Animal School” has generated a flury of comments. Educators and parents have raved about the moral of the story, and it has inspired many to take a deeper and more individual look at their students and children.
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Click here to read the Animal School Movie Text.
The music is Yellow Flutterby Dreams- http://gbhprod.com/songs
Recently, I’ve been thinking about which type of animal is catered to in a traditional school setting, and I believe it is the sheep. Passive followers do very well in school. ‘Sheep’ do as they are told, never question rules, and consistently follow the directions they are given. That’s not to say that other animals cannot do well in school… they can! Yet, most schools are geared towards the needs and charateristics of the sheep!
A father told me about his two sons, who are as different as night and day. The eleven-year-old is a straight-A model student. On the other hand, the eight-year-old is restless, creative, and entrepreneurial. Since the younger son is “weight-challenged” (is that the current politically-correct way of saying “a little overweight”?) his mother sends him to school with fruits and vegetables as snacks. The family struggles financially, and the child does not bring any money with which to buy snacks. However, at the beginning of recess, the third-grade child asks his teacher for a handfull of plastic cups. He borrows a dollar and finds a child with a 32oz. Snapple, and purchases the drink. Then he pours a bit of the iced-tea into each of his dozen cups, and sells them to his fellow students. He uses his profits to repay the loan and buy the commercialized sugar-and-salt-coated snacks that he craves. At the end of the day, he has had his fill of junk-food and several dollars in profit!
Which child has more “street smarts”? Which child is more likely to succeed in the “real world”? If you own a business, which child would you hire to work as your salesman?
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I truly enjoyed “Animal School!” It was sent to me by a friend and I sent it on to my father who once told me that homeschooling my son was the biggest mistake I could ever make. My son has absolutely flourished since we began homeschooling in January of this year! His attitude has changed, he is seeking the company of “nicer” friends, and is really learning for a change. We cannot box our children into prepared packages! Each is unique and unfortunately, the public school teachers are too overwhelmed to teach to all learnig styles. It’s a shame and not the fault of the teacher who usually gets blamed! Thank you for this video! Each and every school administrator and teacher should be required to watch it once a month!
Everyone is different and sometimes people don’t want to accept that. People are special in their own way based on personality and unique talent. It is important as educators to try and accommodate everyone’s individual needs by choosing activities to cater all learning styles, as hard as it might be. Teachers need to have a certain personality when dealing with children. They should also loosen up a bit more and not have school so structured. It is good to have order in the classroom setting but some people don’t follow that traditional “sheep” personality. Sometimes it is unnecessary to send students to special education or resource room, all they may need is a modification in the regular class. Most, if not all children have the potential to learn so it is crucial to be sensitive to their specific needs. There are very few students that are completely well rounded in everything. The reality is that children are better in particular subjects than others. Children strive when they are doing something they are naturally good at and enjoy. Parents need to modify the way they raise their children based on the child’s personal traits as well. You don’t want to force a child into doing something that is not right for them.
I disagree with punishments such as “no recess,” and “no extracurricular sports” which go along with the duck in the movie. It doesn’t seem like a child would do better academically if their passion was taken away from them. A lot of times it is not the child’s fault when they do poorly in school. In the case of the polar bear it reminded me of a friend that had seasonal depression. In the gloomy months of winter it was hard for her to concentrate and perform well at school.
This video created such an incredible connection to the importance of individuality. I agree with the video when it says that many students fall behind because teachers and administrators are harping on certain areas where students may be falling behind, but also I feel that it is important for each child to have the option to improve in all areas that they can. I think teaching has to be a complete balance of supporting students’ strengths while also improving their weaknesses. This is a very difficult task for teachers, especially with the large numbers of students currently in classrooms, but I think that if these teachers connect with their students’ parents, it might be a more level and opportunistic fight to keep that child’s individuality and increase their strengths. If these children get the help and attention that they need, instead of being thrown into more and more classes where the child will only be successful if they become a drone, they could be incredible individuals with incredible talents. Most of all, to reach this level of support, I think teachers need to remain flexible with each of their students. This flexibility will allow each child to fluorish in their own special ways. This video could be a great reminder to teachers and administrators to not allow their students to get lost in the mix. It truly is an inspiring video.
