Returning to public school
[email protected]
I am now in my third year of homeschooling. Recently my 10 year old daughter has expressed a wish to go back to school. My 8year old son has no such desires. Ther are not many homeschoolers in my area. We have been pretty much doing it on our own.Probably my own fears are surfacing. Should I let her try it out ? I think she really is just curious and would like to know what its all about. Anyone able to offer any insight into this dilemma.
[email protected]
In a message dated 08/21/1999 6:03:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
emac@... writes:
<< I am now in my third year of homeschooling. Recently my 10 year old
daughter has expressed a wish to go back to school. My 8year old son has no
such desires. Ther are not many homeschoolers in my area. We have been pretty
much doing it on our own.Probably my own fears are surfacing. Should I let
her try it out ? I think she really is just curious and would like to know
what its all about. Anyone able to offer any insight into this dilemma. >>
This is really strange....I just finished reading the question, "What If My
Child Wants To Go To School?" in an excerpt from John Holt's book "Teach Your
Own".....rather than go into it here, I would suggest you access this website
and then click on John Holt's picture in the Contents page...
www.naturalchild.com.
Sam
emac@... writes:
<< I am now in my third year of homeschooling. Recently my 10 year old
daughter has expressed a wish to go back to school. My 8year old son has no
such desires. Ther are not many homeschoolers in my area. We have been pretty
much doing it on our own.Probably my own fears are surfacing. Should I let
her try it out ? I think she really is just curious and would like to know
what its all about. Anyone able to offer any insight into this dilemma. >>
This is really strange....I just finished reading the question, "What If My
Child Wants To Go To School?" in an excerpt from John Holt's book "Teach Your
Own".....rather than go into it here, I would suggest you access this website
and then click on John Holt's picture in the Contents page...
www.naturalchild.com.
Sam
eddie
-----Original Message-----
From: Sam926@... <Sam926@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Saturday, August 21, 1999 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Returning to public school
From: Sam926@... <Sam926@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Saturday, August 21, 1999 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Returning to public school
>From: Sam926@...pretty
>
>In a message dated 08/21/1999 6:03:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>emac@... writes:
>
><< I am now in my third year of homeschooling. Recently my 10 year old
>daughter has expressed a wish to go back to school. My 8year old son has no
>such desires. Ther are not many homeschoolers in my area. We have been
>much doing it on our own.Probably my own fears are surfacing. Should I letYour
>her try it out ? I think she really is just curious and would like to know
>what its all about. Anyone able to offer any insight into this dilemma. >>
>
>This is really strange....I just finished reading the question, "What If My
>Child Wants To Go To School?" in an excerpt from John Holt's book "Teach
>Own".....rather than go into it here, I would suggest you access thiswebsite
>and then click on John Holt's picture in the Contents page...longer. Regards, Fiona
>www.naturalchild.com.
>
>Sam
>
>--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
>ONElist: your connection to like-minds and kindred spirits.
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>
>Sam, Thanks for that. I think we all have to think about it a little
rick and deborah farrington
hi, i would tell her the truth. its an awful place! where one picks up bad habits and the kids can be mean and competitive. some of you may disagree but its not a good place tosend children. i used to threaten my kids with sending them to ps. which was kinda mean of me but we parents resort to weird things sometimes!
emac@... wrote:
emac@... wrote:
> From: emac@...
>
> I am now in my third year of homeschooling. Recently my 10 year old daughter has expressed a wish to go back to school. My 8year old son has no such desires. Ther are not many homeschoolers in my area. We have been pretty much doing it on our own.Probably my own fears are surfacing. Should I let her try it out ? I think she really is just curious and would like to know what its all about. Anyone able to offer any insight into this dilemma.
>
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[email protected]
In a message dated 8/21/99 11:22:28 AM, honeybee@... writes:
<< hi, i would tell her the truth. its an awful place! >>
But whose truth? The awfulness of school is really opinion. Surprising
though it seems, there actually are kids that enjoy school ;-) And some
schools are nice places. (As far as factories to churn out educated
graduates go.)
