cslkll

After a recent mention on this list about the book Dumbing Us Down,
I went and bought it(I've heard of it b4 over the last 5+ years).
I started to read it, so did dh. It didn't catch our attention at
all. Dh said he could finish it maybe, but we both feel like it's
"preaching to the choir". I've felt this way about too many non
fiction books re: home/unschooling over the years. I even bought
the book Unschooling: Using the whole wide world as your classroom.
(I think that's the name).......and I never read it! Is it possible
to get enough non-fiction reading off the net(like this list and
unschooling.com)? Otherwise.....I wonder what my problem is with
buying these books and not being able to get into the groove of
reading them. Thoughts.....anyone? krista

[email protected]

In a message dated 3/17/2005 10:15:08 AM Mountain Standard Time,
cslkll@... writes:

Is it possible
to get enough non-fiction reading off the net(like this list and
unschooling.com)?


-----------------------

I think so.

But those books can be good for people who don't/won't/haven't done the
"live" reading of message boards and lists.

Sandra


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

cslkll

Good :0) Sometimes I feel like "what is wrong w/me?" when
I can fully embrace/relate to what is written online....and
then when I go to read something that is suggested, I have a
mental block. Maybe I'm just a discussion type of person.
krista


--- In [email protected], SandraDodd@a... wrote:
>
> In a message dated 3/17/2005 10:15:08 AM Mountain Standard Time,
> cslkll@h... writes:
>
> Is it possible
> to get enough non-fiction reading off the net(like this list and
> unschooling.com)?
>
>
> -----------------------
>
> I think so.
>
> But those books can be good for people who don't/won't/haven't
done the
> "live" reading of message boards and lists.
>
> Sandra
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 3/17/2005 11:39:48 AM Mountain Standard Time,
cslkll@... writes:

and
then when I go to read something that is suggested, I have a
mental block. Maybe I'm just a discussion type of person.



Me too.

I just told a friend by e-mail this morning that I can't stand to watch Dr.
Phil because I get no rebuttal. <g>

I'm reading a John Holt book, Escape from Childhood, that I hadn't read but
that Deb Lewis is reading and mentioning, so I got a copy.

I want to say, "Yeah, but..."
But... he's dead. <g> And the book is really old.

My complaint is just that he's talking about the modern family's "invention"
and using the word "invent" over and over about the nuclear family.
"Invent" implies a person decided, and foisted it on all others. It developed.

But he's also citing some bad 70's social history by a feminist author who
did some very minimal "research" to justify a point (about women going to work
and leaving children with others). So it bothers me because it's SO deeply
early-70's, in that way. In the next two decades, European history started
to really shift from military and political history to honest-to-god social
history, of how people lived and what they ate and wore and sang and thought.

It doesn't really change the value of his points, it just brings his
justification into question. A minor problem, 30 years old and the author's gone.

There's some time travel. <g> (Maybe this isn't the discussion where time
travel is; sorry if not.)

Sandra





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

Angela S

Sometimes these lists are more beneficial because you get to see how people
think when they redefine their ideas through conversation and discuss things
that are really happening in their lives and how they deal with it. I tend
to read more non-fiction than fiction as a rule but in the last 10 years
I've read even less fiction because I get my fill of it reading to my kids.
It might not be the fiction I would choose for myself, but I need something
more meaty to read after spending hours reading fiction to the kids.



Angela

game-enthusiast@...



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

Kerrin or Ralph

>>but we both feel like it's
> "preaching to the choir".>>


Does that mean the same thing as "preaching to the converted"? If so, I know
what you mean. When I read new stuff it's exciting. I remember when I read
"Dumbing us down" I was riveted because I had never thought about school
that way. It was a real eye opener. If I read other stuff now that says the
same stuff it's not the same cos I already know it.

I haven't read the unschooling book you mentioned, but I've had what I could
get from the library. I've found that most home/unschooling books are aimed
at beginners and they don't have much that's new to me. Even many books that
say they're about unschooling, seem to emphasise "educational" activities,
and don't have a "whole life" approach.

I get much more from other unschoolers' personal experience and knowledge. I
suspect that there is far far more to read about unschooling on the net than
all the books put together. Especially radical unschooling.

Kerrin.


I've felt this way about too many non
> fiction books re: home/unschooling over the years. I even bought
> the book Unschooling: Using the whole wide world as your classroom.
> (I think that's the name).......and I never read it! Is it possible
> to get enough non-fiction reading off the net(like this list and
> unschooling.com)? Otherwise.....I wonder what my problem is with
> buying these books and not being able to get into the groove of
> reading them. Thoughts.....anyone? krista

[email protected]

In a message dated 3/17/2005 5:03:33 PM Mountain Standard Time,
kerrin@... writes:

I get much more from other unschoolers' personal experience and knowledge. I
suspect that there is far far more to read about unschooling on the net than
all the books put together. Especially radical unschooling.



----------------

By far.

I read the magazines, or try to, but it's more and more of the same beginner
articles so often, and the exchanges here are more current, more lively,
funnier, sadder, more electric.

Sandra


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

cslkll

Yes, that's how I feel too....like I've already heard
it from all the wonderful unschoolers who have shared
their lives online over the years, and I have also formed
opinions from dh and my own experiences w/education(including
the whopping 4 days our son spent in K). So, the books I buy
and try just get set aside. I'll quit buying now, I may be
able to finally set aside the guilt of not having read the books, ;0)
krista

--- In [email protected], "Kerrin or Ralph"
<kerrin@x> wrote:
>
> >>but we both feel like it's
> > "preaching to the choir".>>
>
>
> Does that mean the same thing as "preaching to the converted"? If
so, I know
> what you mean. When I read new stuff it's exciting. I remember
when I read
> "Dumbing us down" I was riveted because I had never thought about
school
> that way. It was a real eye opener. If I read other stuff now that
says the
> same stuff it's not the same cos I already know it.
> I get much more from other unschoolers' personal experience and
knowledge. I
> suspect that there is far far more to read about unschooling on
the net than
> all the books put together. Especially radical unschooling.
>
> Kerrin.
>

Aimee

--- cslkll <cslkll@...> wrote:

I'll quit buying now, I may be
able to finally set aside the guilt of not having read
the books, ;0)
krista>>

I found out about unschooling online. I've never read
a single whole book by Holt, or Gatto or who's the
other guy? ;-)

I've always *really* liked books and reading, so it's
strange that I wouldn't grab all the books that have
anything to do with unschooling and devour them all,
ain't it? lol

I've read snippets, and quotes, and articles, and I
recently found Gatto's Underground of Education
online, and have read some of that.

But, I'd much rather discuss and read online, and
interact with other people but mostly, just sit here
and think about it all, lol.

And I know if I wanted to know what Holt had to say
about his, or Gatto about that, someone online would
know, and tell me. :-)

~Aimee



In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find
themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.

- Eric Hoffer