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In a message dated 9/12/2004 11:06:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
ecsamhill@... writes:

PS If my child wanted to go to public school, I wouldn't be thrilled,
but if I couldn't meet his perceived needs at home, I am committed to
letting him try it. Because I feel no child should be unschooled
against his will. That would be an oxymoron. Do some of you disagree
with that approach?<<<

Nope. But I would also do everything in my power to make home look MUCH more
interesting (not a difficult proposition! <G>)

We're in the midst of this discussion at our house right now-----NOT that
either of my boys are interested in school. It's the girlfriend.

Carly (Cameron's girlfriend) believes that I'm brainwashing Duncan, 8. (I
joke about that all the time. But at the same time, I would allow him to go to
school if that's what he really wanted.)

Carly and Cameron have these long discussions about children and
child-rearing (NOT that anything's in the oven! <g>), not mention unschooling vs
school.She thinks that Cameron, having had eight years of schooling, can make an
informed decision about school---*even though* he hasn't been in high school.
(He HAS sat in on a college class, though.) But that Duncan, always unschooled,
cannot.

I contend that *I* have been on both sides of the fence and have chosen
wisely. *She* has only seen the schooled side---*she* has not been exposed enough
to unschooling to make an informed decision. Cameron's seen both and chooses
to remain at home. Duncan is only eight---he has plenty of time to form
opinions---while watching the tv shows that encourage schools! How lame! He also
has a schooled friend who comes over with all the school baggage---and I'm NOT
talking homework! <g> Duncan sees that already---comparing CJ to his
unschooled buds.

I joke with the boys that I'm brainwashing them. But I've told stories about
school. Good stories. I had exceptional teachers. Lots of them! Of course,
there was no option back then. It was school for me or jail-time for my
parents. I chose school! <g>

I think the big difference here is that the schooled kids are being
brainwashed by school, their parents, AND society----but no one thinks of THAT as
brainwashing! That's just the way it is. But whatever you do----watch out for
those Holties! That brainwashing cult!

Puleeze!

She's planning on college. Cameron asked her why. "Because." <g>

Right.....who's brainwashed?

~Kelly


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Elizabeth Hill

**Cameron's seen both and chooses to remain at home. Duncan is only
eight---he has plenty of time to form opinions---while watching the tv
shows that encourage schools! How lame!**

Try "counter programming" with Buffy the Vampire Slayer (on DVD). The underlying metaphor of that show is "school is hell". <g>

I also think Simpsons and Recess and other sassy shows have a realistic depictions of some of the ickiness of school.

Would the girlfriend (Carly) actually not want to leave school if she had a choice? Can you draw her out about what she thinks is wonderful about school.

(I've had a similar conversation with my brother. He says homeschoolers are brainwashed and cult-like. I say, "No, school is the big brainwashing machine. You just don't realize you were brainwashed.")

Betsy

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In a message dated 9/12/2004 12:37:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ecsamhill@... writes:

Try "counter programming" with Buffy the Vampire Slayer (on DVD). The
underlying metaphor of that show is "school is hell". <g>

I also think Simpsons and Recess and other sassy shows have a realistic
depictions of some of the ickiness of school.<<<

Even shows that PROMOTE school---like Barney and Arthur and some teen
shows----I know there are a bunch----make it look bad. There's just no way to make
school look attractive when you're a *free* eight year old! <g>

We've offered for Duncan to go camp----but that, too, looks lame copared to
what we can put together here. AND we don't have all those rules! <G>

Mein brainwashing is vorking, Igor! BWAHAHAHA!

~Kelly


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