My daughter tried out 2nd grade this past year. I could have told her about
boring homework and having to move onto a new subject when the teacher said
to and having to sit next to annoying kids that take an instant dislike to
you. But all of it seems worth it in comparison to whatever the child
imagines the benefits of school to be. It took about 2 weeks for the glitter
to start falling off. And 2 months before the negatives outweighed the
positives and she decided to come home. Now if you ask her if she wants to
try school she says "No way!" ;-)
Joyce
<< hi, i would tell her the truth. its an awful place! >>
But whose truth? The awfulness of school is really opinion. Surprising
though it seems, there actually are kids that enjoy school ;-) And some
schools are nice places. (As far as factories to churn out educated
graduates go.)
My daughter tried out 2nd grade this past year. I could have told her about
boring homework and having to move onto a new subject when the teacher said
to and having to sit next to annoying kids that take an instant dislike to
you. But all of it seems worth it in comparison to whatever the child
imagines the benefits of school to be. It took about 2 weeks for the glitter
to start falling off. And 2 months before the negatives outweighed the
positives and she decided to come home. Now if you ask her if she wants to
try school she says "No way!" ;-)
Joyce
rick and deborah farrington
well if there are kids who Really like going to school i've never heard of one,
and if there are good schools out there i've never heard of one. i think your
daughter learned the truth for her self. schools make kids think they need to be
like everyone else.
and if a student doesn't fit in then theyalways have that emotional baggage into
adult life. sure they rise above it but its always there.
JFetteroll@... wrote:
and if there are good schools out there i've never heard of one. i think your
daughter learned the truth for her self. schools make kids think they need to be
like everyone else.
and if a student doesn't fit in then theyalways have that emotional baggage into
adult life. sure they rise above it but its always there.
JFetteroll@... wrote:
> From: JFetteroll@...
>
> In a message dated 8/21/99 11:22:28 AM, honeybee@... writes:
>
> << hi, i would tell her the truth. its an awful place! >>
>
> But whose truth? The awfulness of school is really opinion. Surprising
> though it seems, there actually are kids that enjoy school ;-) And some
> schools are nice places. (As far as factories to churn out educated
> graduates go.)
>
> My daughter tried out 2nd grade this past year. I could have told her about
> boring homework and having to move onto a new subject when the teacher said
> to and having to sit next to annoying kids that take an instant dislike to
> you. But all of it seems worth it in comparison to whatever the child
> imagines the benefits of school to be. It took about 2 weeks for the glitter
> to start falling off. And 2 months before the negatives outweighed the
> positives and she decided to come home. Now if you ask her if she wants to
> try school she says "No way!" ;-)
>
> Joyce
>
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>
> ONElist: your connection to like-minds and kindred spirits.
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Thomas and Nanci Kuykendall
At 10:15 AM 8/21/99 -0700, you wrote:
enjoyed school. However, who knows what they would have said had they ever
been given an option to school? It's easy to say you believe in something,
or enjoy it, if you have no other alternative. Isn't that a self defense
mechanism? To find the positives in a given situation when you have no
choice but to participate/be subjected to it.
I have NOT found any kids that really like/love school, and I am still
looking. So many people look at it as a necessary evil. "It may not be
the best thing for my kids, but they ARE getting an education, aren't
they?" Or "What other choice do I have? I'm not qualified to TEACH!"
Nanci K. in Idaho
>From: rick and deborah farrington <honeybee@...>one,
>
>well if there are kids who Really like going to school i've never heard of
>and if there are good schools out there i've never heard of one. i think yourto be
>daughter learned the truth for her self. schools make kids think they need
>like everyone else.baggage into
>and if a student doesn't fit in then theyalways have that emotional
>adult life. sure they rise above it but its always there.I have spoken to several people who say, in retrospect, that they really
>
>JFetteroll@... wrote:
enjoyed school. However, who knows what they would have said had they ever
been given an option to school? It's easy to say you believe in something,
or enjoy it, if you have no other alternative. Isn't that a self defense
mechanism? To find the positives in a given situation when you have no
choice but to participate/be subjected to it.
