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In a message dated 2/14/05 1:00:43 PM, kbcdlovejo@... writes:

<<

Wouldn't THAT be something: if we could get people to spew ONLY unschooling
advice or (if they won't,...) start their own groups and not align themselves
with *us*?! >>

OH GOSH!!!!

My stomach fell. <g>

We'd have to have a system for approving leaders, and it honestly seems the
LLL leadership stuff is based on Catholic nuns. There are leader applicants
(novices) and then there is a leader who is in charge of corresponding with
them, checking out their temperament and beliefs (their faith, as it were) and
that would be the sister assigned to train the novices. And the leaders have to
see them in action with their kids and to testify/avow that the mom is really
practicing the LLL way of life. And the principles have to be agreed to
individually. I was put on hold because instead of saying back exactly what the
leader applicant correspondent wanted me to say (I knew the right answer, and
asked my sponsoring leader whether I should just recite the right answers and
she said no, be honest), I questioned the item about breastfeeding making
discipline easier (don't remember the wording anymore), and anyway, then I got
pregnant with Marty and was more involved with the Ceasarean Prevention Movement
(an organization that was later renamed) and I dropped out of the leader
applicant process.


So I don't want to do that for unschoolers, even though sometimes it does
bother me that someone will be going on and on about unschooling and when I see
her and her kids in their own natural environment it doesn't seem they're
living as the mom said they were. Some people talk bigger and grow into it later.

To match LLL and API we'd have to have an approved reading list. And we'd
have to have a required reading list for leaders.

It doesn't sound fun to me and I hope nobody ever does it, but what are the
odds? People like to make rules and clubs and laws and all. I was in the SCA
when the whole rule book was about 20 pages long, and the rules for fighting
fit on one page, and were mostly "Be nice and be honest." Now there are Way,
way way too many rules about everything, and once a rule is approved and
accepted, it's nearly impossible to undo it.

About unschooling, I think it should be kept mysterious to the point that
only those who can figure out what it is and how it works will do it. If there
are TOO many easy entry points and if people were to start guiding others
through it step by step in person with weekly organized prescribed-topic meetings,
wouldn't we end up with people who didn't have the temperament for it and who
couldn't do it if the external directives stopped?

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems those who want step by step instructions won't
be able to sustain unschooling for the years it takes for kids to grow up and
be out on their own.

It takes creativity and awareness and initiative and interactions that others
can't direct. We can help people see it and try it, but we can't sustain it
for them.

Sandra

Angela S

* <<<<<It takes creativity and awareness and initiative and
interactions that others
can't direct. We can help people see it and try it, but we can't sustain it

for them. >>>>

We are a pretty great lot, aren't we. :-)



Angela

game-enthusiast@...



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

homebody_momma

>
> About unschooling, I think it should be kept mysterious to the
point that
> only those who can figure out what it is and how it works will do
it. If there
> are TOO many easy entry points and if people were to start guiding
others
> through it step by step in person with weekly organized prescribed-
topic meetings,
> wouldn't we end up with people who didn't have the temperament for
it and who
> couldn't do it if the external directives stopped?
>
> Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems those who want step by step
instructions won't
> be able to sustain unschooling for the years it takes for kids to
grow up and
> be out on their own.
>
> It takes creativity and awareness and initiative and interactions
that others
> can't direct. We can help people see it and try it, but we can't
sustain it
> for them.
>
> Sandra


This post makes me think of that TV show SuperNanny. It upsets me
and I don't know why I keep watching it, kind of like looking at a
car wreck...

I was watching it tonight. There was one particularly
sad/angry/frustrated little boy and it disgusted me that they were
happy about breaking his little spirit. It made me think an
unschooler mom should have a show to counteract this one!

Jill in PA