Big Changes (long)
[email protected]
Tomorrow my son Julian turns 16. And in the past few weeks we've watched
some big changes in him, and most of them are a result of unschooling. I
thought I'd share.
Julian was just hired for his first real job. Not at McDonald's or at a g
rocery store, but instead he was hired as the Coordinator of Religious Education
in the Salem, MA Unitarian Universalist church where he grew up -- a job
that I held several years ago. (I am the Director of Religious Education in the
Wakefield UU church, so we are now colleagues.)
It's a complex job, requiring a lot of organization, working with both kids
and adults, multiple meetings, public speaking, etc. Churches usually hire
people who are not only adults, but also college graduates for this position.
Julian, with some help, wrote a great resume and cover letter. We prepped him
for the interview.
But it was really all him. Julian expresses himself in a way that is more
calm and mature than most adults I know. I was concerned at first that parents
with kids there might be concerned with having "a kid" leading the program,
but when we attended a potluck last night, parent after parent approached him,
telling him they were delighted he'd accepted the position.
Before accepting the position he called a district leader for advice, then
negotiated with the Board chair for time off (to go to the L&L conference,
among other things!), more hours if he needs them, etc.
So this is a big change, but much bigger is, in recent weeks, the change
I've seen in Juls. He's just become remarkably more grown-up. Part of it is
little things, being more focused and attentive to things around him. Part of him
seems more serious, but as big a part is that he seems to have lightened up
a little. To quote the wise Julian, he is awesome. It's becoming clear what
kind of man he will be: smart, funny, kind, responsible, thoughtful, talented.
Loud, discordant music still plays and there are still piles of dirty socks.
But I'm kind of liking that, because the little boy doesn't really live here
anymore. In his place is a really impressive, way cool young man. Big
Changes.
Kathryn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
some big changes in him, and most of them are a result of unschooling. I
thought I'd share.
Julian was just hired for his first real job. Not at McDonald's or at a g
rocery store, but instead he was hired as the Coordinator of Religious Education
in the Salem, MA Unitarian Universalist church where he grew up -- a job
that I held several years ago. (I am the Director of Religious Education in the
Wakefield UU church, so we are now colleagues.)
It's a complex job, requiring a lot of organization, working with both kids
and adults, multiple meetings, public speaking, etc. Churches usually hire
people who are not only adults, but also college graduates for this position.
Julian, with some help, wrote a great resume and cover letter. We prepped him
for the interview.
But it was really all him. Julian expresses himself in a way that is more
calm and mature than most adults I know. I was concerned at first that parents
with kids there might be concerned with having "a kid" leading the program,
but when we attended a potluck last night, parent after parent approached him,
telling him they were delighted he'd accepted the position.
Before accepting the position he called a district leader for advice, then
negotiated with the Board chair for time off (to go to the L&L conference,
among other things!), more hours if he needs them, etc.
So this is a big change, but much bigger is, in recent weeks, the change
I've seen in Juls. He's just become remarkably more grown-up. Part of it is
little things, being more focused and attentive to things around him. Part of him
seems more serious, but as big a part is that he seems to have lightened up
a little. To quote the wise Julian, he is awesome. It's becoming clear what
kind of man he will be: smart, funny, kind, responsible, thoughtful, talented.
Loud, discordant music still plays and there are still piles of dirty socks.
But I'm kind of liking that, because the little boy doesn't really live here
anymore. In his place is a really impressive, way cool young man. Big
Changes.
Kathryn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
Very COOL.
I hope Julian has a great birthday and enjoys this job. That will look
fantastic on a resume. Very nice.
Nice post. I saved it.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I hope Julian has a great birthday and enjoys this job. That will look
fantastic on a resume. Very nice.
Nice post. I saved it.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Salamander starr
Thanks for this story. I have been in a debate with a friend who in theory
agrees with "most" of the unschooling idea, from a John Holt/education
perspective (we haven't even begun to discuss whole life unschooling) and
this is a wonderful real life example of what can happen.
A
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.
--Oscar Wilde
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agrees with "most" of the unschooling idea, from a John Holt/education
perspective (we haven't even begun to discuss whole life unschooling) and
this is a wonderful real life example of what can happen.
A
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.
--Oscar Wilde
>From: KathrynJB@..._________________________________________________________________
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Big Changes (long)
>Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2005 15:14:19 EDT
>
>Tomorrow my son Julian turns 16. And in the past few weeks we've watched
>some big changes in him, and most of them are a result of unschooling. I
>thought I'd share.
>
>Julian was just hired for his first real job. Not at McDonald's or at a g
>rocery store, but instead he was hired as the Coordinator of Religious
>Education
>in the Salem, MA Unitarian Universalist church where he grew up -- a job
>that I held several years ago. (I am the Director of Religious Education
>in the
>Wakefield UU church, so we are now colleagues.)
>
>It's a complex job, requiring a lot of organization, working with both kids
>and adults, multiple meetings, public speaking, etc. Churches usually hire
>people who are not only adults, but also college graduates for this
>position.
>Julian, with some help, wrote a great resume and cover letter. We prepped
>him
>for the interview.