I have NOT found any kids that really like/love school, and I am still
looking. So many people look at it as a necessary evil. "It may not be
the best thing for my kids, but they ARE getting an education, aren't
they?" Or "What other choice do I have? I'm not qualified to TEACH!"
Nanci K. in Idaho
Andi Kaufman
i dont know what to answer, i do not want to send isaac to school again but
if he asked to go i would consider it at the least. even though i am
against it i do value his opoinion. if i did decide to do it then i would
watch behavior and family stuff a bit. I also might just say no. it is our
responsibilty as parents to do what is right for our kids even when they
dont like it.
Andi...domestic goddess and active volunteer
mom to Isaac
tl2b@...
Never Underestimate the Power of This Woman!
if he asked to go i would consider it at the least. even though i am
against it i do value his opoinion. if i did decide to do it then i would
watch behavior and family stuff a bit. I also might just say no. it is our
responsibilty as parents to do what is right for our kids even when they
dont like it.
Andi...domestic goddess and active volunteer
mom to Isaac
tl2b@...
Never Underestimate the Power of This Woman!
[email protected]
In a message dated 08/21/1999 6:55:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
tn-k4of5@... writes:
<< I have spoken to several people who say, in retrospect, that they really
enjoyed school. However, who knows what they would have said had they ever
been given an option to school. It's easy to say you believe in something,
or enjoy it, if you have no other alternative. Isn't that a self defense
mechanism? To find the positives in a given situation when you have no
choice but to participate/be subjected to it.>>
Exactly!! You can believe you're in Paradise when you're in Hell if you've
never seen Paradise!
I have NOT found any kids that really like/love school, and I am still
looking. So many people look at it as a necessary evil. "It may not be
the best thing for my kids, but they ARE getting an education, aren't
they?" Or "What other choice do I have? I'm not qualified to TEACH!"
Nanci K. in Idaho >>
I'm ashamed to say that I don't even try to reason with these people
anymore.....they have no confidence in their own abilities...they have no
confidence in their children's abilities...and when I (used to) talk about
unschooling, they looked at me like I was crazy. I KNOW that by discussing
this I might "convert" someone, but how long do you have to try?
Sam
tn-k4of5@... writes:
<< I have spoken to several people who say, in retrospect, that they really
enjoyed school. However, who knows what they would have said had they ever
been given an option to school. It's easy to say you believe in something,
or enjoy it, if you have no other alternative. Isn't that a self defense
mechanism? To find the positives in a given situation when you have no
choice but to participate/be subjected to it.>>
Exactly!! You can believe you're in Paradise when you're in Hell if you've
never seen Paradise!
I have NOT found any kids that really like/love school, and I am still
looking. So many people look at it as a necessary evil. "It may not be
the best thing for my kids, but they ARE getting an education, aren't
they?" Or "What other choice do I have? I'm not qualified to TEACH!"
Nanci K. in Idaho >>
I'm ashamed to say that I don't even try to reason with these people
anymore.....they have no confidence in their own abilities...they have no
confidence in their children's abilities...and when I (used to) talk about
unschooling, they looked at me like I was crazy. I KNOW that by discussing
this I might "convert" someone, but how long do you have to try?
Sam
linjoy w
There really are children who enjoy going to school. Including many who
have the option not to go. There really are parents of school children
who really love and care for their children. Not all children in school
feel they need to be like everyone else. Since no school can be like a
family, there are no good schools, just better and worse schools.
LJ
have the option not to go. There really are parents of school children
who really love and care for their children. Not all children in school
feel they need to be like everyone else. Since no school can be like a
family, there are no good schools, just better and worse schools.
LJ
Lisa Fuller
I also want to add that school is sometimes a lifesaver for children. These
children come from stressed families with a multitude of problems, of
course, but school is the only safe place, the only place they get a meal,
and the teacher is the only consistant person in thier lives. Not all
parents are responsible and loving and the schools can help children in
need.
