"Radical" and other labels (very long)
[email protected]
This is by the editor of Life Learning Magazine, Wendy Priesnitz. It ties
in well with recent discussions about what (if anything else) to call radical
unschooling when it extends into part of life people hadn't considered to be
central/necessary/something. I think these first two paragraphs will be good
to discuss. WARNING: PLEASE do not respond without chopping off the rest
of the post. It's monstrous long. I included it because it's part of the
magazine's mailout, and because part of it's about me. So nobody, please, quote
it all back. Once is already way long.
Quote starts now, and then the whole newsletter follows.
------------------------------------------
Radical?
Another reader wrote to say that while she has been enjoying reading about
other people’s learning experiences, she won’t be renewing her subscription
because she feels Life Learning magazine is “too radical” for her and that we
“don’t keep to the homeschooling topic all the time”. I thanked her for
using the word “radical”, and pointed out its meaning. My dictionary tells me
that it originates with the Latin words radix meaning roots and radicalis,
which means having roots. And thus comes the botanical term “radical leaves”,
which refers to leaves that arise from the root or crown of the plant. So, for
me, a person who is radical is one who examines the roots of issues. And a
radical solution to a problem is one that arises from that examination,
addressing what we sometimes call the root cause, rather than the more superficial
symptoms. I suppose that focus on fundamental change is why radical views,
opinions, practices or proposed changes sometimes seem extreme. It is also why
I prefer to examine how people learn by living, rather than to isolate
self-directed learning as just another homeschooling method or style.
When I started thinking about these things 35 or so years ago, I began with
the presumption that what was wrong with our education system wouldn’t be
fixed by tinkering – by adding more subjects, more equipment, more teachers or
more funding, or, in fact, by changing the location of where the teaching took
place or the content of the curriculum that was used. I realized then, and
believe it ever more passionately now, that what’s needed is an examination of
how people learn (which includes who controls the agenda) and whether or not
schools provide the best opportunity for that learning to unfold. (They don’
t.) That sort of radical examination of the problem – and the radical
solutions that life learning families are living every day – is what Life Learning
magazine is about, whether it seems at first glance to relate directly to what
some may define as "homeschooling" or not.
--------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------
Life Learning E-Letter
May 2005
----------------------------------
You are receiving this e-letter because you asked to be on the mailing list.
You can stop receiving it at any time by sending us an email from the email
account by which you're subscribed. Life Media, Life Learning's publishing
company, has a policy of not sharing any information about those on its mailing
lists, either email or print. Our privacy policy can be found at
_www.lifemedia.ca/privacy.html_ (http://www.lifemedia.ca/privacy.html) .
May/June Issue
If subscribers haven't already received the May/June issue of Life Learning,
they will shortly. The table of contents and PDF version are also available
now for viewing at _www.lifelearningmagazine.com/0506/index.html_
(http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/0506/index.html)
Thanks For Your Feedback
We hear from our readers regularly by email and regular mail - and it's
wonderful to receive your comments, article ideas and input (and the complaints
too!). Some people write three-page letters; others jot a friendly note on the
bottom of their renewal notices. But every once in awhile, we receive a
comment that stands out. Subscriber Bonnie Reyes from Walnut Creek, California
has allowed me to share her recent email message with you. She wrote: "I must
tell you, I had giving up on subscribing to anything. Too many good intentions
became piles of disappointment and guilt. A friend recommended a back issue
of your magazine when she learned I was considering homeschooling my four
children, and I was hooked. Never before has a magazine so confirmed and
inspired me in my purpose as a parent. I read every issue in its entirety, and
re-read and refer to them regularly. Like Ken Wilber's 'Theory of Everything', it
pulls everything together for me and, more importantly, demonstrates how to
apply my beliefs and values and begin living my vision. Thank you!!!" Thank
you, Bonnie for making my day!
Radical?
