Unschooling with a Distributed Learning Program?
Ingrid Bauer/Jean-Claude Catry
Hi all,
For those who don't know, a "distributed learning program" is a program that goes through the school system in which the school receives the same funding as for a regular student, and a teacher is assigned to meet with the parent to oversee home-based learning. It may (or may not) be a Canadian thing. The purpose i believe is for schools to draw homeschoolers to get more funding for their school from the ministry.
Anyways, there's a program offered at a small local alternative school where i registered my 7yo son as a "homeschooler" last year. The only reason i would join is that they offer $1300 per year to spend on "homelearning supplies" which includes books, games, "fieldtrips", lessons, musical instruments, sports and computer equipment etc--pretty open. We live on a very low income so this would be a big bonus. Other parents have bought pianos, computers, cameras, cool art supplies, a year's worth of music lessons etc.
He could also participate if he wishes in the school play, field trips and an hour per week of parent-led "explorations" (anything from pottery to rocket-building) but he can do this anyway as a registered homeschooler. So the only advantage is the money and a few extras like library use at a near-by bigger school, weekly homeschoolers gym, ocassional science workshops and special speakers/mentors etc.
What's required is that I meet with the teacher 3 times per year to discuss a "learning plan" (yes, we plan to learn :-)) and to discuss whether he has met provincial learning outcomes (things like "can count to 100", "understands a story that is read to him" and similar ilk). It basically means speaking a bit of educationese, showing her a couple of things we've been doing (a few drawings or a photograph of child feeding the chickens etc is accepted).
My son never has to meet her. She seems pretty open and accepting of unschooling ideas, as far as she understands them. I know a few parents who have done the program from the school at homers to very loose unschoolish types and so far the handful of people i've talked to are happy with it. Apparently the teacher is satisfied with answers like "we haven't done that", "he can't count that far" and "i don't believe in early reading if the child doesn't want to".
But i'm still a little wary and dh is pretty suspicious and concerned about possibility of the government getting their fingers in our child's affairs. I'm uncomfortable with the idea of answering to anyone about my son's learning but we kind of see it as a silly hoop to jump through to get the benefits. We can of course quit at any time, so i'm seriously considering it. Our son is totally willing as long as it doesn't affect what he does.
Does anyone here have experience or feedback on working with such a program as a life learner/unschooler? Comments welcome!
warmly,
ingrid
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
For those who don't know, a "distributed learning program" is a program that goes through the school system in which the school receives the same funding as for a regular student, and a teacher is assigned to meet with the parent to oversee home-based learning. It may (or may not) be a Canadian thing. The purpose i believe is for schools to draw homeschoolers to get more funding for their school from the ministry.
Anyways, there's a program offered at a small local alternative school where i registered my 7yo son as a "homeschooler" last year. The only reason i would join is that they offer $1300 per year to spend on "homelearning supplies" which includes books, games, "fieldtrips", lessons, musical instruments, sports and computer equipment etc--pretty open. We live on a very low income so this would be a big bonus. Other parents have bought pianos, computers, cameras, cool art supplies, a year's worth of music lessons etc.
He could also participate if he wishes in the school play, field trips and an hour per week of parent-led "explorations" (anything from pottery to rocket-building) but he can do this anyway as a registered homeschooler. So the only advantage is the money and a few extras like library use at a near-by bigger school, weekly homeschoolers gym, ocassional science workshops and special speakers/mentors etc.
What's required is that I meet with the teacher 3 times per year to discuss a "learning plan" (yes, we plan to learn :-)) and to discuss whether he has met provincial learning outcomes (things like "can count to 100", "understands a story that is read to him" and similar ilk). It basically means speaking a bit of educationese, showing her a couple of things we've been doing (a few drawings or a photograph of child feeding the chickens etc is accepted).
My son never has to meet her. She seems pretty open and accepting of unschooling ideas, as far as she understands them. I know a few parents who have done the program from the school at homers to very loose unschoolish types and so far the handful of people i've talked to are happy with it. Apparently the teacher is satisfied with answers like "we haven't done that", "he can't count that far" and "i don't believe in early reading if the child doesn't want to".
