This week reading "Troublemakers" by carla Shalaby

This author Carla Shalaby argues that schools are designed to enforce obedience rather than encourage children's curiosity and independence. She compares these students to canaries in a coal mine, warning us of deeper problems in the system. Instead of silencing them, she urges us to listen.

"School does not welcome this protest, this natural way of childhood."

Shalaby is explaining to us that kids naturally question, test limits, and try to figure things out for themselves that's how they learn. But schools don't really do that. Instead, kids sit quietly, listen, and get done exactly what they are instructed to do without questioning anything. This is a big difference from the way children learn in general outside of school, where they are able to learn by discovery and questioning. At school, at times learning is more about memorization of facts and obeying instructions, not really understanding or learning things.

"Students who do not behave by our standards are then not permitted to progress by our standards."

This quote illustrates how schools might make it extremely difficult for certain children to succeed. When a student doesn't act exactly the way the school wishes them to, they are typically punished sent out of class, suspended, or even expelled. But when that happens, they are missing class and behind, and it is even more difficult for them to succeed. It is like the system is designed to push students out instead of helping them. Instead of trying to figure out that certain kids simply can't abide by the rules, schools just punish them and make things worse.

"These troublemakers—rejected and criminalized—are the children from whom we can learn the most about freedom."

Shalaby is declaring that these kids who constantly get into more and more trouble have a great deal to teach us. Instead of looking at them as bad or disobedient, we should listen to why they are doing so. When children disobey following rules strictly, it shows that school is not really learning but rather about control. There are kids who are curious and challenge authority, and instead of punishing them, we must question if the rules are fair. If we were to actually listen to these children, we might realize that school needs to be a place where kids can think for themselves and learn in a way that will actually work for them, If children are naturally curious, then why are they punished for questioning?