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Hi all -
I'd like to include the following blurb in a letter to the editor....is it
accurate? I haven't read the book but am kinda steamed about a recent
article in the newspaper describing 'pupil personnel workers' as 'unsung
heroes' because they work so hard to keep kids in school using the 'carrots
and sticks' approach....(i.e., threatening a parent with legal action bec.
her daughter is spending time with a dying relative and missing a lot of
school).....

Please let me know if you agree or disagree with the following statement:

"Re: the article about "unsung heroes" (Feb. 11, 2002), I would like to
propose that anyone interested in dropping out of school and dropping into a
meaningful life consider reading the book "Teenage Liberation Handbook" by
Grace Llewellyn."

THANK YOU!
Jane



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

Fetteroll

on 2/12/02 7:03 AM, jsutfran@... at jsutfran@... wrote:

> Please let me know if you agree or disagree with the following statement:
>
> "Re: the article about "unsung heroes" (Feb. 11, 2002), I would like to
> propose that anyone interested in dropping out of school and dropping into a
> meaningful life consider reading the book "Teenage Liberation Handbook" by
> Grace Llewellyn."
>
> THANK YOU!
> Jane

I do agree with it. But I don't think it will have a great deal of impact.
First, you're attacking people who are working hard at what they believe in.
They may be guilty of harming kids by keeping them in school, but their
crime is one of ignorance rather than malice.

It might be helpful to leave the impression that you feel that keeping kids
in school is *an* option -- even if you don't believe it -- but that for
some kids there might be something better. Once that seed of more options is
planted in their heads, then it can grow into the new option being a better
option ;-)

Another book (which I haven't read) but was recommended in the Chinaberry
catalog is The Teenager's Guide To School Outside the Box by Rebecca Greene.
(http://www.chinaberry.com/showbook.cfm?invnum=9241&userid=98296622)
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1575420872/qid=1013518505/sr=8-1/ref
=sr_8_129_1/102-7988852-7337761)

Outside the Box sounds like suggestions to do in addition to school or
instead of school rather than the Teen Lib book that seems to advocate
dumping school to find yourself. (A bit radical for those who are certain
school is the best thing kids can do for themselves and dropping out is
barely better than suicide.) I think it would be helpful for counselors to
know about both but the Outside the Box book might pave the way for the more
radical Teen Lib book.

Joyce


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[email protected]

In a message dated 2/12/02 6:13:35 AM, fetteroll@... writes:

<< Outside the Box sounds like suggestions to do in addition to school or
instead of school rather than the Teen Lib book that seems to advocate
dumping school to find yourself. >>

I agree with Joyce. That book is hard to find, too, so the impact would
fizzle.

And most teens CAN'T drop out of school, so putting the germ of an idea they
can't pursue out there seems cruel.

I think suggesting that school isn't the inevitable behemoth it once was is
worth doing, though. There's a new exit to homeschooling, it's just not
marked with a big lit sign yet.

Sandra