A little bit of progress
Dan Vilter
I just thought I would let you all know that the Vilter family has been
making progress in our world.
Throughout my life my mother has always been supportive of my endeavors.
However, there has often been a "but <fill in worry here>" expression of her
concerns. It comes along with her support if she feels strongly enough about
the subject. So when I told her we were homeschooling she thought Matthew
would end up smart enough - but how would he learn to deal with difficult
people and function in a group and be able to work all the jerks he will end
up working with professionally? I tried all my discussion and persuasion
techniques to help her see that we were all going to be better people going
this route. Discussion would go back and forth but I've known that it was a
serious worry to her. It even broke down at one point where, in a
discussion, as heated as they get with her, I said that I should send him to
prison to see to her concerns. So I just stopped talking with her about
that particular aspect of Matthew's development.
When I started discussing Unschooling concepts I could see that same worried
tension behind her eyes. I knew this was too big a jump for her to make. So
I backed off and have never gotten to discuss or explain our motivations for
taking this path. She was very concerned when he wasn't reading at age
ten. And questioned "how does he learn History?" - Knowing that it was never
a subject I excelled at in public school. [And perhaps leading me to infer
"who would study history if there wasn't a class requiring it."]
Matthew is now 13 years old. He can sit down with a novel and not look up
until it's done. He practically begs me to read history books to him
because it's interesting and a fun thing we do together. Most importantly,
he has grown into being a pleasant person who is sensitive and can deal with
difficult people on his own, something he has proven to my mother during
discussion with my father.
So I was driving my mother home from a doctor's appointment. I had a
printout of an article that Sandra had posted here about a month ago called
"Let's work to stop snuffing out the joys of learning " by Andrew Hanson.
The article talks about the damage formal schooling does to the passion for
learning through study. It describes how formal schooling changes the active
learners we all are at the start of our lives, into passive, disinterested,
learners. I had passed it around our Park day group and it was still in my
car. I don't normally pass on information that blatantly bashes schooling
to my mother who retired from the Los Angeles city school district a few
years back. But this article was written by a teacher, a Fulbright Exchange
Teacher, and touches on many key concepts of unschooling. And I thought
maybe she could see that Jocelyn and I (and Unschooling) are part of the
revolution of schooling Hanson calls for. And that the outcomes are clearly
illustrated in her grandson... So I asked her if she wanted to read
any more homeschooling propaganda. And she replied "Oh, I don't think I need
any more propaganda, I am already convinced that you've made the right
choice."
Well, knock me over with a feather.
-Dan Vilter
making progress in our world.
Throughout my life my mother has always been supportive of my endeavors.
However, there has often been a "but <fill in worry here>" expression of her
concerns. It comes along with her support if she feels strongly enough about
the subject. So when I told her we were homeschooling she thought Matthew
would end up smart enough - but how would he learn to deal with difficult
people and function in a group and be able to work all the jerks he will end
up working with professionally? I tried all my discussion and persuasion
techniques to help her see that we were all going to be better people going
this route. Discussion would go back and forth but I've known that it was a
serious worry to her. It even broke down at one point where, in a
discussion, as heated as they get with her, I said that I should send him to
prison to see to her concerns. So I just stopped talking with her about
that particular aspect of Matthew's development.
When I started discussing Unschooling concepts I could see that same worried
tension behind her eyes. I knew this was too big a jump for her to make. So
I backed off and have never gotten to discuss or explain our motivations for
taking this path. She was very concerned when he wasn't reading at age
ten. And questioned "how does he learn History?" - Knowing that it was never
a subject I excelled at in public school. [And perhaps leading me to infer
"who would study history if there wasn't a class requiring it."]
Matthew is now 13 years old. He can sit down with a novel and not look up
until it's done. He practically begs me to read history books to him
because it's interesting and a fun thing we do together. Most importantly,
he has grown into being a pleasant person who is sensitive and can deal with
difficult people on his own, something he has proven to my mother during
discussion with my father.
So I was driving my mother home from a doctor's appointment. I had a
printout of an article that Sandra had posted here about a month ago called
"Let's work to stop snuffing out the joys of learning " by Andrew Hanson.
The article talks about the damage formal schooling does to the passion for
learning through study. It describes how formal schooling changes the active
learners we all are at the start of our lives, into passive, disinterested,
learners. I had passed it around our Park day group and it was still in my
car. I don't normally pass on information that blatantly bashes schooling
to my mother who retired from the Los Angeles city school district a few
years back. But this article was written by a teacher, a Fulbright Exchange
Teacher, and touches on many key concepts of unschooling. And I thought
maybe she could see that Jocelyn and I (and Unschooling) are part of the
revolution of schooling Hanson calls for. And that the outcomes are clearly
illustrated in her grandson... So I asked her if she wanted to read
any more homeschooling propaganda. And she replied "Oh, I don't think I need
any more propaganda, I am already convinced that you've made the right
choice."
Well, knock me over with a feather.
