[email protected]
[email protected]
***If he really wants the school experience for the
reasons you mentioned, that shouldn't include stress on the part of the
parent over him being at "grade level".***
I think the parent is more stressed that *her child* is stressed over not being at "grade level." The thing is, it's not a matter of being slightly "behind" (according to the school's definition of grade level), it's a matter of being *years* behind in his understanding of math and grammar and pretty basic concepts.
Now, mind you, I don't believe in that whole grade level perspective and don't think it applies to real life at all, but it unfortunately does apply to life in school, so if a child is deciding to go to school it's something to address.
***Sounds like the mother is using the convenient scapegoat of unschooling when
she may not have fully trusted it in the first place.***
Well, she's not blaming unschooling since she didn't really identify with that philosophy anyway. I don't even think she's looking for a scapegoat, actually.
She's just having some misguided regrets, I think.
The whole thing is bringing me back to contemplating the difference between educational neglect and unschooling.
I'm thinking that the difference between unschooling and mere lack of curriculum is that with unschooling the parents are more proactive about exposing their kids to lots of things and having a rich enough environment and enough communication between parents and children that the children will end up culturally literate anyway. I'm thinking that mabye the problem wasn't lack of curriculum and formal "lessons" (as the detractors will say) but actually lack of effective strewing and communication.
Thanks for helping me think about this.
Patti
reasons you mentioned, that shouldn't include stress on the part of the
parent over him being at "grade level".***
I think the parent is more stressed that *her child* is stressed over not being at "grade level." The thing is, it's not a matter of being slightly "behind" (according to the school's definition of grade level), it's a matter of being *years* behind in his understanding of math and grammar and pretty basic concepts.
Now, mind you, I don't believe in that whole grade level perspective and don't think it applies to real life at all, but it unfortunately does apply to life in school, so if a child is deciding to go to school it's something to address.
***Sounds like the mother is using the convenient scapegoat of unschooling when
she may not have fully trusted it in the first place.***
Well, she's not blaming unschooling since she didn't really identify with that philosophy anyway. I don't even think she's looking for a scapegoat, actually.
She's just having some misguided regrets, I think.
The whole thing is bringing me back to contemplating the difference between educational neglect and unschooling.
I'm thinking that the difference between unschooling and mere lack of curriculum is that with unschooling the parents are more proactive about exposing their kids to lots of things and having a rich enough environment and enough communication between parents and children that the children will end up culturally literate anyway. I'm thinking that mabye the problem wasn't lack of curriculum and formal "lessons" (as the detractors will say) but actually lack of effective strewing and communication.
Thanks for helping me think about this.
Patti
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/19/2002 5:30:28 PM Eastern Standard Time,
patti.schmidt2@... writes:
all use proper grammar (or close) when talking with our children. I
occasionally "listen in" on some school-at-homer (doh!) groups. Their grammar
is regularly horrendous---and I mean REALLY bad!. OK, so if they're TEACHING
their children THEIR own grammar (hell, if they're just TALKING daily), how
are the kids supposed to have any concept of what's correct?---and what'll be
the consequences if they do go to school?
Math? Hard to say on an email list! <g> But basic concepts? I think that when
the moms are busy teaching---and they're wrong, then the children are being
"taught" what's wrong. When a child is LEARNING, he's more capable of finding
the RIGHT ways to do things and learning "right".
Was that clear? ;-/
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
patti.schmidt2@... writes:
> understanding of math and grammar and pretty basic concepts.You know, this group has a pretty good handle on grammar. And I supposed we
>
all use proper grammar (or close) when talking with our children. I
occasionally "listen in" on some school-at-homer (doh!) groups. Their grammar
is regularly horrendous---and I mean REALLY bad!. OK, so if they're TEACHING
their children THEIR own grammar (hell, if they're just TALKING daily), how
are the kids supposed to have any concept of what's correct?---and what'll be
the consequences if they do go to school?
Math? Hard to say on an email list! <g> But basic concepts? I think that when
the moms are busy teaching---and they're wrong, then the children are being
"taught" what's wrong. When a child is LEARNING, he's more capable of finding
the RIGHT ways to do things and learning "right".
Was that clear? ;-/
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/19/2002 5:04:38 PM Central Standard Time,
kbcdlovejo@... writes:
Horrible, I mean, horrible. (I'm not that great a writer, either.) I
attribute it to laziness most of the time. It's something I need to work on.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
kbcdlovejo@... writes:
> Their grammarI have horrible grammar when speaking, especially in chit-chat situations.
> is regularly horrendous---and I mean REALLY bad!. OK, so if they're
> TEACHING
> their children THEIR own grammar (hell, if they're just TALKING daily), how
>
> are the kids supposed to have any concept of what's correct?---and what'll
> be
> the consequences if they do go to school?
>
Horrible, I mean, horrible. (I'm not that great a writer, either.) I
attribute it to laziness most of the time. It's something I need to work on.
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/19/2002 7:35:55 PM Eastern Standard Time,
tuckervill@... writes:
Your writing's fine. Have you BEEN on a school-at-homers (doh!) list?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
tuckervill@... writes:
> I have horrible grammar when speaking, especially in chit-chat situations.I've talked with you. I don't remember anything horrible.
> Horrible, I mean, horrible. (I'm not that great a writer, either.) I
> attribute it to laziness most of the time. It's something I need to work
> on.
Your writing's fine. Have you BEEN on a school-at-homers (doh!) list?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/19/2002 6:42:45 PM Central Standard Time,
kbcdlovejo@... writes:
I know what you're talking about. ;)
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
kbcdlovejo@... writes:
> I've talked with you. I don't remember anything horrible.Thanks, Kelly. ;) Actually, on the school-at-homers (doh!) boards on AOL.
>
> Your writing's fine. Have you BEEN on a school-at-homers (doh!) list?
>
I know what you're talking about. ;)
Tuck
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/19/02 7:35:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
tuckervill@... writes:
<beg>
Elissa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
tuckervill@... writes:
> Horrible, I mean, horrible. (I'm not that great a writer, either.) II just thought it was due to being from Tennessee!
> attribute it to laziness most of the time
<beg>
Elissa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Myranda
Hey, I resemble that remark! <g>
Myranda
From: Earthmomma67@...
I just thought it was due to being from Tennessee!
<beg>
Elissa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Myranda
From: Earthmomma67@...
I just thought it was due to being from Tennessee!
<beg>
Elissa
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]