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In a message dated 2/1/02 4:50:26 PM, moonmeghan@... writes:

<< Was this list set up for all unschoolers or just
long-timers. >>

"Fans of John Holt."
I assumed by that description that it would be people who had already read
Holt, and therefor not beginners.

Unschooling.com is a GREAT source for new unschoolers. I hold people's hands
there and tell them their children really will learn to read. I wasn't
expecting to do that here.

<<If newbies didn't post and just read how would
newbie's questions get answered?>>

Maybe by just reading?

<<What if a newbie had
a burning question that maybe old news to long-timers?>>

None of this involved a newbie's burning question.

<<But I do think that if a
not-so-confident newbie read it, they may not feel
comfortable asking a question or stating an opinion. >>

I didn't say none, I said "less."

<<but those with less experience
should probably do more
reading and less writing at first, at least.>>

When I walk up to a conversation in progress, I listen a while. Maybe it's
not the sort of thing I can or should get into. Maybe it is. But I wait,
and see how it's going. And if I did join it, I wouldn't totally change the
subject and ignore all indications that it wasn't appreiciated.

<<I feel that would be a shame for this list and could
possibly make it a bit stagnant, with only the
'experienced' unschoolers choosing the subjects
discussed. >>

WHY would it be (a strong word) SHAME?

I don't think this group will be stagnant. I don't think experienced
unschoolers discussing things would feel stagnant at all. And there are TONS
of unschooling lists, sites and forums, I'm pretty sure.

Is it our duty to help new unschoolers? I know of not one of the "old
timers" here who has not put in hundreds or thousands of hours doing so, and
most are still doing it. I got a newsletter just today written and mailed
out by Carol Narigon. She's been helping other unschoolers since Holly
couldn't speak English. What if Carol and I and some of our other veteran
friends wanted to have a list where we could be with other experienced
unschoolers? Would that be a shame?

<<And this subject may have never come up if a newbie
hadn't posted about it.>>

It seems the same subjects do come up every six months or so.

<<I, personally, haven't been tracking all of it because
I've been busy and the sheer volume has been
overwhelming for me right now (I'm still days behind!)>>

That was a shame in itself, that the volume of posts surpassed previous
members' ability to keep up with them. But it will pass, and live will go on.

<<I am grateful for all the insight and awareness of the
more experienced unschoolers on this list have to
offer, but does that mean that the rest of us have
nothing meaningful to offer or contribute? >>

This has been discussed to death, sorry. Contribute it!!
Let's stop talking about WHETHER people have meaningful things to contribute
and read these meaningful contributions.

Sandra

meghan anderson

<<<<This has been discussed to death, sorry.
Contribute it!!
Let's stop talking about WHETHER people have
meaningful things to
contribute
and read these meaningful contributions.

Sandra>>>>

You are absolutely right.
Like I said, I'm seriously behind on my reading and I
should know better by now than to post such delayed
replies.
Unfortunately, there are probably quite a few other
delayed replies coming (most of them silly and they'll
all probably come on the same digest!).

Meghan

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