Another instance is with children with handicaps (mental, physical,
multiple, etc.). School gives these parents a much needed break and access
to resources that would otherwise be difficult to find.
I do know kids who love school and thrive in the environment. And I know
parents who should not home/unschool. It is about choices, not proving our
choice is better for everyone, just better for us.
Lisa F.
linjoy w wrote:
children come from stressed families with a multitude of problems, of
course, but school is the only safe place, the only place they get a meal,
and the teacher is the only consistant person in thier lives. Not all
parents are responsible and loving and the schools can help children in
need.
Another instance is with children with handicaps (mental, physical,
multiple, etc.). School gives these parents a much needed break and access
to resources that would otherwise be difficult to find.
I do know kids who love school and thrive in the environment. And I know
parents who should not home/unschool. It is about choices, not proving our
choice is better for everyone, just better for us.
Lisa F.
linjoy w wrote:
> From: linjoy w <linjoy1@...>
>
> There really are children who enjoy going to school. Including many who
> have the option not to go. There really are parents of school children
> who really love and care for their children. Not all children in school
> feel they need to be like everyone else. Since no school can be like a
> family, there are no good schools, just better and worse schools.
> LJ
>
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rick and deborah farrington
now there is some good advise......
MORELFAM@... wrote:
MORELFAM@... wrote:
> From: MORELFAM@...
>
> regarding emac's question on your 10yr old, we have a 10yr old daughter too.
> your question made me wonder if you knew her motivation for wanting to go? i
> try to keep the discussion open, but focus on the reasons-- like you
> mentioned, curiosity--feeling left out, whatever. my daughter and i joke
> about having a field trip to school, but actually that would not be a bad
> idea! if you have a friend her age who attends a private school, they would
> probably allow something, even if it was just a partial day. or see about
> sitting in on a class together with her. they would probably allow it if
> they thought you were considering attending. opening up the discussion with
> my daughter occasionally about how she might feel odd not knowing what school
> is really like and empathizing with her curiousity may be all it takes to
> move off the issue! dont we sometimes say things just to bring up an idea,
> not to neccesarily take action on it? maybe she would like an
> email/homeschool penpal! or other ways to make her feel connected to our
> cultural subgroup :)!
> erin
>
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[email protected]
In a message dated 8/21/99 1:13:05 PM, honeybee@... writes:
<< i think your daughter learned the truth for her self. >>
Which was my point :-) albeit put rather badly.
I always said I'd let her go if she wanted to. Which isn't to say I wasn't
nervous. I was worried that the praise of school and being around all the
other kids would blind her to the subtle damage that schools can do.
Fortunately my trust paid off and she was able to see the bad parts and weigh
them against the good parts and eventually come to a decision all on her own.
I guess I'd be very uncomfortable telling my daughter my opinion of the
damage schools do and then leaving her to face all her friends who go to
school. How could she reconcile what I was saying with what her friends were
saying about school and with how they behaved? (They're still young so they
still rather like school.)
So, I guess I'd suggest letting your (emac's) daughter go. It's empowering
for her to be able to make such a huge decision for herself. I think you can
trust the dullness of meaningless homework, forced changing of subjects each
hour, the lack of choice in what to study, the attitudes of peers, the
isolation by age group to overwhelm the attraction of being with so many
other kids. I'd watch for the subtle indoctrination of believing learning is
for grades, and that peer opinions out weigh her own opinions and devaluing
of family opinions.
Joyce
<< i think your daughter learned the truth for her self. >>
Which was my point :-) albeit put rather badly.
I always said I'd let her go if she wanted to. Which isn't to say I wasn't
nervous. I was worried that the praise of school and being around all the
other kids would blind her to the subtle damage that schools can do.
Fortunately my trust paid off and she was able to see the bad parts and weigh
them against the good parts and eventually come to a decision all on her own.
I guess I'd be very uncomfortable telling my daughter my opinion of the
damage schools do and then leaving her to face all her friends who go to
school. How could she reconcile what I was saying with what her friends were
saying about school and with how they behaved? (They're still young so they
still rather like school.)
