Grrrrrr......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Education"

A holistic view of life and learning

 

 

"Schooling"

 

I put the word 'schooling' in quotes because I find it to be a form of education, but not education in and of itself.  Traditional 'schooling' as I see it, however, is not at all a holistic view of a person or their 'education.'

 

I have chosen homeschooling for my son at this time as I cannot find a 'school' public, private, charter, or otherwise, that fits my views of educating a person, not a product.  To further my point, I will cite a passage from a book I am reading regarding assessing 'authentic' learning.  The book touches on a variety of tools many systems and individuals in our society use as ways to inform us of the level of understanding a student has of what has been presented in his/her 'schooling'.

 

I have never had an issue with teachers.  I don't even have an issue with administrators.  What I have an issue with is the 'system' and how and why it was set up in the first place. 

 

What was the original motivation of public funded schooling?

 

Some may think it was to provide access to education to all, no matter what their socioeconomic status, etc.  But do we recall that it was during the industrial revolution that it became an intriguing idea to train people in 'skills' that they could use to 'produce?'

 

I found my answer to that question in print today, illustrated by the definition of the word STANDARD.

 

The paragraph from the book How to Assess Authentic Learning, by Kay Burke, cites another book by Darling-Hammond called The Right To Learn.  Darling-Hammond speaks of the standards of practice that are used to "...license professionals and guide the work of architects in constructing sound buildings, accountants in managing finances, engineers in assembling space shuttles, and doctors in treating patients."  She then adds, however, "These standards are not prescriptions; instead they reflect shared norms and knowledge about underlying principles of practice, the effects of various techniques, and decision-making processes. "(p.213). 

The author of How to Assess Authentic Learning then adds her thoughts...

"Standards, therefore, clarify expectations and consensus about what constitutes quality products and practice.

 

Woah!!!!  "PRODUCTS"   There is the word I had known was the issue all along but wasn't sure how to pinpoint.  The 'system' of public instruction or 'schooling' has been turning our children into "products" for far too long!  The system uses 'standard'ized testing, classroom testing, and grades to determine success or failure, funding and curriculum of and for our students and schools.  If a school's students don't perform well on the standardized tests, the school may be denied funding, closed down, or have arts programs or teachers removed.  Likewise, if a student does not perform well on classroom tests or for whatever reason receives 'bad' grades, they are left with poor self esteem that can last a lifetime on the basis of how they are being ASSESSED, not who they are, what they've learned, they're ability to reason or think creatively, or how well they function in other areas.

 

Now to be fair, I want to acknowledge that the author of the book may not believe in our children as products and might tell me that I've taken that paragraph out of context, and maybe I have.  To also be fair, I did agree with and enjoy her total outlook and what she was trying to do with her book.  She was looking at each tool holistically and proposing that we use a combination of all, or a more holistic approach.  I completely honor her for that and wish to beg her pardon that I found such value in a detail of her book that really didn't fit with the overall theme but I thought was intensely important in the way in which it was said.  I can only hope she sees the importance of her word choice and recognizes that it may just be the core issue of the very thing she is trying to correct and point out to her readers.

 

I'd like to share with you just how 'alternative' schooling may make one feel. 

 

When I went to school for metaphysics I was overjoyed.  I remember feeling like that was the best formal education of my life because they valued me as a whole person.  When I would take one of their multiple choice tests to analyze my understanding of the course material (which were open book by the way- more on how I felt about that later- I initially resisted it ), I would sometimes get an answer incorrect that I felt that I had really thought about before I had answered.  I personally never liked the type of tests that expected you to spit out answers word for word as they were stated in the book.  To me, that undermined my intelligence and use of reasoning.  (To others more detail oriented, I see that as being a great tool for them, just not for me). The point here is that I was honored for the way I learned, understood, and applied the information presented.

 

When I challenged them on why my answer was incorrect and presented my reasoning on why I chose to answer the way I did, they always thought about it thoroughly before answering me.  Sometimes they reversed their decision, sometimes they did not, but they always listened to me as a whole person, rather than a product or robot intended to spit back verbatim the information that had been 'inputted.'  Just that alone made me LOVE that school and cherish my "Education" there.  It was the only school where I was an equal partner in my education.

 

I knew that whatever assignment I completed, whatever test I took, whatever project I worked on, it was going to be respected by the faculty for the work that I put into it, whether they agreed with my answer or not.  They valued me for the reasons that I had come up with that answer, and my reasoning and understanding of the material presented, which is what I always thought an 'assessment' was supposed to measure.  I can't think of a better way to receive an 'education.'  I loved learning there.  I loved going to 'school.' 

 

My husband has started a new school also.  A whole new chapter in his life.  I won't mention the type or name of the school to maintain his privacy but I will tell you that the last test they took, he told me that if anyone got answers wrong, they were called to the teachers desk.  At the desk, the teacher asked questions as to why they answered as they did and then the student and teacher had a discussion on it.  The students then had a chance to change their answers if they so desired.  That seemed huge to me!  Instead of being shamed or condemned after getting your paper back and seeing how many items you got 'wrong,' you were given additional instruction on what you may have missed, and the opportunity to fully understand and if you chose to, correct it!

 

Now my son going through public school was another story.  I used to volunteer in the classroom so I do have first hand observation as to the tactics that were employed, in addition to accounts my son provided me.

 

Again, I do not think the teachers are entirely accountable as they are stuck playing by the rules, benchmarks, rubrics, curriculum, what have you, that is given to them, or they will cease to have employment in the educational system.  But this is a little of what went on...

 

During one writing assignment, the children were supposed to come up with a creative story.... in a certain amount of time....with a timer placed at their desk ticking away and designed to go off when their time to be creative was up.