But i'm still a little wary and dh is pretty suspicious and concerned about possibility of the government getting their fingers in our child's affairs. I'm uncomfortable with the idea of answering to anyone about my son's learning but we kind of see it as a silly hoop to jump through to get the benefits. We can of course quit at any time, so i'm seriously considering it. Our son is totally willing as long as it doesn't affect what he does.
Does anyone here have experience or feedback on working with such a program as a life learner/unschooler? Comments welcome!
warmly,
ingrid
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Kelli Traaseth
Will there be any kind of testing going on?
The reason I ask is because there is this type of program in the community I used to live in. A friend of mine enrolled their 2 daughters in the program for some of the same reasons you mentioned-- resources galore.
But, there was testing. I believe that my friend knew about the testing but didn't think it would be a big deal. But when testing did come around, one of her daughters really was troubled with it. If the kids didn't test at a certain level the funding would be questioned. Because then the "learning cooperative" wouldn't be meeting the state standards.
After having to do this testing, the one daughter who was having a hard time with it really questioned her own learning and abilities. It was very sad.
So that is one experience with it. I guess it depends on the program.
Kelli~
Does anyone here have experience or feedback on working with such a program as a life learner/unschooler? Comments welcome!
warmly,
ingrid
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
The reason I ask is because there is this type of program in the community I used to live in. A friend of mine enrolled their 2 daughters in the program for some of the same reasons you mentioned-- resources galore.
But, there was testing. I believe that my friend knew about the testing but didn't think it would be a big deal. But when testing did come around, one of her daughters really was troubled with it. If the kids didn't test at a certain level the funding would be questioned. Because then the "learning cooperative" wouldn't be meeting the state standards.
After having to do this testing, the one daughter who was having a hard time with it really questioned her own learning and abilities. It was very sad.
So that is one experience with it. I guess it depends on the program.
Kelli~
Does anyone here have experience or feedback on working with such a program as a life learner/unschooler? Comments welcome!
warmly,
ingrid
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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[email protected]
In a message dated 8/14/04 9:44:22 AM, instinct@... writes:
<< We can of course quit at any time, so i'm seriously considering it. >>
What's the deal on giving back their $1300?
I figure those programs start off loose and add more and more rules as time
goes on, so if you and get in on one while it's still fresh and loose, and
drop out when it's not worth it, that's an advantage.
-=-Does anyone here have experience or feedback on working with such a
program as a life learner/unschooler? Comments welcome!-=-
There's a political tussle among some of the upper-level kind of
homeschooling movers and shakers about whether those who register with a program should
still be considered homeschoolers. Some say no, some say yes. The related
arguments to consider are that if someone is still a homeschooler even though he
uses ABeka or Sonlight or Calvert or Oak Meadow or Clonlara, because they've
bought a kit but they aren't registered with a school system, why is he NOT a
homeschooler for registering with a school system? If they don't provide a
curriculum, or test kids or make them do things against their will, is it still
homeschooling?
It's not the easy answer it looks like at first.
There are programs in California like the one you're describing. When the
liason person understands unschooling, and there's money available for a piano
or dance lessons or something expensive like that, but the child is still
learning naturally from all the world around, I don't personally see it as evil.
But it is, technically, an alternative school program.
Different people homeschool for different reasons. For me, it's not
political. It's more a wholeness and emotional health thing. I wanted Kirby to be
whole and unbroken by other kids and by teachers who wanted him to conform. He's
18 now; it worked.
I care about how children learn and live, not about what the statistics of
the government are, or how state taxes are disbursed. That's just me. Some
others feel more strongly and more politically, I know.
Sandra
<< We can of course quit at any time, so i'm seriously considering it. >>
What's the deal on giving back their $1300?
I figure those programs start off loose and add more and more rules as time
goes on, so if you and get in on one while it's still fresh and loose, and
drop out when it's not worth it, that's an advantage.