>
>But it was really all him. Julian expresses himself in a way that is more
>calm and mature than most adults I know. I was concerned at first that
>parents
>with kids there might be concerned with having "a kid" leading the program,
>but when we attended a potluck last night, parent after parent approached
>him,
>telling him they were delighted he'd accepted the position.
>
>Before accepting the position he called a district leader for advice, then
>negotiated with the Board chair for time off (to go to the L&L conference,
>among other things!), more hours if he needs them, etc.
>
>So this is a big change, but much bigger is, in recent weeks, the change
>I've seen in Juls. He's just become remarkably more grown-up. Part of it is
>little things, being more focused and attentive to things around him. Part
>of him
>seems more serious, but as big a part is that he seems to have lightened up
>a little. To quote the wise Julian, he is awesome. It's becoming clear what
>kind of man he will be: smart, funny, kind, responsible, thoughtful,
>talented.
>
>Loud, discordant music still plays and there are still piles of dirty
>socks.
>But I'm kind of liking that, because the little boy doesn't really live
>here
>anymore. In his place is a really impressive, way cool young man. Big
>Changes.
>
>Kathryn
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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Joyce Fetteroll
Pat Farenga posted this to the NewEnglandUnschooling list. I didn't
go to the conference (it was wicked expensive!) A couple of the
people who did go said nice things about it.
The speakers were all "experts" with nice credentials and good
resumes ;-) but that doesn't mean what they had to say might not be
interesting :-)
Joyce
===================
Dear Friend,
The Learning In Our Own Way conference was a fantastic weekend of ideas,
camaraderie, and nuts and bolts discussions from some incredible
people about
living and learning with children. However, if you missed the
conference, there's no
reason to feel left out. The keynotes by Dr. Thomas Armstrong and
John Taylor Gatto
are now both available on compact disks, as are many of the breakout
sessions. More
breakout sessions will be available for sale soon, so check the
website in a few weeks
if you don't see a session you want now.
Visit http://www.learninginourownway.com/recording.html for complete
details.
Further, I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on any quantity you order between
now and
October 31, 2005!
Best wishes,
Pat Farenga
Co-author Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Homeschooling
PS
DVDs of Gatto and Armstrong's keynotes, and Armstrong's "Myth of the
ADD Child"
workshop, will be available by October 1.
$15 per session (each session is recorded on 1 - 2 CD's).
SPECIAL: FREE SHIPPING ON ALL PURCHASES MADE BY OCTOBER, 31, 2005.
1) Eight Kinds of Smart, Keynote with handouts by Dr. Thomas Armstrong
2) Weapons of Mass Instruction, Keynote by John Taylor Gatto
3) Coping with Fear and Anxiety While Unschooling, Andy Migner
4) The Price of Praise, Naomi Aldort
5) Panel: Taught Mother Tongue: Ivan Illich on Education, Pat
Farenga, Moderator
6) Individualizing Learning: Styles and Time Frames, Cindy Gaddis
7) Schools that work with homeschoolers, Dr. Pat Montgomery
8) College Admissions for Homeschoolers, Loretta Heuer
9) Possibility in the Face of Probability, Matt Hern
10) Grown Homeschoolers Panel, Sarabeth Matilisky, Moderator
To order your CDs today visit http://www.learninginourownway.com/
recording.html
go to the conference (it was wicked expensive!) A couple of the
people who did go said nice things about it.
The speakers were all "experts" with nice credentials and good
resumes ;-) but that doesn't mean what they had to say might not be
interesting :-)
Joyce
===================
Dear Friend,
The Learning In Our Own Way conference was a fantastic weekend of ideas,
camaraderie, and nuts and bolts discussions from some incredible
people about
living and learning with children. However, if you missed the
conference, there's no
reason to feel left out. The keynotes by Dr. Thomas Armstrong and
John Taylor Gatto
are now both available on compact disks, as are many of the breakout
sessions. More
breakout sessions will be available for sale soon, so check the
website in a few weeks
if you don't see a session you want now.
Visit http://www.learninginourownway.com/recording.html for complete
details.
Further, I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on any quantity you order between
now and
October 31, 2005!
Best wishes,
Pat Farenga
Co-author Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Homeschooling
PS
DVDs of Gatto and Armstrong's keynotes, and Armstrong's "Myth of the
ADD Child"
workshop, will be available by October 1.
$15 per session (each session is recorded on 1 - 2 CD's).
SPECIAL: FREE SHIPPING ON ALL PURCHASES MADE BY OCTOBER, 31, 2005.
1) Eight Kinds of Smart, Keynote with handouts by Dr. Thomas Armstrong
2) Weapons of Mass Instruction, Keynote by John Taylor Gatto
3) Coping with Fear and Anxiety While Unschooling, Andy Migner
4) The Price of Praise, Naomi Aldort
5) Panel: Taught Mother Tongue: Ivan Illich on Education, Pat
Farenga, Moderator
6) Individualizing Learning: Styles and Time Frames, Cindy Gaddis
7) Schools that work with homeschoolers, Dr. Pat Montgomery
8) College Admissions for Homeschoolers, Loretta Heuer
9) Possibility in the Face of Probability, Matt Hern
10) Grown Homeschoolers Panel, Sarabeth Matilisky, Moderator
To order your CDs today visit http://www.learninginourownway.com/
recording.html