Opinions wanted on unschooling
Ren Allen
">>>>> He is just arguing that
the odds are better with a college education. There is no data to
say that
unschooling has just as good as odds as a formal education and
this bothers
him greatly.<<<<< "
I know this has been answered quite thoroughly already, but this is
really sticking in my craw and I NEED to answer.:)
First of all, I'd like to see his "statistics" or studies that back
this opinion of his. I doubt it exists. If he needs data, rather
than looking into his sweet child's eyes to prove what is good and
right, I can't help.
My dh and I are not degreed folks. Dh got his AA is business way
back in the early 80's. Every bit of his college education is
obsolete due to the growth in technology. He learned cutting and
pasting techniques that are useless today. His work has been
dictated by his interests and talents...he runs his own company, but
his college education didn't help prepare him for any of what we do
today.
I actually had college credit upon leaving High School. I was so
burned out on school that I opted for a trade school (to keep my
parents happy) and never went to college. We live in the South, so
wages aren't great here, but I make more than a lot of college
graduates I know. You know what I do? Paint faces!! Yep, I make more
as a makeup artist than many computer experts I know. I chose my
line of work, I LOVE what I do and I'm good at it. I meet some of
the most interesting people and get to dress funky, wear my hair and
makeup however I want...very free work environment.
Anyhoo...I get disgusted when someone thinks college grads have
better odds for success. I totally disagree. I think free thinkers
have the greatest odds for success. A free thinker will see college
for what it is, a TOOL. One of many tools they could choose or not
choose according to what is best for their own lives. My oldest
child is leaning towards college because he wants the technical
training. He's a D&D/computer obsessed kid that will probably know
more about computers and programming than most college graduates by
the time he is 17. Because he's INTERESTED.
Interest is the only true motivator. Fear will motivate, but not
nearly as well.
Ren
the odds are better with a college education. There is no data to
say that
unschooling has just as good as odds as a formal education and
this bothers
him greatly.<<<<< "
I know this has been answered quite thoroughly already, but this is
really sticking in my craw and I NEED to answer.:)
First of all, I'd like to see his "statistics" or studies that back
this opinion of his. I doubt it exists. If he needs data, rather
than looking into his sweet child's eyes to prove what is good and
right, I can't help.
My dh and I are not degreed folks. Dh got his AA is business way
back in the early 80's. Every bit of his college education is
obsolete due to the growth in technology. He learned cutting and
pasting techniques that are useless today. His work has been
dictated by his interests and talents...he runs his own company, but
his college education didn't help prepare him for any of what we do
today.
I actually had college credit upon leaving High School. I was so
burned out on school that I opted for a trade school (to keep my
parents happy) and never went to college. We live in the South, so
wages aren't great here, but I make more than a lot of college
graduates I know. You know what I do? Paint faces!! Yep, I make more
as a makeup artist than many computer experts I know. I chose my
line of work, I LOVE what I do and I'm good at it. I meet some of
the most interesting people and get to dress funky, wear my hair and
makeup however I want...very free work environment.
Anyhoo...I get disgusted when someone thinks college grads have
better odds for success. I totally disagree. I think free thinkers
have the greatest odds for success. A free thinker will see college
for what it is, a TOOL. One of many tools they could choose or not
choose according to what is best for their own lives. My oldest
child is leaning towards college because he wants the technical
training. He's a D&D/computer obsessed kid that will probably know
more about computers and programming than most college graduates by
the time he is 17. Because he's INTERESTED.
Interest is the only true motivator. Fear will motivate, but not
nearly as well.
Ren
[email protected]
> You know what I do? Paint faces!! Yep, I make moreAnd it is at one of those "hoity toity" mall boutique department stores, which I think is uber cool! I mean Ren gets to do something she enjoys in an environment and work situatin that she enjoys. That's what's important! IMNSHO
> as a makeup artist than many computer experts I know. I chose my
> line of work, I LOVE what I do and I'm good at it. I meet some of
> the most interesting people and get to dress funky, wear my hair and
> makeup however I want...very free work environment.
Michelle
Ren Allen
" Just yesterday she called while we were at resource day. I told
her I would call her back later. When I did she asked what in
particular we did
at resource day. How do I explain to her what lesson that my 11yo
got out of
trying to make a hockey stick out of a piece of bamboo and bark from
a palm
tree? "
And a lovely piece of bamboo it was.:)
Ren
her I would call her back later. When I did she asked what in
particular we did
at resource day. How do I explain to her what lesson that my 11yo
got out of
trying to make a hockey stick out of a piece of bamboo and bark from
a palm
tree? "
And a lovely piece of bamboo it was.:)
Ren
Kelly Ferry
On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 15:37:50 -0000, Ren Allen <starsuncloud@...> wrote:
came to see me and my kids. She's a math teacher in a private high
school and all of her children are geniuses who have had much
education and hold Ph. D's. She was recommending the Saxon math books
to me for Tyler and I was enjoying hearing about her experiences
working with the books. When she asked me if we would use them at
home, I answered that we would probably buy a set at some time in the
future, but that right now we're just working on finding a rhythm
together and seeing where life would take us without the constraints
of hard-core academics.