I think that this video is based on a classic theme in classrooms. I think that the issue of playing to strengths can be viewed in many ways. If you let a student focus only on what they are good at, they become one dimensional. However, that does not mean that they should abandon their strengths to focus on weak areas. Instead teachers should try to incorporate what students are good at or interested in into what they are having difficulty with. Teachers should be careful to not become one dimensional in their approach to teaching. They too should try to focus their attention on the ways that they can include several teaching methods to complement several learning styles.
I thought this was an excellent movie and shows how children should be treated as individuals rather than a mass. So what if a child does not show immediate ability, don’t crush them! if they are nurtured and motivated they will achieve when they are ready. All children should be helped to reach their potential. It is a bad teacher who tries to mould a child into something they are not. The bee is a miracle, who can fly against all odds – so are our children!
I am going through a process of trying to pursued my sons school that he needs some time off school for extra tennis lessons. He has great potential and Loves Sport and is proving himself to be a talented tennis player. As a child I used to Hate PE Lessons… but I was always made to do them, I would come last in the Running Race I would flop at the hurdles in fact the only sports that I loved as a child was Tennis but I was not allowed to do this as it was not on the Curriculum. I became an over weight teanager and later an over weight adult but it did not stop my love of the game. Now In my Late 30s I play tennis 3 times a week and have recently qualified as a Level 2 Tennis Coach, In my Tennis class I see children of all shapes and sizes and I can reflect back to my school days. My Son is 8 years old and I want to give him every possibility to fulfil his potential. I think the Animal School Presentation is excellent and have already shown it to several friends.
I loved the video. I work with youth who have been adjudicated by the court. One thing that seems to hinder healing is the expectation that all should be alike – especially “Like ME” Or program uses Equine-Assisted Therapy to work with these kids. One of my primary focuses is that there are many ways to do things. How we can learn from each other if we just choose to enjoy our differences!
My wife is an elementary school principal in a school with 70% free and reduced lunch kiddos! When I found this and ordered the download of the movie, she was very excited. All of her teachers, staff and as many parents as she can reach will have a chance to view this and the team leaders will help anyone at all to assist in reaching every one of these different kids on the kid’s level of interest! This movie says so much of importance! We just have to find a way to ‘ . . keep kids from getting it wrong . . ‘! And, even though I believe it’s designed to raise SMALL souls, I will contend, perhaps until I’m out of contention, that our middle and high school teachers might profit by seeing this and internalizing its message (shucks, there may even be some college professors who could grow with this knowledge!)
I received the book this weekend from my sister and she thought I would like because I am a teacher. I just cried!!! Then I went back to work and shared it with my principal. He loved it! he has been bringing different staff (even from central office) into my room all week to share the book. He loved that I thought to share it with my students and discuss the value of learning and how we are all different and learn in different ways and at different paces. My principal is trying t find a way to get the book for every member of our staff in the district. We can all relate to an “animal” in the book or one not yet written about. We need to keep in mind that any one of those animals could be our own or in our class. What a great way to keep that in mind by reading this book. Thank you so much for your creativity and love for our children and your own.
I loved this movie, and would like to show it to the other professionals in the resource room where I teach! I just watched it with my 17 year old son. He related to it completely, and said he knew teachers like those in the “animal school”. He opened a discussion about “which animal am I?” It became clear that there must be more animals than the ones described in the film. Even through this lens, you could not pigeon-hole a child!!!
Animal School could be enhanced with a good voice over of the text for those who respond better orally.
This video shows just how different children are in schools and in life. An important thing to look at is how the school can assist all children in being successful. We can not fail at enhancing and nurturing the abilities of all children. If a student is lacking in one area, we need to work on strengthing their ability without neglecting their current strengths. We see this in the example of the duck. I feel that this is a tricky component to working with children from all walks of life. However through effective collaboration, teamwork, and school resources, all children should have the proper enviornment to achieve the ultimate goal of academic success. I believe that this video should be shown to all individuals invested in the students academic path.