Another reader wrote to say that while she has been enjoying reading about
other people’s learning experiences, she won’t be renewing her subscription
because she feels Life Learning magazine is “too radical” for her and that we
“don’t keep to the homeschooling topic all the time”. I thanked her for
using the word “radical”, and pointed out its meaning. My dictionary tells me
that it originates with the Latin words radix meaning roots and radicalis,
which means having roots. And thus comes the botanical term “radical leaves”,
which refers to leaves that arise from the root or crown of the plant. So, for
me, a person who is radical is one who examines the roots of issues. And a
radical solution to a problem is one that arises from that examination,
addressing what we sometimes call the root cause, rather than the more superficial
symptoms. I suppose that focus on fundamental change is why radical views,
opinions, practices or proposed changes sometimes seem extreme. It is also why
I prefer to examine how people learn by living, rather than to isolate
self-directed learning as just another homeschooling method or style.
When I started thinking about these things 35 or so years ago, I began with
the presumption that what was wrong with our education system wouldn’t be
fixed by tinkering – by adding more subjects, more equipment, more teachers or
more funding, or, in fact, by changing the location of where the teaching took
place or the content of the curriculum that was used. I realized then, and
believe it ever more passionately now, that what’s needed is an examination of
how people learn (which includes who controls the agenda) and whether or not
schools provide the best opportunity for that learning to unfold. (They don’
t.) That sort of radical examination of the problem – and the radical
solutions that life learning families are living every day – is what Life Learning
magazine is about, whether it seems at first glance to relate directly to what
some may define as "homeschooling" or not.
July/August Issue
As readers begin to digest the May/June issue, I'm already weaving together
the threads that will become the July/August issue. I'm particularly excited
about an interview with writer and speaker Sandra Dodd by Canadian writer and
radio host Beatrice Ekwa Ekoko. And interestingly enough, Sandra also uses
the word "radical" in the context of her unschooling website pages, found at
_www.sandradodd.com_ (http://www.sandradodd.com/) . In our upcoming feature
interview, Sandra, who lives with her three always-unschooled teens and
husband in Albuquerque, New Mexico, covers a lot of ground from her concept of
"strewing", through freedom, learning for fun and what she calls "spiritual
unschooling".
Contribute to Life Learning Magazine
Another reader recently reported that her favorite articles are the ones
written by readers who are helping their kids learn without school, and are
sharing their experiences, both good and bad, as they walk this path.
If you would like to contribute, please see our guidelines at
_www.lifelearningmagazine.com/write.html_ (http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/write.html)
. Although we can't afford to pay contributors, we like to barter
(subscriptions, ads, whatever...) so do get in touch and share your thoughts and
experiences about self-directed learning. All thoughts and experiences are welcome,
no matter how short or lengthy. And please don't be shy about your writing
ability...the whole point of unschooling is to learn by doing!
Events
I am excited to be co-presenting a four-day course as part of the
Transformative Learning Centre's annual Summer Institute at OISE/University of Toronto
in Toronto, Ontario from June 16 to 19. It is called Reshaping Self, Family,
Community, and Society (through life learning) OISE doctoral candidate
Natalie Zur Nedden and I will be facilitating an exploration of unschooling, and
of how deschooling ourselves and society can produce personal/family change
and enhance the prospects for a sustainable society. We are inviting a broad
cross-section of people to participate, from unschooling parents to students
and teachers, from librarians and community workers to artists. There are no
prerequisites, and affordable accommodation is available at the university.
People far and wide regularly attend the Summer Institute to combine a holiday
in downtown Toronto with a transformative learning experience. Come and find
out how we can work together to broaden our families' unschooling experience
and create a learning society. For details, visit
_http://tlc.oise.utoronto.ca/events/SI_Reshaping.htm_ (http://tlc.oise.utoronto.ca/events/SI_Reshaping.htm)
. Coincidentally, Natalie is researching and writing my life history as an
unschooling activist for her PhD dissertation.
My colleague Ron Miller (Goddard College prof, writer and publisher of
holistic education book, as well as the recently-defunct Paths of Learning
magazine) recently wrote to update us about the credit course program that Goddard
College is developing for homeschoolers. They had to start the program this
coming Fall, but the planning, design and approval processes are apparently
taking longer than expected. So the plan now is to launch it next March. The
related conference they had planned for June will take place on September 9 to
11 instead. It will be an opportunity to meet homeschoolers who have begun
college studies, to hear about their experiences, and there will be workshops
for young people and parents about beginning college. We'll make details
available as Ron sends them to us.
