Matthew

> > Hello,
> > I have been "teaching" for 4 years now. I had a year of adjusting and
> > feeling out the system, followed by a year of trying to change the
> > system, then another year of changing the system. I have done much
> > deep thought on school and educating. I feel at times the suffering
> > that the children dont even realize that they are going through. The
> > system does NOT work! Not in any way shape or form! EDUCATING is not
> > a good way to learn. Children need to learn not be "educated". I see
> > rooms full of blank, unattached, and bored faces.
> > I commend all of you on the courage to unschool your children. My
> > concern is to those children whose families either dont have a clue
> > or dont care about whats best for their children. I would love to
> > create an alternative that will benefit them. any comments or
> > suggestions? Thanks for listening.........

Fetteroll

on 1/7/04 8:30 AM, Matthew at MattBau43@... wrote:

> My concern is to those children whose families either dont have a clue
> or dont care about whats best for their children. I would love to
> create an alternative that will benefit them. any comments or
> suggestions? Thanks for listening.........

Have you checked into Sudbury Schools? They try to offer free learning
through a school setting.

People have started up learning centers. I'm vaguely remembering websites
that people suggested where such things are discussed.

The *biggest* problem with institutionalizing unschooling is that it
eliminates free choice. Kids (generally) have to be there. And they have to
choose from what's available rather than what the parents can help them
reach out and get.

The other problem is accountability. If you're responsible for someone
else's child, it's reasonable that they're going to have certain
expectations. With unschooling, a child could spend a full week watching TV.
A parent could understandably think the child could be doing that at home
and be expecting more if they're paying someone else.

Joyce

[email protected]

Matt, are you working in a Maine school now?
Laura
********************************************
<<<In a message dated 1/7/2004 8:41:13 AM Eastern Standard Time,
MattBau43@... writes:
Hello,
> > I have been "teaching" for 4 years now. I had a year of adjusting and
> > feeling out the system, followed by a year of trying to change the
> > system, then another year of changing the system. I have done much
> > deep thought on school and educating. I feel at times the suffering
> > that the children dont even realize that they are going through. The
> > system does NOT work! Not in any way shape or form! EDUCATING is not
> > a good way to learn. Children need to learn not be "educated". I see
> > rooms full of blank, unattached, and bored faces.
> > I commend all of you on the courage to unschool your children. My
> > concern is to those children whose families either dont have a clue
> > or dont care about whats best for their children. I would love to
> > create an alternative that will benefit them. any comments or
> > suggestions? Thanks for listening.........


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

Matthew

Yes I am currently working in a Maine Public School


--- In [email protected], HMSL2@a...
wrote:
> Matt, are you working in a Maine school now?
> Laura
> ********************************************
> <<<In a message dated 1/7/2004 8:41:13 AM Eastern
Standard Time,
> MattBau43@H... writes:
> Hello,
> > > I have been "teaching" for 4 years now. I had a year of
adjusting and
> > > feeling out the system, followed by a year of trying to
change the
> > > system, then another year of changing the system. I have
done much
> > > deep thought on school and educating. I feel at times the
suffering
> > > that the children dont even realize that they are going
through. The
> > > system does NOT work! Not in any way shape or form!
EDUCATING is not
> > > a good way to learn. Children need to learn not be
"educated". I see
> > > rooms full of blank, unattached, and bored faces.
> > > I commend all of you on the courage to unschool your
children. My
> > > concern is to those children whose families either dont
have a clue
> > > or dont care about whats best for their children. I would love
to
> > > create an alternative that will benefit them. any comments
or
> > > suggestions? Thanks for listening.........
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

gehrkes

I would love to
> > > create an alternative that will benefit them. any comments or
> > > suggestions? >
Matt I just came across the Summerhill School website in England..
Check that out.
Kathleen
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Holly Furgason

I agree with you but I think the *biggest* problem is not the
elimination of free choice (don't they have that at Sudbury?). I
think the biggest problem is taking kids out of the real world. My
kids learn the most when we are out doing things and meeting people
or at home living life.

I've thought about this a lot. I would love to open a very small
school one day about 5 kids or so. But, even though I hope it will
be a much better alternative to traditional schooling, I know it
won't be an "unschooling school".

Holly
http://www.cafepress.com/2cool4school

--- In [email protected], Fetteroll
<fetteroll@e...> wrote:

> The *biggest* problem with institutionalizing unschooling is that it
> eliminates free choice. Kids (generally) have to be there. And they
have to
> choose from what's available rather than what the parents can help
them
> reach out and get.
>
> The other problem is accountability. If you're responsible for
someone
> else's child, it's reasonable that they're going to have certain
> expectations. With unschooling, a child could spend a full week
watching TV.
> A parent could understandably think the child could be doing that
at home
> and be expecting more if they're paying someone else.
>
> Joyce

kayb85

A lot of Sudburys have attendance requirements. So if you choose
Sudbury, you have to attend a certain number of hours per week. The
one in PA requires either 30 or 35, can't remember which it was. But
it was an average of 6 or 7 hours a day.
Sheila

> I agree with you but I think the *biggest* problem is not the
> elimination of free choice (don't they have that at Sudbury?).

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/7/2004 1:04:37 PM Eastern Standard Time,
MattBau43@... writes:
Yes I am currently working in a Maine Public School>>>
***********************************************************

Matt how about assisting parents in getting to homeschooling/unschooling?
Maybe showing them that their is another alternative to spending hundreds on
books.
Maybe by way of portfolios?
I know for us we are required to do that or test. I would love to know that
there is another teacher in Maine that is unschooling friendly. I know quite a
few families that are unschooling or new to unschooling looking for one to do
their portfolios near York Co.
If your interested email me.
Laura


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