[email protected]

In a message dated 10-19-2003 12:16:53 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
LauraBourdo@... writes:
Maybe I'm kidding myself, considering my reaction to this, but it's what I
like to believe. I'll calm down in a bit, and I don't start stuff like this --
you know? It's just hard to stay cool and collected when I'm attacked.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ya know, I had to ponder long and hard before responding to this person...
The funny thing is his first e-mail asked if *everyone* in our group unschooled.
I laughed and laughed then told him he only got that impression because I am
so vocal on the list, that in truth *I* am the minority in the group. I did
ask his purpose in publishing the names and e-mail addresses of the people who
teach as he does (who wrote to him off-list).

But this tirade did force me to look at myself and MY attitudes toward others
in the group. *I* certainly have not been supportive of those who dwell on
*breaking the will* of their children and forcing them to do their *school
work.* I did feel smugly superior and it showed :'( I now know that I *teach
best what I need to learn most* (thank you Richard Bach) and have apologized to
the parents I feel I've alienated by my lack of support. Now when I hear "I
can't unschool, his dad would take him from me" I must have empathy, not
criticism ... tough leap to make, but I appreciate the opportunity to better myself
and better support our group. (bite my tongue instead of clucking it!!) So I
guess he stirred our sh!t because it needed to be stirred! :)

diana,
The wackiest widow westriver...
"You can follow your book and your map of wars, but I'll go and follow my
kids." -- Woody Guthrie


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]