So, I guess I'd suggest letting your (emac's) daughter go. It's empowering
for her to be able to make such a huge decision for herself. I think you can
trust the dullness of meaningless homework, forced changing of subjects each
hour, the lack of choice in what to study, the attitudes of peers, the
isolation by age group to overwhelm the attraction of being with so many
other kids. I'd watch for the subtle indoctrination of believing learning is
for grades, and that peer opinions out weigh her own opinions and devaluing
of family opinions.
Joyce
Olivia
The woman who runs the homeschooling group we are in has one son
homeschooling and one who chose to go back to school after being at home
for about 2 years. The one in school seems to recognize all the downfalls
of school (boring classes, repetitive assignments, mean groups of kids, to
name a few that he has mentioned to his mom), yet he still chose to go
again this fall, even though his brother chose to stay home again. I guess
they each have different needs.
Olivia
At 05:52 PM 08/21/1999 -0700, you wrote:
homeschooling and one who chose to go back to school after being at home
for about 2 years. The one in school seems to recognize all the downfalls
of school (boring classes, repetitive assignments, mean groups of kids, to
name a few that he has mentioned to his mom), yet he still chose to go
again this fall, even though his brother chose to stay home again. I guess
they each have different needs.
Olivia
At 05:52 PM 08/21/1999 -0700, you wrote:
>From: linjoy w <linjoy1@...>
>
>There really are children who enjoy going to school. Including many who
>have the option not to go. There really are parents of school children
>who really love and care for their children. Not all children in school
>feel they need to be like everyone else. Since no school can be like a
>family, there are no good schools, just better and worse schools.
>LJ
>
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>
>ONElist now has T-SHIRTS!
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><a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/tshirt1 ">Click Here</a>
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[email protected]
In a message dated 8/21/99 7:49:02 PM, Sam926@... writes:
<< I'm ashamed to say that I don't even try to reason with these people
anymore.....they have no confidence in their own abilities...they have no
confidence in their children's abilities...and when I (used to) talk about
unschooling, they looked at me like I was crazy. I KNOW that by discussing
this I might "convert" someone, but how long do you have to try?
Sam
learning will tell the story best. there needn't be any pressure to
"evangelize" people to home/unschooling...
i, too, sometimes share the feeling that we could/should be doing more to let
people know that there are wonderful alternatives to their misery, but i
remind myself that i cannot change them til they are fed up with their
situation/ ready for change. then they will be asking... each of us sharing
with others who are interested and drawn to our style will share in the most
natural way. people are more impressed with our actions than our words,
right?
erin
<< I'm ashamed to say that I don't even try to reason with these people
anymore.....they have no confidence in their own abilities...they have no
confidence in their children's abilities...and when I (used to) talk about
unschooling, they looked at me like I was crazy. I KNOW that by discussing
this I might "convert" someone, but how long do you have to try?
Sam
>>remember that you dont have to "try" at all! just your joyful living and
learning will tell the story best. there needn't be any pressure to
"evangelize" people to home/unschooling...
i, too, sometimes share the feeling that we could/should be doing more to let
people know that there are wonderful alternatives to their misery, but i
remind myself that i cannot change them til they are fed up with their
situation/ ready for change. then they will be asking... each of us sharing
with others who are interested and drawn to our style will share in the most
natural way. people are more impressed with our actions than our words,
right?
erin
[email protected]
regarding emac's question on your 10yr old, we have a 10yr old daughter too.
your question made me wonder if you knew her motivation for wanting to go? i
try to keep the discussion open, but focus on the reasons-- like you
mentioned, curiosity--feeling left out, whatever. my daughter and i joke
about having a field trip to school, but actually that would not be a bad
idea! if you have a friend her age who attends a private school, they would
probably allow something, even if it was just a partial day. or see about
sitting in on a class together with her. they would probably allow it if
they thought you were considering attending. opening up the discussion with
my daughter occasionally about how she might feel odd not knowing what school
is really like and empathizing with her curiousity may be all it takes to
move off the issue! dont we sometimes say things just to bring up an idea,
not to neccesarily take action on it? maybe she would like an
email/homeschool penpal! or other ways to make her feel connected to our
cultural subgroup :)!