This video did an excellent job of representing the many different types of learners we see in schools everyday. Students who do not “fit the mold” are often labeled or ignored and this clip shows us how each individual student has something special to offer us and other students around them. By not recognizing and finding ways to nurture diverse learning needs, students will ultimately fall victim to feelings of persecution, inadequacy, self-consciousness and lack of motivation.
As a recent graduate from a teacher education program and a current school counseling students, I can attest that most of today’s colleges and universities strongly emphasize the issues brought up by this video. It is reassuring that future generations of teachers and counselors are more prepared than ever to support and encourage diversity and students with special needs.
Loved the short film “Animal School”. We as educators must conform to the needs of individual students, not the opposite, so that they may reach their full potential.
This is an amazing video. I think that this should be turned into a children’s book so that all these children know that they’re not alone. There are people just like them.
This video is the reason why people become school counselors. This was one the most moving things I have ever seen.
This video was very moving, and immediately made me think about myself and others I know and how we all may fit into one of the animal categories. The making of this video shows that teachers are now recognizing that each student is different and the class can’t be taught as one. This is a great step in assuring the success of our future students.
A truly inspiring book, an eye opener to all teachers and parents.
Truly an eye-opener. I received the movie from a friend and made sure all my other friends also receive it. We all know that each child is different and are very good at advising others, but when its the turn of our own children, we often forget they need not necessarily have to “fit-in” in everything. We expect them to excel in almost everything be it studies, sports, extra curricular activities. It is best we “let them be” and encourage them in whatever they are good at. This story is a reminder to all the parents and also to the teachers.
Thanks a ton for reminding.
i was in a training about parenting when i first saw this video. i had left my daughters at home for the first time. i was a little anxious and obviously had so much in my mind that i could do with them once the training was over, when this video struck me like a mental slap.thats when i realised that they are already born with gifts…all we are left to do is to identify them and nurture them so that our little geniuses reach excellence…
sometimes,how much i wish my parents had seen this video,when i was smaller!! Ours kids are surely lucky!!
I love the Animal Video it was great and so true.
The movie is great with a wonderful message for parents and teachers alike. My own concern was the resolution of the video. It tended to pixelate quite a bit and was a little sluggish. I thought that it would have been a little better quality.
Very inspiring. I share this website and the Animal School movie a lot with my colleagues.
I am an educational engineer at a university in Europe and i can say that this principle is also valid for students in the age of 17-27. Our challange is to find a way to construct bridges between a highly formalized & standarized society and a highly personolized, customized development of people. Oh by the way, i think i am an eagle
What we must realize is that children have different personalities and we cannot expect the same from all of them. What we should do is to understand behavioural patterns and intern try to mold them accordingly in a healthy way. For lots more information, please visit my website.
Animal School video is very touching with a simple & truthful message.I believe in sending my daughter to a school which teaches her to THINK , not MEMORIZE.
I was schooled in India in the most popular curriculum however i totally disagree with everything
about the methods, syllabi & time spent. I studied science, built my career in Banking – totally unconnected things. Now after several years i realise creative line is where my talent lies.
Have gathered the courage to start my career in a different line altogether.
None of these thoughts were encouraged or recognized in school or college.
I am all the more determined that my daughter ENJOY her school life & childhood after seeing the video !
The best video I had ever seen.
I truly enjoyed watching this video, I first saw this video in a class seminar and it really touched me and turned on my critical thinking button. Within the same week my job (educational pararprofessional) showed this video to the staff, this video should be viewed not only by parents, but all educators as well.
Cassandra
Send Animal School to every Health Visitor, Teacher Training College, Parenting Group, School and After School Club that you know!
Truly an eye-opening film. I believe every parent and educator should watch this video.
My husband and I were glad that we homeschooled our children. It was not a popular decision because the concept is rather new in the Philippines. Seeing Animal School was liberating for us. It affirmed our decision because we as parents could tailor their instruction depending on their strengths and learning styles. More power. God Bless.
Wow!! Amazing movie. We had a chance to watch this movie at my son’s school curriculum night. Truly inspirational. It gives insight to “out of the box thinking”. We watch this movie with our son every other day to show how unique he is. It refreshes our stressful mind (of course the busy work mind) every time you watch this movie. Hats off to you for such a wonderful clip. Thank you so much.
this is a great movie, can i translate it to hebrew?