For other events, courses and conferences, visit the Life Learning
conference page at _www.lifelearningmagazine.com/conferences.html_
(http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/conferences.html) . That's where we list the events where
Life Learning magazine will be represented. Keep checking back, because it
changes weekly as we add new events.
From our Advertisers
Although Life Learning is primarily subscriber-supported, revenue from
advertising, both on the magazine and the website, is a vital part of
publishing...and will help us to grow the magazine. If you respond to any of our
advertisements, please tell the companies you learned about them from us. If you are
interested in advertising in Life Learning, contact Gail Gallant at (818)
244-2941 or by email at gail@... for details. Here are two of our
current advertisers:
License Plate Games - Summer is coming and here is an interesting and
educational way to keep people of all ages occupied on a family car trip. License
Plate Games is just one of the fascinating products available from Interstate
Directory Publishing. For information, call (800) 347-0473 or (516) 922-7160.
Aesop's Room - "Alternative Resources for Growing Minds" - unique books,
children's yoga and meditation, music, instruments, art supplies, wooden toys,
crafts. Visit _www.AesopsRoom.com_ (http://www.aesopsroom.com/) or call (530)
753-0243.
Subscribe
You can now request a trial subscription to Life Learning online and be
invoiced. Go to _www.lifelearningmagazine.com/subscribe.html_
(http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/subscribe.html) and click on the subscription form in
Option 3. Simply provide us with your complete contact information and send the
form. We will mail you the current issue of Life Learning along with an
invoice. Your subscription will continue once we have received your payment.
Wendy Priesnitz, Editor
Life Learning magazine
_www.LifeLearningMagazine.com_ (http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/)
Visit my blog at _www.LifeMedia.ca/wendy/blog.html
_ (http://www.lifemedia.ca/wendy/blog.html) P.S. Feel free to pass this
e-letter along to your friends or post it to discussion lists.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
in well with recent discussions about what (if anything else) to call radical
unschooling when it extends into part of life people hadn't considered to be
central/necessary/something. I think these first two paragraphs will be good
to discuss. WARNING: PLEASE do not respond without chopping off the rest
of the post. It's monstrous long. I included it because it's part of the
magazine's mailout, and because part of it's about me. So nobody, please, quote
it all back. Once is already way long.
Quote starts now, and then the whole newsletter follows.
------------------------------------------
Radical?
Another reader wrote to say that while she has been enjoying reading about
other people’s learning experiences, she won’t be renewing her subscription
because she feels Life Learning magazine is “too radical” for her and that we
“don’t keep to the homeschooling topic all the time”. I thanked her for
using the word “radical”, and pointed out its meaning. My dictionary tells me
that it originates with the Latin words radix meaning roots and radicalis,
which means having roots. And thus comes the botanical term “radical leaves”,
which refers to leaves that arise from the root or crown of the plant. So, for
me, a person who is radical is one who examines the roots of issues. And a
radical solution to a problem is one that arises from that examination,
addressing what we sometimes call the root cause, rather than the more superficial
symptoms. I suppose that focus on fundamental change is why radical views,
opinions, practices or proposed changes sometimes seem extreme. It is also why
I prefer to examine how people learn by living, rather than to isolate
self-directed learning as just another homeschooling method or style.
When I started thinking about these things 35 or so years ago, I began with
the presumption that what was wrong with our education system wouldn’t be
fixed by tinkering – by adding more subjects, more equipment, more teachers or
more funding, or, in fact, by changing the location of where the teaching took
place or the content of the curriculum that was used. I realized then, and
believe it ever more passionately now, that what’s needed is an examination of
how people learn (which includes who controls the agenda) and whether or not
schools provide the best opportunity for that learning to unfold. (They don’
t.) That sort of radical examination of the problem – and the radical
solutions that life learning families are living every day – is what Life Learning
magazine is about, whether it seems at first glance to relate directly to what
some may define as "homeschooling" or not.
