This document discusses how swimming culture provides lessons that could improve schooling. It notes that in swimming, children are grouped based on age and ability for practices and meets. Coaches share practice plans in advance and give constant feedback, while children focus on improving their own times rather than averages. Overall, the document argues that sports like swimming engage children and could provide a model for making schools more individually focused and feedback-driven.

1. What Swimming Is Teaching Me
About Schooling
Chris Kennedy
@chrkennedy
West Vancouver School District
November 19, 2014
Vancouver, BC

2. I love to watch my kids play sports – it is probably my
favourite thing in the world

3. I played a lot of sports growing up – I wasn’t very good but I
did love to compete.

4. For whatever reason – one sport that my kids have really got
into is swimming

5. They are not going to the Olympics, but they will swim all
summer

6. While I knew a lot about hockey and basketball – swimming
and swim culture has been new to me.

7. Crap – this is good – I wish school was more like swimming

8. When kids are grouped – age and ability matter.

9. Reporting clearly separates skills and work habits

10. Parents are expected to lend their expertise but not be the
coaches

11. Older kids are expected to work with younger kids

12. Kids work as individuals and as part of a team

13. There are at least 6 or 7 practices to every competition

14. Coaches share a practice plan in advance and then post it
publicly

15. Coaches give constant feedback

16. When there are competitions most kids are obsessed with
their own best times

17. Nobody talks about averages

18. Kids are ridiculously engaged.

19. Sports have a lot of challenges

20. Sports are trying to largely connect in new ways – just like
schools

21. Whether in the classroom, gym, field or pool – hopefully we are
all working to build some forever skills