http://theparentingpit.com alternative parenting | conscious living | unschooling Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:31:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 http://theparentingpit.com/unschooling/the-nature-of-learning-home-education/#comment-229052 Jenna Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:05:28 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/unschooling/the-nature-of-learning-home-education/#comment-229052 I remember when my babes were just born, i loved the idea of unschooling/home-ed...until it was time to take the plunge and formally request to our local school districst their permission to exempt our child from school for the purpose of homeschooling (i.e. the current legal requirements of our state). I have to admit I got cold feet! Then one morning my 5 year old charged into my bedroom while I was changing the baby. He was dressed-up as a "doctor"; as he began measuring the baby's length and head circumference and taking notes in his "doctor chart" I realized we were "homeschooling". Here he was learning to do measurements, write letters and numbers, explore the social role of doctors, etc....with no planning or urging on my part! Of course, it's impossible to keep children from learning if they are left to their own devices...and if they are spared the inevitable classroom experiences that teach that learning is boring...or for teacher's pets, or for sissies. Where else do you get ridiculed for being smart besides in a school room? I shudder at the hazing and torments that the "smart kids" (geeks) must endure in public schools...often with permanent damage to their fragile self-esteem. Our kids (all kids) deserve so much better. I remember when my babes were just born, i loved the idea of unschooling/home-ed…until it was time to take the plunge and formally request to our local school districst their permission to exempt our child from school for the purpose of homeschooling (i.e. the current legal requirements of our state). I have to admit I got cold feet! Then one morning my 5 year old charged into my bedroom while I was changing the baby. He was dressed-up as a “doctor”; as he began measuring the baby’s length and head circumference and taking notes in his “doctor chart” I realized we were “homeschooling”. Here he was learning to do measurements, write letters and numbers, explore the social role of doctors, etc….with no planning or urging on my part! Of course, it’s impossible to keep children from learning if they are left to their own devices…and if they are spared the inevitable classroom experiences that teach that learning is boring…or for teacher’s pets, or for sissies. Where else do you get ridiculed for being smart besides in a school room? I shudder at the hazing and torments that the “smart kids” (geeks) must endure in public schools…often with permanent damage to their fragile self-esteem. Our kids (all kids) deserve so much better.

]]> http://theparentingpit.com/unschooling/the-nature-of-learning-home-education/#comment-5218 Marjorie Hansen Mon, 26 Nov 2007 05:32:40 +0000 http://theparentingpit.com/unschooling/the-nature-of-learning-home-education/#comment-5218 I am interested in your article, for the sake of my grandson, who has had great difficulty in learning to read. He is now 11 and is barely able to read enough to get along at a grade 3 level, yet in many areas he is very clever and capable. I am interested in your article, for the sake of my grandson, who has had great difficulty in learning to read. He is now 11 and is barely able to read enough to get along at a grade 3 level, yet in many areas he is very clever and capable.

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