TCS vs unschooling
Toby
Is anyone familiar with the idea TCS (taking children seriously). How is unschooling different from unschooling?
plaidpanties666
Many unschoolers like the ideas presented by TCS, there's a good bit of crossover and compatibility.
Probably the biggest disconnect is over the idea of compromise vs what TCS calls "common preference" - the idea that its possible for everyone to be satisified with a solution in the moment. That's an idea that works well with a single, relatively easy-going child, but not so well with an intense kid or multiple kids, where sometimes compromise *is* the best solution. The difficulty lies in the process of working toward the solution itself - that very act can become a compromise when you have one child wanting exactly what he or she wants Right Now - a common enough occurance with younger children!
I find that the *idea* that everyone's needs, wants and wishes are equally valid in the moment is one that's helpful in my life. Its a good thing to keep in mind, even when (or maybe especially when) its not possible to find a perfect solution.
---Meredith (Mo 8, Ray 16)
Probably the biggest disconnect is over the idea of compromise vs what TCS calls "common preference" - the idea that its possible for everyone to be satisified with a solution in the moment. That's an idea that works well with a single, relatively easy-going child, but not so well with an intense kid or multiple kids, where sometimes compromise *is* the best solution. The difficulty lies in the process of working toward the solution itself - that very act can become a compromise when you have one child wanting exactly what he or she wants Right Now - a common enough occurance with younger children!
I find that the *idea* that everyone's needs, wants and wishes are equally valid in the moment is one that's helpful in my life. Its a good thing to keep in mind, even when (or maybe especially when) its not possible to find a perfect solution.
---Meredith (Mo 8, Ray 16)
Faith Void
I read a bit on their site. I honestly don't get it. It wasn't written very
well nor did it seem well thought out.
This is what I got. TCS is about not coercing your child. A part of
unschooling is leading a life without coercion. That is a parallel to a
degree. beyond that TCS doesn't seem to offer much. Either in terms of
ideas, suggestions or practical information. Unschooling is a bit deeper IMO
and takes this and some other ideas further.
Faith
well nor did it seem well thought out.
This is what I got. TCS is about not coercing your child. A part of
unschooling is leading a life without coercion. That is a parallel to a
degree. beyond that TCS doesn't seem to offer much. Either in terms of
ideas, suggestions or practical information. Unschooling is a bit deeper IMO
and takes this and some other ideas further.
Faith
On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 10:56 AM, Toby <philipntoby@...> wrote:
>
>
> Is anyone familiar with the idea TCS (taking children seriously). How is
> unschooling different from unschooling?
>
>
>
>
--
www.bearthmama.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joyce Fetteroll
On Apr 29, 2010, at 8:11 AM, Faith Void wrote:
kids. So questions aren't about real kids but posed hypothetically.
And answers won't have personal examples for people to see. It's all
presented as theory and principles.
I understand the idea of discussing kids being disrespectful. (I've
asked Kathryn in the past if it's okay to talk about her and she's
said it's fine.) But for most people it's going to be difficult to
absorb an understanding just from theory. That isn't how we naturally
learn. We learn by seeing and pulling understanding from what we
observe. Someone else's understanding can make what we see clearer,
but seeing examples and drawing understanding from them is how we're
hardwired to learn.
I spent the day with one strong advocate of TCS and she was very nice
and her kids were great so some people can make it work from how it's
presented.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Either in terms ofPart of TCS is the belief that it's disrespectful to discuss their
> ideas, suggestions or practical information
kids. So questions aren't about real kids but posed hypothetically.
And answers won't have personal examples for people to see. It's all
presented as theory and principles.
I understand the idea of discussing kids being disrespectful. (I've
asked Kathryn in the past if it's okay to talk about her and she's
said it's fine.) But for most people it's going to be difficult to
absorb an understanding just from theory. That isn't how we naturally
learn. We learn by seeing and pulling understanding from what we
observe. Someone else's understanding can make what we see clearer,
but seeing examples and drawing understanding from them is how we're
hardwired to learn.
I spent the day with one strong advocate of TCS and she was very nice
and her kids were great so some people can make it work from how it's
presented.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]