CurlyBrackets

Today we're launching a new project called "Kids Anonymous". It's interviews with kids and teenagers about the school, relationship with parents, friendship and all things that matter.

All interviews are going to be anonymous, you will only get to know the age and the location of the guests.

We encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section, the main purpose of this endeavor is to start a dialog and for the world of kids to get the voice that is heard.

Our first guest is Z. Here's what she has to say about school:

“I think, school should prepare me for challenging things that I’ll actually face in life. So that when I look back at what I’ve learned in school I’d feel - this was useful and I need and use this in my present life.

I’m struggling to find the reason for why you need to learn a lot of the things that we learn at school. It makes me feel a bit useless. I feel like I could be doing other things with my time. But by now I guess I’m kinda used to it and my mindset is that I just have to get through these years.

I don’t really see the use of it outside of school itself though. For example when I’m studying for a subject or doing homework I think “Ok, I’m doing this for this specific subject or a future test only”. That’s my only motivation. I don’t see any other point of doing it. We sometimes ask our teachers -“Why do we need this in our lives?”. Their usual response is - “You’ll need it in the university”.

At least for now, I haven’t learned that many practical things. Not the ones that I would like to learn. I think the only most useful skill I’ve gotten is presentation or social skills.

I mean, there are positive sides to it. I like the environment I’m in and I get to see my friends every day. That makes going to actual school a little more enjoyable. School gives me a social life. A structure to my days. And sometimes it’s interesting. Also school makes your brain practice to think in a faster, smarter way.

But there is also that other part of it, where all the stress and pressure comes in. When on top of that you don’t know why you’re doing the things you’re doing, you end up spiraling into this hole, where the entire thing just becomes pointless. So I’d say that the system works, but I feel like there could be a way of making it better.”

Z., 16 y.o., Oslo, IB program

The whole world is talking about the Coronavirus. You probably already know all there is to know about the virus so we won't add anything.

We want to do our part.

We have been holding online classes for more than a year now. Currently, more than 60% of our students attend our classes remotely from home.

Starting today, we’re pausing all in-person attendance to our classes, camps, and events.

Classes will go on as normal, with everyone attending remotely from home.

We don’t know when we will resume in-person attendance again. For this reason, we are also opening up for remote attendance for all of our summer camps for 2020.

How we are handling the Coronavirus - The Bracketeer We want to do our part in slowing the growth of the virus. Starting today, we’re pausing all in-person attendance to our class, camps and events.