"You are the expert on your children."
[email protected]
There are another couple of myths gaining weight these days (past few years),
both of which really, truly bother me. One was triggered by this:
<< It still amazes me to see homeschoolers who are so out of touch with kids
in general and their own kids. >>
On homeschooling discussion groups and "SUPPORT groups" (heavy on supporting
whatever, and not really helping people change for the better or learn more)
it is standard fare for people to be told "you're the expert!" "No expert
knows your children better than you do!" etc.
There are people who do not know their children. They don't know who their
friends are, what they like, what they know, what they think is wonderful or
whatever.
Some of them are homeschoolers.
There are people who don't have a clue about when a child might be expected
to know how to tie shoes, or to remember something he promised the day
before, or how many things a person can memorize at one sitting.
And some of them are homeschoolers who say they are the experts on their
children.
I just cringe when I hear that.
And then there are people who will pass straight on to their children as fact
things that are not fact. There was an "unborn chicken" incident on
unschooling.com a while back. I don't think the mom came back after we asked
a couple of questions and someone explained the realities of chicken-eggs to
her.
She wanted to be right more than she wanted to learn. She wanted to be her
son's only teacher, and she wanted what she said to be true just because she
said it. Because she was *HOMESCHOOLING.*
I fear other people's power plays.
And the other irritating assertion is "All truths are equally valid."
Perhaps, in the case of religious beliefs or cultural traditions or
languages, yes. Maybe anthropologically speaking cremation is as valid as
burial or exposure or whatever.
But it's often used to try to legitimate nonsense, or to justify a really bad
piece of reasoning.
And I said the last time we wrestled that one (not here, elsewhere) and I'll
say it again--just because there's no one single truth doesn't mean there's
no such thing as bullshit.
Sandra
both of which really, truly bother me. One was triggered by this:
<< It still amazes me to see homeschoolers who are so out of touch with kids
in general and their own kids. >>
On homeschooling discussion groups and "SUPPORT groups" (heavy on supporting
whatever, and not really helping people change for the better or learn more)
it is standard fare for people to be told "you're the expert!" "No expert
knows your children better than you do!" etc.
There are people who do not know their children. They don't know who their
friends are, what they like, what they know, what they think is wonderful or
whatever.
Some of them are homeschoolers.
There are people who don't have a clue about when a child might be expected
to know how to tie shoes, or to remember something he promised the day
before, or how many things a person can memorize at one sitting.
And some of them are homeschoolers who say they are the experts on their
children.
I just cringe when I hear that.
And then there are people who will pass straight on to their children as fact
things that are not fact. There was an "unborn chicken" incident on
unschooling.com a while back. I don't think the mom came back after we asked
a couple of questions and someone explained the realities of chicken-eggs to
her.
She wanted to be right more than she wanted to learn. She wanted to be her
son's only teacher, and she wanted what she said to be true just because she
said it. Because she was *HOMESCHOOLING.*
I fear other people's power plays.
And the other irritating assertion is "All truths are equally valid."
Perhaps, in the case of religious beliefs or cultural traditions or
languages, yes. Maybe anthropologically speaking cremation is as valid as
burial or exposure or whatever.
But it's often used to try to legitimate nonsense, or to justify a really bad
piece of reasoning.
And I said the last time we wrestled that one (not here, elsewhere) and I'll
say it again--just because there's no one single truth doesn't mean there's
no such thing as bullshit.
Sandra
Jorgen & Ann
>I know this is true. It is my lack of imagination that does me in here.
>On homeschooling discussion groups and "SUPPORT groups" (heavy on supporting
>
>whatever, and not really helping people change for the better or learn more)
>
>it is standard fare for people to be told "you're the expert!" "No expert
>
>knows your children better than you do!" etc.
>
>
>
>There are people who do not know their children. They don't know who their
>
>friends are, what they like, what they know, what they think is wonderful or
>
>whatever.
>
>
>
>Some of them are homeschoolers.
Homeschooling is an immersion my kids. It's hard for me to imagine that it
isn't the same for others, that folks don't have a burning desire to learn
about ages and stages.
I think of the "expert on your children" thing as an LLL concept that has
been twisted. Take a nice slogan, forget the truth behind it, and use it to
mean whatever you want.
Ann
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
just because there's no one single truth
doesn't mean there's
Joylyn
Mom to Lexie (6) and Janene (3)
For great nursing clothes and slings, go to
www.4mommyandme.com
"Wasn't it Mark Twain who said it takes a
very dull person to spell a word only one
way?"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
just because there's no one single truth
doesn't mean there's
> no such thing as bullshit.can this be my new quote?
>
> Sandra
>
Joylyn
Mom to Lexie (6) and Janene (3)
For great nursing clothes and slings, go to
www.4mommyandme.com
"Wasn't it Mark Twain who said it takes a
very dull person to spell a word only one
way?"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/30/02 10:09:30 AM, joylyn@... writes:
<< can this be my new quote? >>
Can I get a by-line?
(sure, you can use it, but I want to keep it in general <g>)
<< can this be my new quote? >>
Can I get a by-line?
(sure, you can use it, but I want to keep it in general <g>)
Joylyn
of course, always give credit. :-)
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
[Click Here!]
Joylyn
Mom to Lexie (6) and Janene (3)
For great nursing clothes and slings, go to
www.4mommyandme.com
"Wasn't it Mark Twain who said it takes a
very dull person to spell a word only one
way?"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joylyn
SandraDodd@... wrote:
>ADVERTISEMENT
> In a message dated 1/30/02 10:09:30 AM,
> joylyn@... writes:
>
> << can this be my new quote? >>
>
> Can I get a by-line?
>
> (sure, you can use it, but I want to keep
> it in general <g>)
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
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Joylyn
Mom to Lexie (6) and Janene (3)
For great nursing clothes and slings, go to
www.4mommyandme.com
"Wasn't it Mark Twain who said it takes a
very dull person to spell a word only one
way?"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]