 

Many other times I observed some real learning and sharing going on between the teacher and her/his students, only to be abruptly interrupted by a bell, announcement, recess, or the teacher saying "Ok, time's up, clean this up or put it away, we have to move on to the next thing."

 

I was floored and saddened at the lost chance for real understanding and learning in favor of the 'clock' and what else was scheduled that 'had to be completed' based on directions, benchmarks, and 'standards' created by the 'system' as a whole.

 

The fact that more and more parents are choosing to homeschool is not a fluke.  The fact that more and more teachers are choosing to homeschool their children rather than send their children to school is not a fluke.  People are questioning the benefits of a system that treats their child as a product and not a human and recognizing that to thrive in life, one needs to be motivated, stimulated, and recognized for the talents they alone possess, rather than being compared against a STANDARD, a word which apparently refers to the desire to "clarify expectations and consensus about what constitutes quality products and practice."(Kay) 

Not being honored for what a person brings to the table of life itself and instead being compared to some 'standard' based on what other people think should be brought  to the table is a recipe for poor self esteem, lack of success or personal satisfaction, and a host of other despairities.

 

Homeschool has not been without a few drawbacks also though, although until something better comes along, it's our very best option.   My son and I both yearn for the type of learning that comes from collaborating with others, or working on a project that when done successfully will 'get you to the next level' either with the teacher you are working with or with something you'd like to follow in life or society the way it currently is.  Something that provides real motivation and a desire to be proud of yourself and your learning and accomplishments.

 

I would love to join with educators by trade who are looking for an alternative.  A 'school' where they can breathe, do what they have come here to do, and inspire and foster a love of learning while they 'teach,' rather than resign themselves to having to subject their students to rigid grades and standards that inaccurately reflect the whole person and fail to foster a true love of learning or pride in themselves.

 

I believe there is a way to design this type of dare I say "school" or maybe more appropriately "learning center" so that it is an affordable private option for homeschooling parents, or public or private school parents who yearn for something better for their children.  If it catches on, people taking the power into their own hands would start to spread and these types of schools could be popping up all over the country, just like homeschool groups began to after the homeschooling movement began.

 

Even a homeschool co-op of this type would be so welcomed.  And by the way, I do know of other homeschool parents hungry for this very option, but who find it too big too big of a project to tackle all by themselves.

 

We as parents need educators by trade to help take us into the future of  'education.'

Many of you have been laid off by the very system that promised you an outlet for your talents to teach others.  Is it time to take the power into your own hands and do what you came here to do?

 

If we inspire a true love of learning and not a fear of it, doing the 'work' that comes before taking any leap or venture will be something that children will embrace rather than resist, and our future generations will finally be aligned with their true talents and gifts and we will ALL benefit from that.

 

 

Anyone with me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To all of the fine artists of the world.....

 

I wish to tip my hat to you for living your joy, living your love, and breathing yourself into your work.

 

Continue to be true to yourself.  Your expression is yours alone, it is not a 'product' to be marketed in the way your agent thinks will sell the best.

 

We will all benefit from your truest expression and we await your raw expressions of yourself.

 

Bravo!

 

 

 

 

 

I answered... "I cooked."

 

In recent years however, I have shifted my relationship with food, starting with what I ate.  I slowly and unconsciously I might add, went from being a carnivore to a vegan.  It sort of just happened.  Red meat first, then chicken, then pork, then fish, over a period of a few years.  I also moved to almost completely organic during this time.  Starting with a few products, and eventually to 99% of my groceries.

 

At this point I'm eating a lot of fresh organic veggies and starting to really enjoy putting them together.  I find I'm excited at my 'beautiful salads' and that I'm paying a bit more attention at the stove when I do cook my veggies or grains.  I've also come around to the idea of wanting to learn how to garden.  Not only to be sustainable and take the growing of food into my own hands, but to really commune with the earth.  It is more of a spiritual practice than to pump out product for me.  Which is why I was floored when I perused a gardening catalog today. 

 

We recently went to an organic gardening shop for some help on getting started.  Although I knew I could tune into my inner guidance and higher power for help, I also felt guided to check out this shop for additional pointers from other humans.

 

I was pleasantly surprised that the salesclerk steered me away from most of his products and told me that many things were just consumer plastic and unnecessary.  I was overwhelmed and confused by the store and the man's lump of different suggestions, but left feeling good about that one aspect.

 

The idea that gardening and sustainability have now become an 'industry' is a bit disheartening to me.  The mere fact of communing with the earth for the purpose of spiritual practice is being sucked out of the green movement of the mainstream culture in many areas.

 

At the store, we were given a free magazine put out by some indoor gardening company.  It was filled with many ads, a few articles, and lots of propaganda and messages to buy their many products so you can be in 'control of your crops.'

 

In fact, there was so much 'control' lining the ads of those pages, I started realizing that those gardeners and industries were completely tuned in to the very opposite frequency that I prefer to stay in.

 

So I put it down and pondered what I already knew about gardening.

 

It was not about control.

 

It was about gratefully talking to the plants or playing music for them.  It was about planting each seed with tender loving care.  It was about excitedly checking them each day to see if anything had yet come up from the surface of the soil.  It was about digging in the dirt and pressing it down with your hands. 

 

And if your seeds didn't grow or the squirrels came and ate your plants, it was about seeing what you could do to work 'with' nature instead of trying to control it.

 

If we really are to show mother earth that we respect her and deserve to live on this planet and partake of her bounty, my guess is we need to learn to work with her and stop trying to control her. And if we can do that with nature, my guess is that attitude will spill over into every other aspect of our lives as humans.