-=-Does anyone here have experience or feedback on working with such a
program as a life learner/unschooler? Comments welcome!-=-
There's a political tussle among some of the upper-level kind of
homeschooling movers and shakers about whether those who register with a program should
still be considered homeschoolers. Some say no, some say yes. The related
arguments to consider are that if someone is still a homeschooler even though he
uses ABeka or Sonlight or Calvert or Oak Meadow or Clonlara, because they've
bought a kit but they aren't registered with a school system, why is he NOT a
homeschooler for registering with a school system? If they don't provide a
curriculum, or test kids or make them do things against their will, is it still
homeschooling?
It's not the easy answer it looks like at first.
There are programs in California like the one you're describing. When the
liason person understands unschooling, and there's money available for a piano
or dance lessons or something expensive like that, but the child is still
learning naturally from all the world around, I don't personally see it as evil.
But it is, technically, an alternative school program.
Different people homeschool for different reasons. For me, it's not
political. It's more a wholeness and emotional health thing. I wanted Kirby to be
whole and unbroken by other kids and by teachers who wanted him to conform. He's
18 now; it worked.
I care about how children learn and live, not about what the statistics of
the government are, or how state taxes are disbursed. That's just me. Some
others feel more strongly and more politically, I know.
Sandra
eriksmama2001
My goal is less to be "unschooling" (by anyone's definition, even my
own) than to be trusting of my son's innate ability to choose his own
path of learning. I see my role as facilitator, guide, resource, but
mainly to prevent obstructing his path with my own ideas of what or
how it is best for him to learn. So, I guess I am more of
an "unobstructionist" to his natural love of learning wherever and
however that may lead him. I like the phrase "desire-directed
learning" more than "unschooling". It seems to proactively embrace
the inherent joy of learning.
Unschooling limits one in relation to the history of schooling.
Trusting people to know what and how they want to live and learn is
more encompassing than schooling or unschooling. The key attitudinal
change is trusting others rather than fearing for others. Trust is a
more universal life lesson than how or where to learn.
Pat
--- In [email protected], "Ingrid Bauer/Jean-
Claude Catry" <instinct@s...> wrote:
receives the same funding as for a regular student, and a teacher is
assigned to meet with the parent to oversee home-based learning. It
may (or may not) be a Canadian thing. The purpose i believe is for
schools to draw homeschoolers to get more funding for their school
from the ministry.
The only reason i would join is that they offer $1300 per year to
spend on "homelearning supplies" which includes books,
games, "fieldtrips", lessons, musical instruments, sports and
computer equipment etc--pretty open. We live on a very low income so
this would be a big bonus. Other parents have bought pianos,
computers, cameras, cool art supplies, a year's worth of music
lessons etc.
from pottery to rocket-building) but he can do this anyway as a
registered homeschooler. So the only advantage is the money and a few
extras like library use at a near-by bigger school, weekly
homeschoolers gym, ocassional science workshops and special
speakers/mentors etc.
whether he has met provincial learning outcomes (things like "can
count to 100", "understands a story that is read to him" and similar
ilk). It basically means speaking a bit of educationese, showing her
a couple of things we've been doing (a few drawings or a photograph
of child feeding the chickens etc is accepted).
parents who have done the program from the school at homers to very
loose unschoolish types and so far the handful of people i've talked
to are happy with it. Apparently the teacher is satisfied with
answers like "we haven't done that", "he can't count that far" and "i
don't believe in early reading if the child doesn't want to".
in our child's affairs. I'm uncomfortable with the idea of answering
to anyone about my son's learning but we kind of see it as a silly
hoop to jump through to get the benefits. We can of course quit at
any time, so i'm seriously considering it. Our son is totally willing
as long as it doesn't affect what he does.
own) than to be trusting of my son's innate ability to choose his own
path of learning. I see my role as facilitator, guide, resource, but
mainly to prevent obstructing his path with my own ideas of what or
how it is best for him to learn. So, I guess I am more of
an "unobstructionist" to his natural love of learning wherever and
however that may lead him. I like the phrase "desire-directed
learning" more than "unschooling". It seems to proactively embrace
the inherent joy of learning.
Unschooling limits one in relation to the history of schooling.