erin
your question made me wonder if you knew her motivation for wanting to go? i
try to keep the discussion open, but focus on the reasons-- like you
mentioned, curiosity--feeling left out, whatever. my daughter and i joke
about having a field trip to school, but actually that would not be a bad
idea! if you have a friend her age who attends a private school, they would
probably allow something, even if it was just a partial day. or see about
sitting in on a class together with her. they would probably allow it if
they thought you were considering attending. opening up the discussion with
my daughter occasionally about how she might feel odd not knowing what school
is really like and empathizing with her curiousity may be all it takes to
move off the issue! dont we sometimes say things just to bring up an idea,
not to neccesarily take action on it? maybe she would like an
email/homeschool penpal! or other ways to make her feel connected to our
cultural subgroup :)!
erin
[email protected]
Thanks for the replies.It has given me something to think about. Our school year starts in February and I've told my daughter she will have to wait until then. Although she is not going on about it, she will refer to "when I go back to school...".I like the idea that she may "find" other homeschoolers via the online community. She enjoys writing . There seems to be enormous pressure to conform to the 'school' model.Up until now I haven't really taken it on board , but lately I have felt that friends and family that encouraged me to take the step in the first place have now done an about turn. I feel as if I'm not doing my job well enough in their eyes. It's something I'm working through and have really appreciated this online support.
[email protected]
In a message dated 8/22/99 5:56:59 PM EST, eifuller@... writes:
<< I also want to add that school is sometimes a lifesaver for children. These
children come from stressed families with a multitude of problems, of
course, but school is the only safe place, the only place they get a meal,
and the teacher is the only consistant person in thier lives. Not all
parents are responsible and loving and the schools can help children in
need. >>
I can "ditto" this from experience. I was one of these children. I thrived
in school -- okay not in the sense that we all hope our children thrive in
unschooling. But it was the very best thing offerred in my situation. I
went through multiple marriages with each of my parents, and had parents who
placed their own drug and alcohol abuse above the love and care of their
children (Don't even get me started on the undertow of co-dependent tides
which nearly carried us all out to sea!).
For me, school was my constant. School was where I felt loved, special,
important. I could be anyone and do anything. But, I must also admit, that
I feel I had very good teachers. At least the not-so-good ones have been
blocked out over the years! I had teachers whom I knew I could go to with
anything -- even if it had nothing to do with school. They were mentors.
They were friends. In many instances, they were parents. I do not feel that
my parents could have done a better job by homeschooling me. They were too
selfish and immature at the time -- and very young. But, at the same time, I
do not hesitate to believe that I can do a better job for my daughter. I
believe it is all relative. You must look at the whole situation and
determine what is best for the children. For me, it definitely would not
have been homeschooling -- unless it had been done by someone other than my
parents.
Now, there's a thought -- I wonder, have any of you unschooled or are any of
you unschooling any children who are not your own? How did it come about?
Would you do it again?
Candice in OK
<< I also want to add that school is sometimes a lifesaver for children. These
children come from stressed families with a multitude of problems, of
course, but school is the only safe place, the only place they get a meal,
and the teacher is the only consistant person in thier lives. Not all
parents are responsible and loving and the schools can help children in
need. >>
I can "ditto" this from experience. I was one of these children. I thrived
in school -- okay not in the sense that we all hope our children thrive in
unschooling. But it was the very best thing offerred in my situation. I
went through multiple marriages with each of my parents, and had parents who
placed their own drug and alcohol abuse above the love and care of their
children (Don't even get me started on the undertow of co-dependent tides
which nearly carried us all out to sea!).
For me, school was my constant. School was where I felt loved, special,
important. I could be anyone and do anything. But, I must also admit, that
I feel I had very good teachers. At least the not-so-good ones have been
blocked out over the years! I had teachers whom I knew I could go to with
anything -- even if it had nothing to do with school. They were mentors.
