Freedom, Wandering, & Finding A Path
In the The Storyteller: Expanded…Because There’s More To The Story, Dave Grohl said of his mother, “I like to say now that she disciplined me with freedom by allowing me to wander, to find my path, and ultimately find myself.” I believe he meant that his mother, who was a public school teacher, gave him the freedom to explore and make his own choices. Rather than imposing strict rules and limitations, she allowed him to venture and discover his own passions and interests. This approach helped him develop his own identity and find his true purpose in life.
This wandering and freedom had to be tough for his mom as it led to Grohl dropping out of school. But, as his mom said, “It’s not always the kid that fails at school sometimes it’s the school that fails the kid.” Grohl really didn’t explain the statement except in his own context of wanting to become an artist as a rock musician. I believe as a school teacher his mom was rightly referring to the idea that sometimes it’s not the child’s fault for struggling in school, but rather the educational system or environment that is not able to meet their needs or support their learning style. I believe, as Grohl does too, that it is important to recognize that each child is unique and may require different approaches to learning. Instead of blaming the child for not succeeding, it is necessary to evaluate and address the shortcomings of the school system to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to thrive academically. This is why I am so excited to be a part of policymaking for Indiana’ school redesign. We need a system where every child’s uniqueness can be celebrated and developed. We cannot continue as we are right now, where the best choice some is to drop out of school, because the school cannot meet the student’s needs – as was the case for Grohl.
Byron's Babbles 
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