Pam Hartley

----------
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 1241
>Date: Thu, May 17, 2001, 1:00 PM
>

> My oldest (6) is really looking forward to going to ps for first grade. My
> dh say's let her try it and we will just have to keep a good eye on her and
the
> moment she starts showing troubles, we can pull her out. How about views on
> this?


I think schooling causes a lot of damage before the child is ready to say,
"Get me out of here." I, personally, wouldn't do it. My daughters will have
to come up with some pretty compelling reasons if they ever want to try
school (and such reasons do exist, but not in first grade -- I'm thinking
things like some sports team stuff, etc.).

I don't view school as "just another way to learn" where I can give them a
free choice in the matter, I view it as dangerous to them on almost every
possible level, and will protect them from it if at all possible.

Not that I have an opinion. <g>

Pam

[email protected]

> My oldest (6) is really looking forward to going to ps for first
grade. My
> dh say's let her try it and we will just have to keep a good eye on
her and the
> moment she starts showing troubles, we can pull her out. How about
views on
> this?


I think it's kind of like saying it's OK to drink a mild poison until
you start "showing troubles" and then you can stop drinking it. By
that time, the damage is done. Personally, I'd avoid the poison and
I'd avoid public school. I think it poisons children's minds with the
concepts that they need someone else to teach them in order to learn,
that adults can and should control every aspect of their lives, that
what 30 other children their own age think about their clothes
matters more than anything else in the world, that what those in
authority say about an issue is the definitive word, and many more
things that I really don't want my kids to learn. If I ever started
having doubts as to whether or not I should send my kid to PS, I
would go back and read John Taylor Gatto's "Six-Lesson Schoolteacher"
again and again until I stopped :-) (
http://www.cantrip.org/gatto.html )

The reason kids look forward to going to public school is the
overwhelming propaganda and cultural machine that makes sure kids get
excited about it. Maybe you could talk to your daughter about her
specific concerns - what is it exactly that she wants from school.
More time with friends? Different crafts and opportunities to learn?
Riding a bus?? All of these things are things that you can arrange
for her without also burdening her with school.

For me, school is a place where the magic that lives inside each
child is methodically extiguished. I want to keep the magic alive for
my children as long as they want it to burn.

Blue Skies!
-Robin-
Mom to Mackenzie (8/28/96) inventor of new and wonderful things
and Asa (10/5/99) singer of protest songs
http://www.geocities.com/the_clevengers Flying Clevenger Family