--------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------
Life Learning E-Letter
May 2005
----------------------------------
You are receiving this e-letter because you asked to be on the mailing list.
You can stop receiving it at any time by sending us an email from the email
account by which you're subscribed. Life Media, Life Learning's publishing
company, has a policy of not sharing any information about those on its mailing
lists, either email or print. Our privacy policy can be found at
_www.lifemedia.ca/privacy.html_ (http://www.lifemedia.ca/privacy.html) .
May/June Issue
If subscribers haven't already received the May/June issue of Life Learning,
they will shortly. The table of contents and PDF version are also available
now for viewing at _www.lifelearningmagazine.com/0506/index.html_
(http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/0506/index.html)
Thanks For Your Feedback
We hear from our readers regularly by email and regular mail - and it's
wonderful to receive your comments, article ideas and input (and the complaints
too!). Some people write three-page letters; others jot a friendly note on the
bottom of their renewal notices. But every once in awhile, we receive a
comment that stands out. Subscriber Bonnie Reyes from Walnut Creek, California
has allowed me to share her recent email message with you. She wrote: "I must
tell you, I had giving up on subscribing to anything. Too many good intentions
became piles of disappointment and guilt. A friend recommended a back issue
of your magazine when she learned I was considering homeschooling my four
children, and I was hooked. Never before has a magazine so confirmed and
inspired me in my purpose as a parent. I read every issue in its entirety, and
re-read and refer to them regularly. Like Ken Wilber's 'Theory of Everything', it
pulls everything together for me and, more importantly, demonstrates how to
apply my beliefs and values and begin living my vision. Thank you!!!" Thank
you, Bonnie for making my day!
Radical?
Another reader wrote to say that while she has been enjoying reading about
other people’s learning experiences, she won’t be renewing her subscription
because she feels Life Learning magazine is “too radical” for her and that we
“don’t keep to the homeschooling topic all the time”. I thanked her for
using the word “radical”, and pointed out its meaning. My dictionary tells me
that it originates with the Latin words radix meaning roots and radicalis,
which means having roots. And thus comes the botanical term “radical leaves”,
which refers to leaves that arise from the root or crown of the plant. So, for
me, a person who is radical is one who examines the roots of issues. And a
radical solution to a problem is one that arises from that examination,
addressing what we sometimes call the root cause, rather than the more superficial
symptoms. I suppose that focus on fundamental change is why radical views,
opinions, practices or proposed changes sometimes seem extreme. It is also why
I prefer to examine how people learn by living, rather than to isolate
self-directed learning as just another homeschooling method or style.
When I started thinking about these things 35 or so years ago, I began with
the presumption that what was wrong with our education system wouldn’t be
fixed by tinkering – by adding more subjects, more equipment, more teachers or
more funding, or, in fact, by changing the location of where the teaching took
place or the content of the curriculum that was used. I realized then, and
believe it ever more passionately now, that what’s needed is an examination of
how people learn (which includes who controls the agenda) and whether or not
schools provide the best opportunity for that learning to unfold. (They don’
t.) That sort of radical examination of the problem – and the radical
solutions that life learning families are living every day – is what Life Learning
magazine is about, whether it seems at first glance to relate directly to what
some may define as "homeschooling" or not.
July/August Issue
As readers begin to digest the May/June issue, I'm already weaving together
the threads that will become the July/August issue. I'm particularly excited
about an interview with writer and speaker Sandra Dodd by Canadian writer and
radio host Beatrice Ekwa Ekoko. And interestingly enough, Sandra also uses
the word "radical" in the context of her unschooling website pages, found at
_www.sandradodd.com_ (http://www.sandradodd.com/) . In our upcoming feature
interview, Sandra, who lives with her three always-unschooled teens and
husband in Albuquerque, New Mexico, covers a lot of ground from her concept of
"strewing", through freedom, learning for fun and what she calls "spiritual
unschooling".
Contribute to Life Learning Magazine
Another reader recently reported that her favorite articles are the ones
written by readers who are helping their kids learn without school, and are
sharing their experiences, both good and bad, as they walk this path.
