primalmommy@IVILLAGE.COM on tue 3 apr 01
There are as many ways to homeschool as there are parents in the world. Broad brush comments about "homeschoolers" fail to recognize this.
I teach clay classes to homeschoolers and it's one of the few areas where this diverse group can find common ground. Those who teach bible-only curriculum will not share a science lab or literature club with those who are not religious-based or families like ours who "unschool". There are kids in my class with conservative christian families making pots beside kids with lesbian moms, kids of environmental activists, and kids of buddhists.
The assumptions that homeschooled kids even spend more time at home than other kids is false. So is the assumption that parents always "teach" their kids in the traditional sense of the word. It's a wide world of classes, experts, apprenticeships, resources and experiences out there. Kids empowered to do so take control of their own leaning, and parents just provide resources.
I happen to agree with Vince about the real disservice done to children who are over-sheltered, and shown only a narrow slice of life.
Ironically, I know schooled children who are exposed to less of the "real world" than my kids. Life as edited through textbooks and teachers, presented in "child appropriate" terms, can be very artificial indeed. And sadly, after the school day ends, the artificial experience of TV often takes over.
If one believes, as I do, that the world is the classroom, that includes the good, bad and ugly, people in all their flaws and glories. Young people, old people, those of all races and ethnicities and walks of life, un-parcelled off by school district. Real people doing real jobs, not pictures in a book.
Just my point of view, of course.
Yours, Kelly in Ohio (wondering when, in human history, "socialization" was defined as "30 kids with the same birth year and zip code")
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Maggie Nagle on thu 5 apr 01
Kelly,
I agree. I have taught in both public schools and homeschooling groups.
The clay class I taught for homeschoolers was a joy. I am now homeschooling
my son because the public schools did not work for him. He is not learning
to play playstation better just because he is home. As his mother, I am
interested in his well rounded education. He is learning self-motivation,
which seems to be a common thread in the homeschoolers I have met.
I have also had homeschoolers come into my public school classrooms. I
never had a problem other than adjustment to listening in groups. The
homeschooling group my son belongs to has 115 kids in it. We know that
public schools are lacking in most areas, and for people like my son, who is
interested in learning more information and in an environment that has more
freedom to explore his true interests, homeschooling is the best.
My other son loves high school and we send him there. Not all of us are
creationists bent on protecting our children from the big bad world. Most
of the homeschooling parents I know, fundamental Christians included, are
interested in their children receiving the best education possible and
devote long hours in research and preparation to provide that for their
children.
Thanks Maggie Nagle
In Houston where the humidity of Summer has made a visit.
----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 2:34 PM
Subject: clay and homschoolers
> There are as many ways to homeschool as there are parents in the world.
Broad brush comments about "homeschoolers" fail to recognize this.
>
> I teach clay classes to homeschoolers and it's one of the few areas where
this diverse group can find common ground. Those who teach bible-only
curriculum will not share a science lab or literature club with those who
are not religious-based or families like ours who "unschool". There are kids
in my class with conservative christian families making pots beside kids
with lesbian moms, kids of environmental activists, and kids of buddhists.
>
> The assumptions that homeschooled kids even spend more time at home than
other kids is false. So is the assumption that parents always "teach" their
kids in the traditional sense of the word. It's a wide world of classes,
experts, apprenticeships, resources and experiences out there. Kids
empowered to do so take control of their own leaning, and parents just
provide resources.
>
> I happen to agree with Vince about the real disservice done to children
who are over-sheltered, and shown only a narrow slice of life.
>
> Ironically, I know schooled children who are exposed to less of the "real
world" than my kids. Life as edited through textbooks and teachers,
presented in "child appropriate" terms, can be very artificial indeed. And
sadly, after the school day ends, the artificial experience of TV often
takes over.
>
> If one believes, as I do, that the world is the classroom, that includes
the good, bad and ugly, people in all their flaws and glories. Young people,
old people, those of all races and ethnicities and walks of life,
un-parcelled off by school district. Real people doing real jobs, not
pictures in a book.
>
> Just my point of view, of course.
> Yours, Kelly in Ohio (wondering when, in human history, "socialization"
was defined as "30 kids with the same birth year and zip code")
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> iVillage.com: Solutions for Your Life
> Check out the most exciting women's community on the Web
> http://www.ivillage.com
>
>
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