Trusting people to know what and how they want to live and learn is
more encompassing than schooling or unschooling. The key attitudinal
change is trusting others rather than fearing for others. Trust is a
more universal life lesson than how or where to learn.
Pat
--- In [email protected], "Ingrid Bauer/Jean-
Claude Catry" <instinct@s...> wrote:
> Hi all,program that goes through the school system in which the school
>
> For those who don't know, a "distributed learning program" is a
receives the same funding as for a regular student, and a teacher is
assigned to meet with the parent to oversee home-based learning. It
may (or may not) be a Canadian thing. The purpose i believe is for
schools to draw homeschoolers to get more funding for their school
from the ministry.
>school where i registered my 7yo son as a "homeschooler" last year.
> Anyways, there's a program offered at a small local alternative
The only reason i would join is that they offer $1300 per year to
spend on "homelearning supplies" which includes books,
games, "fieldtrips", lessons, musical instruments, sports and
computer equipment etc--pretty open. We live on a very low income so
this would be a big bonus. Other parents have bought pianos,
computers, cameras, cool art supplies, a year's worth of music
lessons etc.
>trips and an hour per week of parent-led "explorations" (anything
> He could also participate if he wishes in the school play, field
from pottery to rocket-building) but he can do this anyway as a
registered homeschooler. So the only advantage is the money and a few
extras like library use at a near-by bigger school, weekly
homeschoolers gym, ocassional science workshops and special
speakers/mentors etc.
>discuss a "learning plan" (yes, we plan to learn :-)) and to discuss
> What's required is that I meet with the teacher 3 times per year to
whether he has met provincial learning outcomes (things like "can
count to 100", "understands a story that is read to him" and similar
ilk). It basically means speaking a bit of educationese, showing her
a couple of things we've been doing (a few drawings or a photograph
of child feeding the chickens etc is accepted).
>of unschooling ideas, as far as she understands them. I know a few
> My son never has to meet her. She seems pretty open and accepting
parents who have done the program from the school at homers to very
loose unschoolish types and so far the handful of people i've talked
to are happy with it. Apparently the teacher is satisfied with
answers like "we haven't done that", "he can't count that far" and "i
don't believe in early reading if the child doesn't want to".
>concerned about possibility of the government getting their fingers
> But i'm still a little wary and dh is pretty suspicious and
in our child's affairs. I'm uncomfortable with the idea of answering
to anyone about my son's learning but we kind of see it as a silly
hoop to jump through to get the benefits. We can of course quit at
any time, so i'm seriously considering it. Our son is totally willing
as long as it doesn't affect what he does.
>program as a life learner/unschooler? Comments welcome!
> Does anyone here have experience or feedback on working with such a
>
> warmly,
> ingrid
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tosca
Hiyas Ingrid,
I am speaking as a single mom who has is still discovering that what I
call my life as a homeschooling mom comes under the heading
unschooling.
That being said I will tell you tho we have always been poor my
daughter is still thriving. We have never had a budget for 'schooling"
and so indeed have missed out on regular on going classes and some
formal programs that surely we might have enjoyed but our lives are
not bare our supplies straight from the $1 store and other every
day life experiences over flow.
One mom said this: "I was in charters for years spent all my $$ on
supplies that are now stocked in my garage. So I can leave and not
feel a pinch heheheheh"
I always thought I would join a charter tho I am totally happy now
without one. When I started looking into them last year I felt just
like you about opening that door of total control to strangers or some
program I think it's just normal.
But it seems you have a handle on what it could mean to your family
and therefore are in a great position to decide if the hoops are worth
the perks.
Take care
Tosca
--- In [email protected], "Ingrid
... "distributed learning program"......Does anyone here have
experience or feedback on working with such a
program as a life learner/unschooler? Comments welcome!warmly,
ingrid
I am speaking as a single mom who has is still discovering that what I
call my life as a homeschooling mom comes under the heading
unschooling.
That being said I will tell you tho we have always been poor my
daughter is still thriving. We have never had a budget for 'schooling"
and so indeed have missed out on regular on going classes and some
formal programs that surely we might have enjoyed but our lives are
not bare our supplies straight from the $1 store and other every
day life experiences over flow.