I thought my mother's head was going to blow off. She didn't say
anything, but her eyes were rolling around like a spooked horse's. I
know she was embarrassed to have me speaking this way in front of her
uber-educated friend. When I brought it up to her later, she hemmed
and hawed and said that *well, it's different. I come from a very
structured background. I really believe education is important and I'm
concerned that Tyler won't be able to get into college when it's time
because he hasn't had any of the subjects he needs to get in.*
I asked her what she was doing with the college she had. Her answer is
the same as mine. Nothing. Except maybe wishing she still had that
money in the bank!
I mentioned that I thought it possible to prepare for college when the
time comes, and that if it's a choice he wants to make that he'll look
at what's necessary (with my help Mom, I won't be leaving him without
any guidance!) and will tackle whatever
reading/testing/writing/studying he has to, because he wants to. But I
also said that he may not want to go to college and if that's the
case, he won't have been force-fed a ton of information that means
absolutely nothing to him or his life and made him feel inadequate or
dumb the way I felt through much of my schooling.
Then she went on to mention a report she'd seen on the news (her
bible) talking about how most of the tech jobs in this country are
being out-sourced and that college is becoming unaffordable for the
average American. The job sector that will grow is the service sector
and people are needing to have a lot of creative energy and strong
sense of independence and self-worth to create specialized services
that will pay well.
My next question to my mother? Do you think they're teaching that in school?
So this week I will make an effort to remember this conversation
whenever my fear and doubt bonk me over the head and make me run
around in my life like my mother's spooked horse!.
Cheers!
Kelly
>While I was visiting my family in MA last week, my mom's best friend
> Anyhoo...I get disgusted when someone thinks college grads have
> better odds for success. I totally disagree. I think free thinkers
> have the greatest odds for success. A free thinker will see college
> for what it is, a TOOL. One of many tools they could choose or not
> choose according to what is best for their own lives. My oldest
> child is leaning towards college because he wants the technical
> training. He's a D&D/computer obsessed kid that will probably know
> more about computers and programming than most college graduates by
> the time he is 17. Because he's INTERESTED.
> Interest is the only true motivator. Fear will motivate, but not
> nearly as well.
>
came to see me and my kids. She's a math teacher in a private high
school and all of her children are geniuses who have had much
education and hold Ph. D's. She was recommending the Saxon math books
to me for Tyler and I was enjoying hearing about her experiences
working with the books. When she asked me if we would use them at
home, I answered that we would probably buy a set at some time in the
future, but that right now we're just working on finding a rhythm
together and seeing where life would take us without the constraints
of hard-core academics.
I thought my mother's head was going to blow off. She didn't say
anything, but her eyes were rolling around like a spooked horse's. I
know she was embarrassed to have me speaking this way in front of her
uber-educated friend. When I brought it up to her later, she hemmed
and hawed and said that *well, it's different. I come from a very
structured background. I really believe education is important and I'm
concerned that Tyler won't be able to get into college when it's time
because he hasn't had any of the subjects he needs to get in.*
I asked her what she was doing with the college she had. Her answer is
the same as mine. Nothing. Except maybe wishing she still had that
money in the bank!
I mentioned that I thought it possible to prepare for college when the
time comes, and that if it's a choice he wants to make that he'll look
at what's necessary (with my help Mom, I won't be leaving him without
any guidance!) and will tackle whatever
reading/testing/writing/studying he has to, because he wants to. But I
also said that he may not want to go to college and if that's the
case, he won't have been force-fed a ton of information that means
absolutely nothing to him or his life and made him feel inadequate or
dumb the way I felt through much of my schooling.
Then she went on to mention a report she'd seen on the news (her
bible) talking about how most of the tech jobs in this country are
being out-sourced and that college is becoming unaffordable for the
average American. The job sector that will grow is the service sector
and people are needing to have a lot of creative energy and strong
sense of independence and self-worth to create specialized services
that will pay well.
My next question to my mother? Do you think they're teaching that in school?
So this week I will make an effort to remember this conversation
whenever my fear and doubt bonk me over the head and make me run
around in my life like my mother's spooked horse!.
Cheers!
Kelly
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Daniel MacIntyre
sounds like a shop lesson to me (could also be physical education related).
On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 04:16:32 -0000, Ren Allen <starsuncloud@...> wrote:
>
>
> " Just yesterday she called while we were at resource day. I told
> her I would call her back later. When I did she asked what in
> particular we did
> at resource day. How do I explain to her what lesson that my 11yo
> got out of
> trying to make a hockey stick out of a piece of bamboo and bark from
> a palm
> tree? "
>
> And a lovely piece of bamboo it was.:)
>
> Ren
>
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>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
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