If you would like to contribute, please see our guidelines at
_www.lifelearningmagazine.com/write.html_ (http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/write.html)
. Although we can't afford to pay contributors, we like to barter
(subscriptions, ads, whatever...) so do get in touch and share your thoughts and
experiences about self-directed learning. All thoughts and experiences are welcome,
no matter how short or lengthy. And please don't be shy about your writing
ability...the whole point of unschooling is to learn by doing!
Events
I am excited to be co-presenting a four-day course as part of the
Transformative Learning Centre's annual Summer Institute at OISE/University of Toronto
in Toronto, Ontario from June 16 to 19. It is called Reshaping Self, Family,
Community, and Society (through life learning) OISE doctoral candidate
Natalie Zur Nedden and I will be facilitating an exploration of unschooling, and
of how deschooling ourselves and society can produce personal/family change
and enhance the prospects for a sustainable society. We are inviting a broad
cross-section of people to participate, from unschooling parents to students
and teachers, from librarians and community workers to artists. There are no
prerequisites, and affordable accommodation is available at the university.
People far and wide regularly attend the Summer Institute to combine a holiday
in downtown Toronto with a transformative learning experience. Come and find
out how we can work together to broaden our families' unschooling experience
and create a learning society. For details, visit
_http://tlc.oise.utoronto.ca/events/SI_Reshaping.htm_ (http://tlc.oise.utoronto.ca/events/SI_Reshaping.htm)
. Coincidentally, Natalie is researching and writing my life history as an
unschooling activist for her PhD dissertation.
My colleague Ron Miller (Goddard College prof, writer and publisher of
holistic education book, as well as the recently-defunct Paths of Learning
magazine) recently wrote to update us about the credit course program that Goddard
College is developing for homeschoolers. They had to start the program this
coming Fall, but the planning, design and approval processes are apparently
taking longer than expected. So the plan now is to launch it next March. The
related conference they had planned for June will take place on September 9 to
11 instead. It will be an opportunity to meet homeschoolers who have begun
college studies, to hear about their experiences, and there will be workshops
for young people and parents about beginning college. We'll make details
available as Ron sends them to us.
For other events, courses and conferences, visit the Life Learning
conference page at _www.lifelearningmagazine.com/conferences.html_
(http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/conferences.html) . That's where we list the events where
Life Learning magazine will be represented. Keep checking back, because it
changes weekly as we add new events.
From our Advertisers
Although Life Learning is primarily subscriber-supported, revenue from
advertising, both on the magazine and the website, is a vital part of
publishing...and will help us to grow the magazine. If you respond to any of our
advertisements, please tell the companies you learned about them from us. If you are
interested in advertising in Life Learning, contact Gail Gallant at (818)
244-2941 or by email at gail@... for details. Here are two of our
current advertisers:
License Plate Games - Summer is coming and here is an interesting and
educational way to keep people of all ages occupied on a family car trip. License
Plate Games is just one of the fascinating products available from Interstate
Directory Publishing. For information, call (800) 347-0473 or (516) 922-7160.
Aesop's Room - "Alternative Resources for Growing Minds" - unique books,
children's yoga and meditation, music, instruments, art supplies, wooden toys,
crafts. Visit _www.AesopsRoom.com_ (http://www.aesopsroom.com/) or call (530)
753-0243.
Subscribe
You can now request a trial subscription to Life Learning online and be
invoiced. Go to _www.lifelearningmagazine.com/subscribe.html_
(http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/subscribe.html) and click on the subscription form in
Option 3. Simply provide us with your complete contact information and send the
form. We will mail you the current issue of Life Learning along with an
invoice. Your subscription will continue once we have received your payment.
Wendy Priesnitz, Editor
Life Learning magazine
_www.LifeLearningMagazine.com_ (http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/)
Visit my blog at _www.LifeMedia.ca/wendy/blog.html
_ (http://www.lifemedia.ca/wendy/blog.html) P.S. Feel free to pass this
e-letter along to your friends or post it to discussion lists.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]