-Dan Vilter
Shyrley
On 7 Jul 02, at 7:46, Dan Vilter wrote:
So I asked
mother, let alone my mother-in-law. (she is a teacher)
When she realised I hadn't taken my kids out of school so I could
hot-house them in maths and physics, she had a little turn. She
wants to know how they will become world renowned scientists if I
don't have a laboratory in my basement.....
The fact that they are not interested in science (and she may have
turned them off) is an anathema to her. Physics and maths are the
goal of all rational beings. They are the only careers worth pursuing
etc etc.
Her son is a mathematician. I sometimes wonder if he would have
liked to have been an artist.
Shyrley
Q. When the devil tempted Jesus after his 40 day fast (40 days would kill anyone) what form did the devil take and is he still roaming the earth as we speak?
A. It is quite clear from scripture (Satan showing Jesus all the Kingdoms and offering them) that Lucifer took the form of a ReMax Realtor®
> I just thought I would let you all know that the Vilter family hassnippety snip
> been making progress in our world.
So I asked
> her if she wanted to read any more homeschooling propaganda. And sheThats wonderful. I have yet to reach that stage with my own
> replied "Oh, I don't think I need any more propaganda, I am already
> convinced that you've made the right choice."
>
>
> Well, knock me over with a feather.
>
>
>
> -Dan Vilter
>
mother, let alone my mother-in-law. (she is a teacher)
When she realised I hadn't taken my kids out of school so I could
hot-house them in maths and physics, she had a little turn. She
wants to know how they will become world renowned scientists if I
don't have a laboratory in my basement.....
The fact that they are not interested in science (and she may have
turned them off) is an anathema to her. Physics and maths are the
goal of all rational beings. They are the only careers worth pursuing
etc etc.
Her son is a mathematician. I sometimes wonder if he would have
liked to have been an artist.
Shyrley
Q. When the devil tempted Jesus after his 40 day fast (40 days would kill anyone) what form did the devil take and is he still roaming the earth as we speak?
A. It is quite clear from scripture (Satan showing Jesus all the Kingdoms and offering them) that Lucifer took the form of a ReMax Realtor®
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/7/02 8:47:35 AM, dvilter@... writes:
<< And she replied "Oh, I don't think I need
any more propaganda, I am already convinced that you've made the right
choice." >>
Woohoo!!!!
How cool.
I was reading that story on the edge of my seat and it had a GREAT ENDING.
Sandra
<< And she replied "Oh, I don't think I need
any more propaganda, I am already convinced that you've made the right
choice." >>
Woohoo!!!!
How cool.
I was reading that story on the edge of my seat and it had a GREAT ENDING.
Sandra
[email protected]
>I just thought I would let you all know that the Vilter family has beenI loved reading this. I loved the way it turned out. I love how hopeful
>making progress in our world.
>"Oh, I don't think I need
>any more propaganda, I am already convinced that you've made the right
>choice."
it makes me feel.
Congratulations!
Deb L
moonmeghan
<<<<> Thats wonderful. I have yet to reach that stage with my
own
would be thrilled if Tamzin went to school.
My (ex) in-laws are worried and baffled by my homeschooling.
MIL is a retired Latin teacher and FIL is a retired headmaster and
both taught in public schools (that's private schools in
Amerispeak <g>). Their son (my ex) rebelled and is a musician,
much to their horror. MIL once said to me, "We wasted our
money on a public school education for Chris, he's done nothing
with his life."! Of course I had to then list some of the many
things he has accomplished in his life (like maybe happiness
and personal fulfilment, what a concept!).
Meghan
own
> mother, let alone my mother-in-law. (she is a teacher)could
> When she realised I hadn't taken my kids out of school so I
> hot-house them in maths and physics, she had a little turn.She
> wants to know how they will become world renownedscientists if I
> don't have a laboratory in my basement.....have
> The fact that they are not interested in science (and she may
> turned them off) is an anathema to her. Physics and maths arethe
> goal of all rational beings. They are the only careers worthpursuing
> etc etc.have
> Her son is a mathematician. I sometimes wonder if he would
> liked to have been an artist.My mom is supportive of my decision, but in her heart I know she
>
> Shyrley>>>>
would be thrilled if Tamzin went to school.
My (ex) in-laws are worried and baffled by my homeschooling.
MIL is a retired Latin teacher and FIL is a retired headmaster and
both taught in public schools (that's private schools in
Amerispeak <g>). Their son (my ex) rebelled and is a musician,
much to their horror. MIL once said to me, "We wasted our
money on a public school education for Chris, he's done nothing
with his life."! Of course I had to then list some of the many
things he has accomplished in his life (like maybe happiness
and personal fulfilment, what a concept!).
Meghan
moonmeghan
<<<<--- In AlwaysLearning@y..., Dan Vilter <dvilter@m...> wrote:
Meghan
> I just thought I would let you all know that the Vilter family hasbeen
> making progress in our world.So I asked her if she wanted to read
> any more homeschooling propaganda. And she replied "Oh, Idon't think I need
> any more propaganda, I am already convinced that you'vemade the right
> choice."Excellent!! I loved reading this!
>
>
> Well, knock me over with a feather.
>
>
>
> -Dan Vilter>>>>
Meghan