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Sandra
I have to admit to be coming around to your way of thinking more and
more. I was one of these mums who insisted on using a math work
book. dd didnt like doing them - but scored well. So why was I doing
them. She has the grasp of math - always was good at math at school -
unless she is going to be a scientist she really doesnt need to know
any more than she knows. There are calculators these days any way.

dd is showing a lot more motivation these days. Said she wants to be
a makeup artist to the stars - so this week she wrote to the local TV
studios make up department for advice.
Yesterday she watched TV all day, she hasnt done this for a long
time, and I have to admit to feeling a failure - she did get the word
find book out last night and do some of those puzzles, plus she
always checks her email and answeres them...... She watches the
movies on TV or the Nickelodian chanel.

you really used to scare me sandra, but now that I know you, I trust
any advice you give to us al.
marianne - whoes dd has gone of to work with dad, she is doing *work
experience* - if she had her way she would go to work with her dad
everyday!

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In a message dated 3/7/01 11:20:27 AM Mountain Standard Time,
tonitoni@... writes:


you really used to scare me sandra, but now that I know you, I trust
any advice you give to us al.


Thanks!

I know, it's scary to think whole new thoughts off the normally-prescribed
path, and must be scarier still when some weirdo stranger from New Mexico is
yelling "GET OFF THE PATH OR QUIT WHINING."

Sandra

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In a message dated 03/07/2001 6:32:11 PM !!!First Boot!!!, SandraDodd@...
writes:



you really used to scare me sandra, but now that I know you, I trust
any advice you give to us al.


Thanks!

I know, it's scary to think whole new thoughts off the normally-prescribed
path, and must be scarier still when some weirdo stranger from New Mexico
is
yelling "GET OFF THE PATH OR QUIT WHINING."

Sandra



Maybe we need a wider path!

Nance

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In a message dated 3/7/01 4:09:40 PM Mountain Standard Time,
marbleface@... writes:


Maybe we need a wider path!


That's school reform.

If schools are just kind of tweaked a little bit--smaller classes, more
colorful books, shorter class periods, different-looking report cards, fewer
tests, windows with nicer views, softer chairs.   

Vouchers!  A choice of schools!

Choices of teachers within schools.

Still, school.

And school-at-home is another form of that same thing.

Those who stay on the curriculum path which goes
kindergarten
first grade
phonics
second grade
double column math
third grade
times tables
etc.
etc.
are not getting off the path, whether they are riding the path in a school
desk or at a kitchen table.  

Having looked at the subject line and the return address to confirm that I'm
on the unschooling list, I feel confident in saying that one cannot unschool
AND stay on that path.  There are wider-path lists and I'm on some of them,
so I would understand the defense of traditional means there, but here is
where unschoolers should be safe to promote unschooling without apologies to
textbook manufacturers or salesmen.

If a family chooses to stay on the path (a term I used just for one e-mail
earlier today, not something I hope to have become dogma--just a temporary
analogy) they absolutely have the right to do so and they are in the
majority.  But if they say to unschoolers, "This isn't working, my child
hates math, my child doesn't want to read, my child won't do his *work*
(meaning worksheets or reports to nobody)" then when unschoolers say "remove
yourself from the expectations you had when he was going to be in school all
his pre-adult life" and I said that too, only it sounded like GET OFF THE
PATH.

Math isn't divided into subject area and specialties or into six elementary
levels and six high school levels, or four primary, four midschool and four
high school.  Well it is, but only by textbook companies.

In the real world, math is like a language for a way of thinking.

History isn't divided into school-levels either, in the real world.  Nor is
English, nor science.  Geology involves chemistry and physics.   Astronomy
can't be had without light physics and lenses.  Aeronautics involves
materials, and you're back to chemistry and physics and metalurgical
considerations, and construction.  They don't divide up NEARLY the way they
pretend to seem to in school.

The more unschoolers play with such ideas the easier it is for them to see
that they can go cross-country, cross-age, cross-ability, cross-subject,
cross-universe.

Sandra

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In a message dated 03/08/2001 3:25:44 AM !!!First Boot!!!, SandraDodd@...
writes:


The more unschoolers play with such ideas the easier it is for them to see
that they can go cross-country, cross-age, cross-ability, cross-subject,
cross-universe.

Sandra



Well, that would have been a lovely sentiment to have expressed.  Welcoming,
helpful, maybe offering a few real-life suggestions.  Not lecturing and
yelling -- I know, it's your style.

Nance

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In a message dated 3/8/01 5:42:26 AM, marbleface@... writes:

<< Well, that would have been a lovely sentiment to have expressed. >>

I DID express it, didn't I?

I've been expressing it for years.