Natural - like the big bang thoery detractors that said the odds of earth being formed by chance is like taking the pieces of a watch and putting them in a bag and shaking it, whene you open it they are togther and the watch works. ...public education isn't natural because the definition of natural, to me, is organically formed, not artificially. Can we change the word natural to something else?
It is more "natural" for a baby to be born and taught by the example of watching his parent. Can we change the terminology of natural to something else? evolution , evolve, what word?
Korrigan, we were typing at the same time, I guess... LOL
Wondering1 - I do not disagree with anything on your list - (except for state schooling being natural) and that your premise of "should" and it is "possible". ANything is possible, but politics gets in the way. and people's ego's, and well I'll stop here. :O)
Korrigan, you and I disagree, I see from a more thorough read thru.. I think education (if state run) should be, must be secular. I don't think there is anything wrong with secular, many of the human races natural lofty ideals of fairness etc., run parallel to religious tenets - of course, a parent must alway have the inherent right for their kid to be there or not to be there - and a parent can always teach religion(s) to a child (I would say, I hope they would!) To be or not to be, that is the question!
YUP, I misread - I read into what wondering1 wrote, from a past post about (gasp- homeschooling not being natural and in that post someone there wrote state schools are natural- thought it was wondering1) New slate, new topic, sorry...
Tangent- Well, 50th anniversary and no free press over there usually, so spot light, if not now, then it never will be seenn in ht elight of day and possibly changed. (rather ignorant about the whole dalai lama thing - see, I don't even have a clue how to spell his name)
Okay, I'll bite, one (1) more thing on the tibet thing.. LOL (blushing too Korrigan) I don't think our pres. should go to the start of the games, he says he is. (I also don't think that they should have most favored trade status either.. ) No twilling to back up these words with a debate though....
Oh no, Korrigan, tou and I are committing thread violations--- is this thread about homeschooling?! LOL or tibet.
My apologies. Time to pick up John. (he is very political by the way, it is IN him, he has strong feelings about politics and education, and what is right and wrong.. (no grey areas for him)
Wondering1 - yup my son is political at 11... I thought I liked you - political are you?! (read that with emphasis on the word thought.. In other words- I like where your thoughts are coming from.) Notice ai am making sure to not be misunderstood whil trying to use humor..
Can't get into this anymore this afternoon - 2 kids down (picked them up) 1 more to go - comes on the bus, then family time... Later, for sure, what fun!
grizeldatee wrote among other things
"1. smaller schools. Anthropology tells us that the natural tribe is about 150 people. That should be the biggest school."
I say, yes, yes, yes, such a simple concept, easy to manage. Love the idea..
Do you mean for Kto 8? I love K to 8 , my kids 1st school had 150 kids from Kto 8, my daughters private school has 33 kids from pre-K to 8th (but is run really well by a nun - no bullting - at all, zero) my son John is in a (supposed to be considered very small school for public) 5th to 8th grade with about 400 kids. NOT GOOD, the similarity of the ages is not good, not so much the size. I would say 400 is the largest # that should be tried/ by "public" and managed properly for K to 8.
Korrigan, my husband and I are part of a "freinds of different learners" parents /professionals group. Do you have one of these groups near you? It is these kinds of groups that will be the answer - a sort of grass roots - movement for the eventual acceptance that some peopl just learn and act differently... not that we are against making the lives of our children improve, but acceptance all the same...
Korrigan, my husband was like that til he actually went to one of the meetings - what an eye opener for him. It was like my husbnad finally accepted it for the first time. He was looking at the parents who were just starting the journey and wanting to be able to help them. We have always felt we don't need or want much from "the system" for John, he has been so resilient) but it is amazing what a group like that does for everyone involved , the do it yourself feelings- they only meet once a month...
RE: Education [Political & Philosophical]
grizeldatee wrote among other things
"1. smaller schools. Anthropology tells us that the natural tribe is about 150 people. That should be the biggest school."
I say, yes, yes, yes, such a simple concept, easy to manage. Love the idea..
Do you mean for Kto 8? I love K to 8 , my kids 1st school had 150 kids from Kto 8, my daughters private school has 33 kids from pre-K to 8th *************** I meant to type> 300 kids not 33*** 33 kids is too small, in that case when there are to few students, one students strong personality for example, would have too much impact on some kids with less developed individualism. I really like grizeldatees concept of the natural tribe. (big on natural)