Alan & Brenda Leonard

Sandra Dodd wrote:

> Just plain vanilla unschooling

Of all the things I ever dreamed I'd hear from Sandra Dodd, this has to take
the cake! I doubt that unschooling could EVER be plain vanilla! <grin!>

brenda

[email protected]

In a message dated 6/1/02 8:23:17 PM Central Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:

<<
However, I don't think anyone would disagree that there are truly disabled
people who exist. >>

I disagree.
There are people with disabilities, some massive. But short of being a total
vegetable from brain damage, there are just people with varying disabilities.
My writer friend, Marsha, would be offended if you told her she was disabled,
even though she is confined to a wheelchair for life.
She lives with disabilities, to say she's disabled implies her whole being.
She writes beautifully and leads a full, rich life.
OTOH, I suppose an unhappy person could be labeled disabled.
???
Ren

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In a message dated 6/1/02 8:23:17 PM Central Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:

<< <> >>

Neural pathways are being grown at an amazing rate the first five years.
By age 8, we are basically hard wired for life. Now how we use that "hard
wiring" has a lot to do with whether or not the person in question continues
with the desire to learn.
You can quit using neural pathways that grew, you can spark neural pathways
into use, but you don't grow them later.

Ren

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In a message dated 6/1/02 8:23:17 PM Central Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:

<< I'm not arguing the fact that babies learn an incredible amount.
I'm debating the assumption that we must get it all in in
these "magical" early years or our abilities somehow diminish. >>

Well....
If you don't grow enough neural pathways our ability for the rest of our
lives is limited. The first five years is hugely important.
I think you are assuming a nurturing, loving environment in which the parent
IS assisting that neural development and saying that we continue to learn for
life.
I don't like this "baby genius" type of push, and products to go with it.
But I don't think it means that those early years aren't very important as
far as stimulation in the form of talk, play etc... go.
I'm assuming you are looking at healthy families though, and all things being
equal, the parent doesn't need to stress out over the early years, versus any
other years, because in a healthy environment, the child is being stimulated
by a caring parent that meets it's needs in both the early years and for
always.
Ren