There is a trend within the homeschoolers. It is called unschooling (great article in the NYT on the topic) and it's all about having kids take the lead in their learning. From what I read, it seems like the essence of learning, i.e. you do what interests you and have someone who helps you understand the principles behind your questions.
There are none of the usual structures (books, classroom, teacher-pupil relationship). The emphasis is on the child, his curiosity and his passions. I looked up web sites on the subject too which brought my enthusiasm up a notch.
I am really dismayed by our general reliance on figures of authority who tell us what to do in our daily lives. I guess my first-hand experience was with an institution for old people where my grandmother went. I felt that every aspect of her life was arranged to make life easier for the staff - her privacy was not their concern. And so of hospitals. And schools. We tend to forget the basic truths about human beings and hide behind rules. What a strange evolution. I wonder how that is tied in with the ills of our civilization? Still reading on Emotional Intelligence which has tons of ideas on the topic (reading in between Ludlum which explains the slow pace ; )
I guess the message is: Think! Feel! Don't "go with the flow". Trust yourselves. But you don't need me to tell you that now, do you?
English Cucumbers
10 months ago
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2 comments:
Interesting stuff! It just makes so little sense to apply one model of teaching/learning to every single kid. We've been reading and talking lately about the importance of uninterrupted and unstructured play for kids' learning (and not just preschoolers) - how it allows kids to learn so much, but give them the freedom to do it in the way that makes the most sense to them.
We haven't applied this approach on purpose - it just seems to make the most sense (also we are too "lazy" to chauffeur the kids to this activity and that activity...) But we see the benefits of lack of structure: the kids don't need TV to entertain themselves when we aren't providing activity for them: they invent games, work together to build things, exercise their growing confidence by independently calling up other kids to play, etc.
I totally agree. My brother contends that kids need to be bored. Then they learn to entertain themselves and become self-reliant (read, call up their friends...). Her daughter has limited structured activities (swimming lessons and soccer, I think). She is active, curious, outgoing, has great verbal skills and a vivid imagination.
Works for me!
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