One mom said this: "I was in charters for years spent all my $$ on
supplies that are now stocked in my garage. So I can leave and not
feel a pinch heheheheh"
I always thought I would join a charter tho I am totally happy now
without one. When I started looking into them last year I felt just
like you about opening that door of total control to strangers or some
program I think it's just normal.
But it seems you have a handle on what it could mean to your family
and therefore are in a great position to decide if the hoops are worth
the perks.
Take care
Tosca
--- In [email protected], "Ingrid
... "distributed learning program"......Does anyone here have
experience or feedback on working with such a
program as a life learner/unschooler? Comments welcome!warmly,
ingrid
Ingrid Bauer/Jean-Claude Catry
THanks for the feedback so far.
No there won't be any testing. I wouldn't do it if there was any testing. I think they have standardised tests in certain grades (a test every 2-3 years or so) but it's voluntary--any parent, even in the mainstream system here, can refuse this testing. I do have to write an assessment of my child, no grades though.
Sandra wrote:
<<What's the deal on giving back their $1300?
What a great question! I hadn't thought to ask, but definitely will--thanks! They don't give the money up front--you save up receipts and they reimburse you 3 times a year but i wonder if they'd want any back if you pull out? hmmm...
<<I figure those programs start off loose and add more and more rules as time
goes on,
That's where it's at--only 3 years old.
<<There's a political tussle among some of the upper-level kind of
homeschooling movers and shakers about whether those who register with a program should
still be considered homeschoolers.
i have strong political concerns about it too, not so much out of semantics or ideals but because so many homeschoolers are doing it now that there are few technical homeschoolers left--at least 75% of homeschoolers in my community have started this program in the last couple of years.
We (dh and i) have a concern that the government will try to pull more and more homeschoolers into the system, then start getting more and more controlling and that it may affect homeschooling freedoms in general if those homeschoolers then try to pull out. The laws in BC are some of the best in N. America and i'd hate to be part of that changing. But if that doesn't change, then i'd sure like the $1300!
Thanks for the feedback. More welcome as i continue to ponder...
warmly,
ingrid
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
No there won't be any testing. I wouldn't do it if there was any testing. I think they have standardised tests in certain grades (a test every 2-3 years or so) but it's voluntary--any parent, even in the mainstream system here, can refuse this testing. I do have to write an assessment of my child, no grades though.
Sandra wrote:
<<What's the deal on giving back their $1300?
What a great question! I hadn't thought to ask, but definitely will--thanks! They don't give the money up front--you save up receipts and they reimburse you 3 times a year but i wonder if they'd want any back if you pull out? hmmm...
<<I figure those programs start off loose and add more and more rules as time
goes on,
That's where it's at--only 3 years old.
<<There's a political tussle among some of the upper-level kind of
homeschooling movers and shakers about whether those who register with a program should
still be considered homeschoolers.
i have strong political concerns about it too, not so much out of semantics or ideals but because so many homeschoolers are doing it now that there are few technical homeschoolers left--at least 75% of homeschoolers in my community have started this program in the last couple of years.
We (dh and i) have a concern that the government will try to pull more and more homeschoolers into the system, then start getting more and more controlling and that it may affect homeschooling freedoms in general if those homeschoolers then try to pull out. The laws in BC are some of the best in N. America and i'd hate to be part of that changing. But if that doesn't change, then i'd sure like the $1300!
Thanks for the feedback. More welcome as i continue to ponder...
warmly,
ingrid
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Dawn Adams
Ingrid writes:
We're pretty good here in NS as well but there's no money whatsoever. But man, PEI is awesome. A one time letter of intent and they wash their hands of your kids for as long as you homeschool!