They were friends. In many instances, they were parents. I do not feel that
my parents could have done a better job by homeschooling me. They were too
selfish and immature at the time -- and very young. But, at the same time, I
do not hesitate to believe that I can do a better job for my daughter. I
believe it is all relative. You must look at the whole situation and
determine what is best for the children. For me, it definitely would not
have been homeschooling -- unless it had been done by someone other than my
parents.
Now, there's a thought -- I wonder, have any of you unschooled or are any of
you unschooling any children who are not your own? How did it come about?
Would you do it again?
Candice in OK
Joel Hawthorne
It is important for me (son of a school teacher) to remember that school is not
prison for all kids......well it is...... but for some kids that equals a safer,
happier place than home.... a sorry state of affairs but true nonetheless. I also
remember that there was the occasional teacher who treated children with respect
and caring not just authoritarian bullying ( the rule in my experience). I have
known very compassionate individuals who are school teachers. Their presence like
kind-hearted guards in prison can make the place bearable when it might otherwise
be the death of some people. It doesn't excuse the institutionalized brutality
and cruelty of the system as a whole but it does give it a more human face.
Cstewart73@... wrote:
best wishes
Joel
All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
Work together to reinvent justice using methods that are fair; which conserve,
restore and even create harmony, equity and good will in society i.e. restorative
justice.
We are the prisoners of the prisoners we have taken - J. Clegg
http://www.cerj.org
prison for all kids......well it is...... but for some kids that equals a safer,
happier place than home.... a sorry state of affairs but true nonetheless. I also
remember that there was the occasional teacher who treated children with respect
and caring not just authoritarian bullying ( the rule in my experience). I have
known very compassionate individuals who are school teachers. Their presence like
kind-hearted guards in prison can make the place bearable when it might otherwise
be the death of some people. It doesn't excuse the institutionalized brutality
and cruelty of the system as a whole but it does give it a more human face.
Cstewart73@... wrote:
> From: Cstewart73@...--
>
> In a message dated 8/22/99 5:56:59 PM EST, eifuller@... writes:
>
> << I also want to add that school is sometimes a lifesaver for children. These
> children come from stressed families with a multitude of problems, of
> course, but school is the only safe place, the only place they get a meal,
> and the teacher is the only consistant person in thier lives. Not all
> parents are responsible and loving and the schools can help children in
> need. >>
>
> I can "ditto" this from experience. I was one of these children. I thrived
> in school -- okay not in the sense that we all hope our children thrive in
> unschooling. But it was the very best thing offerred in my situation. I
> went through multiple marriages with each of my parents, and had parents who
> placed their own drug and alcohol abuse above the love and care of their
> children (Don't even get me started on the undertow of co-dependent tides
> which nearly carried us all out to sea!).
>
> For me, school was my constant. School was where I felt loved, special,
> important. I could be anyone and do anything. But, I must also admit, that
> I feel I had very good teachers. At least the not-so-good ones have been
> blocked out over the years! I had teachers whom I knew I could go to with
> anything -- even if it had nothing to do with school. They were mentors.
> They were friends. In many instances, they were parents. I do not feel that
> my parents could have done a better job by homeschooling me. They were too
> selfish and immature at the time -- and very young. But, at the same time, I
> do not hesitate to believe that I can do a better job for my daughter. I
> believe it is all relative. You must look at the whole situation and
> determine what is best for the children. For me, it definitely would not
> have been homeschooling -- unless it had been done by someone other than my
> parents.
>
> Now, there's a thought -- I wonder, have any of you unschooled or are any of
> you unschooling any children who are not your own? How did it come about?
> Would you do it again?
>
> Candice in OK
>
> --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
>
> ONElist: your connection to online communities.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Check it out!
> http://www.unschooling.com
best wishes
Joel
All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
Work together to reinvent justice using methods that are fair; which conserve,
restore and even create harmony, equity and good will in society i.e. restorative
justice.
We are the prisoners of the prisoners we have taken - J. Clegg
http://www.cerj.org