I've known about deschooling for about 15 years- since I transferred from u penn and started slowly deschooling myself... I have been challenged by it for about 10 years- since I started teaching enrichment classes and spent much of the time helping deschool my students so they could express their true voice (like I describe in my first blog)...Yet, I just learned about the term deschooling and the whole body of work about the concept the other day- I think I literally called out hallelujah, I was so excited!...essentially, it's the process or period of breaking the 'schooling' mindset, where learning is regimented, specified, timed and graded and where you learn for reinforcement rather than for your own inherent interest- yes!! this is what I've been describing for so long- within myself as I work to express my philosophy purely, rather than attempt to filter them through a schooling structure and within almost every student I've ever worked with who has attended school. I also experienced the same thing when I started teaching yoga, first to adults and then to teens...having gone through the school system, many people start practicing yoga by applying a similar mindset- an idea that the poses need to be achieved for an outer reward of praise, there is one "right" way to do them and that the teacher has all the answers and just needs to impart the knowledge onto the students- all of these notions must be unlearned for yoga to be learned.
sandra dodd's website is where I first read about deschooling- I've been reading everything I can about homeschooling and unschooling and have found a lot of inspiration from her site...her deschooling page is enlightening and has links to many different writings on the subject...
after rereading my first blog, I realized I'm still trying to convince myself that it's ok to learn in a different way than is prescribed by the schools and that what I believe about learning is valid...having my eyes opened to the tribe of people who are dedicated to educating their children independently and live and advocate for new ways of learning is freeing me from the restrictions I continued to try to work within...how did I not know about this thriving community until now? I suppose it doesn't do much to maintain the traditional system by highlighting all of the alternatives...I realize I've been lucky to be exposed to and participated in alternative forms of learning for my whole life, but I still separated them somehow and overvalued the academic, mainstream path as it appeared more stable? maybe? hmm...
on this day of gratitude, I'm thinking of both of my brothers, who deschooled themselves way before I had the courage to even try and continue to inspire me every day!...my older brother cosmos never fit within the traditional school system- he dropped out of high school I think as soon as he was legally allowed and has learned from life since then...he's an artist and an activist and has never allowed the rules of schooling or society affect his expression- right now he's occupying auckland!...jacob, my younger brother, traveled further down the schooling path- like me, he transferred from u penn to a college with a more progressive nature; he excelled, he graduated, and he also started learning in a totally new way- through traveling, apprenticeships and self-study he learned to be a farmer and a carpenter. Now, he owns an organic farm in Maine with his partner Maia, and he essentially taught himself how to build his own home where both of his children were born. Maia is currently planning a homeschool co-op with a group of moms, as they've decided they don't want to send my niece Osa to school. wow- they truly are amazing!...
breathe in gratitude, breathe out forgiveness :-)
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
begin...
mandala daydreams will be a place for just that- daydreaming! When I was brainstorming a title for this blog, I questioned the connotation that the concept of daydreams hold. Maybe it wasn't serious enough? Would it suggest that I was just meandering on, without any true value? These questions took me to our faithful friend, wikipedia to investigate...
What I found out was so interesting! Historically, daydreaming was associated with laziness. The most shocking quote: "In the 1950s, some educational psychologists warned parents not to let their children daydream, for fear that the children may be sucked into 'neurosis and even psychosis'." WHAT?!
At present, daydreaming has gained an improved reputation from research showing that it can aid in creativity and abstract thought. I was smiling the whole time I was reading, amused at how these two differing opinions reflect the similar dichotomy of traditional and progressive education.
So, my title and the intention for this blog were set in motion...
this will be a place where I will explore topics, philosophy, various parts of my learning approach, whatever comes up- with a free flow and as little editing as my school and university conditioning will allow. Writing in an authentic voice is still something I can be challenged by, precisely because that conditioning is so strong. When I write content for my website, I need to continually check in with myself and make sure that I am not unconsciously trying to write something in a way that I imagine others may want to hear as opposed to speaking clearly from my own voice.
It seems we all struggle with this, whether in writing or communicating with others. When I teach creative writing or pretty much any enrichment work, it can take weeks for students to be convinced that when I say they can write whatever they want, however they want, that I actually believe it. Across ages, cultures, learning abilities, any child I work with who is traveling through the school system seems to have this initial block in expressing their true voice. So now, the first thing I have students do is write a letter to someone who they feel like they can most be themselves around. The quality of voice that comes from that letter provides an excellent juxtaposition to work they do that is written FOR the teacher.
This is one of the greatest catalysts for me creating mandala- to help erase this division; so learning won't continue to be separated into some things you just have to do to please a teacher, a school, parents, (the list can go on and on)- and then your passions, interests and the way you really want to learn and express yourself is something you get to do after, or in private, or not at all.
To all of the brave children, teens, parents, friends and family who are committed to being the change, exploring teaching their children from home or helping to experience school and learning in a new way- thank you for helping me find the inspiration and courage to create mandala learning and believe this can happen!
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daydream
http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2009/05/daydreams_1.php
What I found out was so interesting! Historically, daydreaming was associated with laziness. The most shocking quote: "In the 1950s, some educational psychologists warned parents not to let their children daydream, for fear that the children may be sucked into 'neurosis and even psychosis'." WHAT?!
At present, daydreaming has gained an improved reputation from research showing that it can aid in creativity and abstract thought. I was smiling the whole time I was reading, amused at how these two differing opinions reflect the similar dichotomy of traditional and progressive education.
So, my title and the intention for this blog were set in motion...
this will be a place where I will explore topics, philosophy, various parts of my learning approach, whatever comes up- with a free flow and as little editing as my school and university conditioning will allow. Writing in an authentic voice is still something I can be challenged by, precisely because that conditioning is so strong. When I write content for my website, I need to continually check in with myself and make sure that I am not unconsciously trying to write something in a way that I imagine others may want to hear as opposed to speaking clearly from my own voice.
It seems we all struggle with this, whether in writing or communicating with others. When I teach creative writing or pretty much any enrichment work, it can take weeks for students to be convinced that when I say they can write whatever they want, however they want, that I actually believe it. Across ages, cultures, learning abilities, any child I work with who is traveling through the school system seems to have this initial block in expressing their true voice. So now, the first thing I have students do is write a letter to someone who they feel like they can most be themselves around. The quality of voice that comes from that letter provides an excellent juxtaposition to work they do that is written FOR the teacher.
This is one of the greatest catalysts for me creating mandala- to help erase this division; so learning won't continue to be separated into some things you just have to do to please a teacher, a school, parents, (the list can go on and on)- and then your passions, interests and the way you really want to learn and express yourself is something you get to do after, or in private, or not at all.
To all of the brave children, teens, parents, friends and family who are committed to being the change, exploring teaching their children from home or helping to experience school and learning in a new way- thank you for helping me find the inspiration and courage to create mandala learning and believe this can happen!
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daydream
http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2009/05/daydreams_1.php
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