Dawn (in NS)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>We (dh and i) have a concern that the government will try to pull more and more homeschoolers into the system, then >start getting more and more controlling and that it may affect homeschooling freedoms in general if those >homeschoolers then try to pull out. The laws in BC are some of the best in N. America and i'd hate to be part of that >changing. But if that doesn't change, then i'd sure like the $1300!You should check out www.flora.org/homeschool-ca . It has okay message boards but a really great email list with homeschoolers of all different styles (and yet it works) from all across Canada. I know there are quite a few from BC who could help you. What I remember from past discussions is that BCers who choose the route you're discussing can register with something like umbrella schools that will help with the requirements you're talking about but some can be very unschooling friendly like one called Wondertree I think. And they still get the money. Join the list and ask them!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
We're pretty good here in NS as well but there's no money whatsoever. But man, PEI is awesome. A one time letter of intent and they wash their hands of your kids for as long as you homeschool!
Dawn (in NS)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Elizabeth Hill
** My goal is less to be "unschooling" (by anyone's definition, even my
own) than to be trusting of my son's innate ability to choose his own
path of learning. I see my role as facilitator, guide, resource, but
mainly to prevent obstructing his path with my own ideas of what or
how it is best for him to learn. So, I guess I am more of
an "unobstructionist" to his natural love of learning wherever and
however that may lead him. I like the phrase "desire-directed
learning" more than "unschooling". It seems to proactively embrace
the inherent joy of learning.**
I like what you said. I think "facilitator" is easier to understand
than "unobstructionist", but they are both still valid.
Betsy
own) than to be trusting of my son's innate ability to choose his own
path of learning. I see my role as facilitator, guide, resource, but
mainly to prevent obstructing his path with my own ideas of what or
how it is best for him to learn. So, I guess I am more of
an "unobstructionist" to his natural love of learning wherever and
however that may lead him. I like the phrase "desire-directed
learning" more than "unschooling". It seems to proactively embrace
the inherent joy of learning.**
I like what you said. I think "facilitator" is easier to understand
than "unobstructionist", but they are both still valid.
Betsy
Robyn Coburn
<<<<What's required is that I meet with the teacher 3 times per year to
discuss a "learning plan" (yes, we plan to learn :-)) and to discuss whether
he has met provincial learning outcomes (things like "can count to 100",
"understands a story that is read to him" and similar ilk). It basically
means speaking a bit of educationese, showing her a couple of things we've
been doing (a few drawings or a photograph of child feeding the chickens etc
is accepted).
My son never has to meet her. She seems pretty open and accepting of
unschooling ideas, as far as she understands them. I know a few parents who
have done the program from the school at homers to very loose unschoolish
types and so far the handful of people i've talked to are happy with it.
Apparently the teacher is satisfied with answers like "we haven't done
that", "he can't count that far" and "i don't believe in early reading if
the child doesn't want to".>>>>
Sorry to be so late getting in on this discussion, but I've been unable to
get on to my computer much in the past few days.
I'm a bit of pessimist with regards to authority, so my suggestion is to
look at this in terms of a "worst case scenario" which, in the case of so
much of your contentment being tied in to the personality of your reviewer,
is: what if she leaves/retires/is fired and you find you have to deal with
someone who is different in philosophy? It is possible that you could be
stuck with a teacher who is rigid, committed to bringing people back to the
fold of school, or concerned with "progress" and those state standards, and
does want to meet your son. Would she be legally entitled to, even if
choosing not to at the moment?
In such a situation it is useful to know the law; what are the criteria of
"success" - a passing grade as it were - and what are the consequences (if
any) for "failure", meaning these terms in the school context.
If it is as simple as withdrawing from the program, then that might be worth
it. Someone else mentioned the concept of increasing rules creeping up on
you. I think you said it was a fairly new program...
Are you strong enough in your commitment to Unschooling to withstand a
person's dubiousness or disapproving scrutiny and not let those few niggling
doubts insinuate themselves like poison into your thought processes? Are the
art supplies and music lessons (lots on unschooling music in the archives -
tons and tons - a perennial subject) worth even one bad day of self
deprecation to you? Only you can answer these questions.
Of course you can always come here with the doubts and blahs and we will try
and talk you out of them and offer suggestions for getting back your
serenity!!
