Beth Oberle
This message is in response not just to this one, but to the others who
posted about handwriting or "good" (I would say "standard") grammar being
"important." I think it's fine for all of us to discuss our pet peeves but
there's a world of difference between acknowledging that something bugs us
and between saying it's "important" to know it.
My understanding of unschooling is that it's up to the person who is
learning
to determine what is important, not anyone else. You may find a closer,
more
spiritual connection to words through handwriting, but I may not.
Therefore,
it is not important for me to learn beautiful handwriting. The same is true
of spelling or grammar.
Very good points and I appreciate the difference in viewpoint. I always
find it interesting and insightful to hear others points of view. As usual,
I usually find that what I find to be "important" and meaningful is held in
a totally different light to someone else. As unschooling is very new to me
and I know a lot (I feel) about the theory of unschooling but not
necessarily the practice of it I'm very interested in discussing and
learning more about both. The only experience in practice I have is very
limited to our family which includes myself, my husband and our daughters,
ages 6 and 2. I know that which I find important and meaningful isn't
always important and meaningful to my husband and daughters. It would
definitely be a boring world if we all were "good" in the same things and
found meaning and importance in the same things. That is why some of us are
artist, mathematicians, musicians, accountants, engineers, carpenters, etc.
etc. ......
This message is in response not just to this one, but to the others who
posted about handwriting or "good" (I would say "standard") grammar being
"important." I think it's fine for all of us to discuss our pet peeves but
there's a world of difference between acknowledging that something bugs us
and between saying it's "important" to know it.
My understanding of unschooling is that it's up to the person who is
learning
to determine what is important, not anyone else. You may find a closer,
more
spiritual connection to words through handwriting, but I may not.
Therefore,
it is not important for me to learn beautiful handwriting. The same is true
of spelling or grammar.
Even better, "deep thought", I don't think I have an answer today.....It is
true that any academic thought or fact will be learned when needed and not
before. As an example, I recently had need of the formula for figuring the
diameter of a circle using the circumference as the only "known" fact. I
know I "learned" this formula in 9th grade algebra but didn't "know" it
until I needed it......
Interesting. I find that a computer makes it much easier for me to
organize my thoughts and get them written down. I often have several
different ideas at once, and I can just quickly make notes, and then refer
to them as I go. I wouldn't do that in a handwritten journal.
My experience is much the same and the pen and paper help to slow me down
and gather my thoughts....to each his own! My schooling makes me think that
when I'm typing I must have it all together first!
interesting.
I have recently found that he (my husband) also has one on his computer but
also doesn't usually agree with it!!!LOL
I think you make a very good argument that really fine penmanship is more of
an art than a skill. I can practice and get to be a better typist -- get
faster and more accurate and get better at this skill. I could practice
until forever and my penmanship would not improve. Nor do I need or want it
to. I think it would be neat to teach kids about how pretty and fun some
penmanship can be but to require good artistic talent seems cruel to me --
I'm no artist -- my daughter is very talented (I think) -- but I hope noone
ever makes my kids feel bad that they aren't talented this way.
Again, good points. As this ability and talent comes naturally for me and
my oldest daughter I tend to think it should be easy and natural for
everyone, given practice. On the other hand my husband and most of his
immediate family aren't talented in this manner and they are still very
talented and intelligent people so I should know better than to judge.
Well, I still have another digest to digest so I'd better save some
comments!LOL
Beth
posted about handwriting or "good" (I would say "standard") grammar being
"important." I think it's fine for all of us to discuss our pet peeves but
there's a world of difference between acknowledging that something bugs us
and between saying it's "important" to know it.
My understanding of unschooling is that it's up to the person who is
learning
to determine what is important, not anyone else. You may find a closer,
more
spiritual connection to words through handwriting, but I may not.
Therefore,
it is not important for me to learn beautiful handwriting. The same is true
of spelling or grammar.
Very good points and I appreciate the difference in viewpoint. I always
find it interesting and insightful to hear others points of view. As usual,
I usually find that what I find to be "important" and meaningful is held in
a totally different light to someone else. As unschooling is very new to me
and I know a lot (I feel) about the theory of unschooling but not
necessarily the practice of it I'm very interested in discussing and
learning more about both. The only experience in practice I have is very
limited to our family which includes myself, my husband and our daughters,
ages 6 and 2. I know that which I find important and meaningful isn't
always important and meaningful to my husband and daughters. It would
definitely be a boring world if we all were "good" in the same things and
found meaning and importance in the same things. That is why some of us are
artist, mathematicians, musicians, accountants, engineers, carpenters, etc.
etc. ......
This message is in response not just to this one, but to the others who
posted about handwriting or "good" (I would say "standard") grammar being
"important." I think it's fine for all of us to discuss our pet peeves but
there's a world of difference between acknowledging that something bugs us
and between saying it's "important" to know it.
My understanding of unschooling is that it's up to the person who is
learning
to determine what is important, not anyone else. You may find a closer,
more
spiritual connection to words through handwriting, but I may not.
Therefore,
it is not important for me to learn beautiful handwriting. The same is true
of spelling or grammar.
Even better, "deep thought", I don't think I have an answer today.....It is
true that any academic thought or fact will be learned when needed and not
before. As an example, I recently had need of the formula for figuring the
diameter of a circle using the circumference as the only "known" fact. I
know I "learned" this formula in 9th grade algebra but didn't "know" it
until I needed it......
Interesting. I find that a computer makes it much easier for me to
organize my thoughts and get them written down. I often have several
different ideas at once, and I can just quickly make notes, and then refer
to them as I go. I wouldn't do that in a handwritten journal.
My experience is much the same and the pen and paper help to slow me down
and gather my thoughts....to each his own! My schooling makes me think that
when I'm typing I must have it all together first!
> He points out that there is noYes there is. At least I have one. I don't always agree with it, but it's
> "grammar and usage check" on computers
interesting.
I have recently found that he (my husband) also has one on his computer but
also doesn't usually agree with it!!!LOL
I think you make a very good argument that really fine penmanship is more of
an art than a skill. I can practice and get to be a better typist -- get
faster and more accurate and get better at this skill. I could practice
until forever and my penmanship would not improve. Nor do I need or want it
to. I think it would be neat to teach kids about how pretty and fun some
penmanship can be but to require good artistic talent seems cruel to me --
I'm no artist -- my daughter is very talented (I think) -- but I hope noone
ever makes my kids feel bad that they aren't talented this way.
Again, good points. As this ability and talent comes naturally for me and
my oldest daughter I tend to think it should be easy and natural for
everyone, given practice. On the other hand my husband and most of his
immediate family aren't talented in this manner and they are still very
talented and intelligent people so I should know better than to judge.
Well, I still have another digest to digest so I'd better save some
comments!LOL
Beth