Personally I don't like the idea of anyone from officialdom condescending to
be "open and accepting" of my family's educational choices, which is the
same for us as someone "officially accepting" our whole life and everything
we do. I like the idea that Jayn is not going to be labeled in anyone's
office files about what she has or has not accomplished at any particular
time - at least as long as we are in California and she chooses to be home.
Robyn L. Coburn
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discuss a "learning plan" (yes, we plan to learn :-)) and to discuss whether
he has met provincial learning outcomes (things like "can count to 100",
"understands a story that is read to him" and similar ilk). It basically
means speaking a bit of educationese, showing her a couple of things we've
been doing (a few drawings or a photograph of child feeding the chickens etc
is accepted).
My son never has to meet her. She seems pretty open and accepting of
unschooling ideas, as far as she understands them. I know a few parents who
have done the program from the school at homers to very loose unschoolish
types and so far the handful of people i've talked to are happy with it.
Apparently the teacher is satisfied with answers like "we haven't done
that", "he can't count that far" and "i don't believe in early reading if
the child doesn't want to".>>>>
Sorry to be so late getting in on this discussion, but I've been unable to
get on to my computer much in the past few days.
I'm a bit of pessimist with regards to authority, so my suggestion is to
look at this in terms of a "worst case scenario" which, in the case of so
much of your contentment being tied in to the personality of your reviewer,
is: what if she leaves/retires/is fired and you find you have to deal with
someone who is different in philosophy? It is possible that you could be
stuck with a teacher who is rigid, committed to bringing people back to the
fold of school, or concerned with "progress" and those state standards, and
does want to meet your son. Would she be legally entitled to, even if
choosing not to at the moment?
In such a situation it is useful to know the law; what are the criteria of
"success" - a passing grade as it were - and what are the consequences (if
any) for "failure", meaning these terms in the school context.
If it is as simple as withdrawing from the program, then that might be worth
it. Someone else mentioned the concept of increasing rules creeping up on
you. I think you said it was a fairly new program...
Are you strong enough in your commitment to Unschooling to withstand a
person's dubiousness or disapproving scrutiny and not let those few niggling
doubts insinuate themselves like poison into your thought processes? Are the
art supplies and music lessons (lots on unschooling music in the archives -
tons and tons - a perennial subject) worth even one bad day of self
deprecation to you? Only you can answer these questions.
Of course you can always come here with the doubts and blahs and we will try
and talk you out of them and offer suggestions for getting back your
serenity!!
Personally I don't like the idea of anyone from officialdom condescending to
be "open and accepting" of my family's educational choices, which is the
same for us as someone "officially accepting" our whole life and everything
we do. I like the idea that Jayn is not going to be labeled in anyone's
office files about what she has or has not accomplished at any particular
time - at least as long as we are in California and she chooses to be home.
Robyn L. Coburn
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Ingrid Bauer/Jean-Claude Catry
> I'm a bit of pessimist with regards to authority, so my suggestion is toreviewer,
> look at this in terms of a "worst case scenario" which, in the case of so
> much of your contentment being tied in to the personality of your
> is: what if she leaves/retires/is fired and you find you have to deal withWell, i have no problem with quitting immediately :-). The personality of
> someone who is different in philosophy?>>
the reviewer is definitely a part of the picture here.
> Are you strong enough in your commitment to Unschooling to withstand aniggling
> person's dubiousness or disapproving scrutiny and not let those few
> doubts insinuate themselves like poison into your thought processes?i'm very confident that i am.
> Personally I don't like the idea of anyone from officialdom condescendingto
> be "open and accepting" of my family's educational choices, which is theeverything
> same for us as someone "officially accepting" our whole life and
> we do.i totally get this, yet at the same time i don't really care what they
think. I *am* interested in the money, however.
I like the idea that Jayn is not going to be labeled in anyone's
> office files about what she has or has not accomplished at any particularhome.
> time - at least as long as we are in California and she chooses to be
yes, i don't like the files part. yet i am asking myself how this may affect
him in any way down the road and really doubt it will ever come up anywhere
(opinions welcome). my priority is offering opportunities that will nurture
my child's learning and there are a few things that includes that cost money
we don't have.
thanks for all the input.
ingrid