What is taught to the students at school is basically: “You have no choice in where you will be. If you do not do as I tell you, worse things will happen to you. If you follow orders, better things will happen to you.” The subject here is learning to accept the basic context of being in a prison and to follow orders to escape a worse fate. The kind of learning environment that I support can more or less fit under the category of unschooling.
Tag: education
Assumption of Risk, Where Art Thou?
One of the major lessons we learn growing up is understanding the concept of risk, that is, the possibility of getting hurt. Different activities have more or less risk as it concerns our physical safety. When we join a gym, our assumption of risk is explicit in the form of a written and signed waiver. This protects the gym from being sued when we injure ourselves. Does this concept have any place in the current discussion on sexual harassment and sexual assault?
Education Needs to Be Uber-ized
The possibilities for education without conventional schooling are almost limitless, and we are already seeing many of these models gain popularity and presence.
Liberty, Democracy, and the Right
I am mystified by the claim that the long-standing libertarian critique of democracy furnishes aid and comfort to conservatives who display a taste for populist authoritarianism.
Be Brave Enough to Roar Your Truth!
Two songs in particular give me goosebumps when I consider their implications in the life of a voluntaryist: “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, and “Roar” by Katy Perry. Everybody should find the bravery to roar their truth to the world, in every way they can!
Eric’s Journey, #1 Jet.com Insider, & Libertarian Politics (1h2m) – Episode 097
Episode 097 welcomes Eric Martin to the podcast for a chat with Skyler. Topics include: winning the Jet.com Insider contest and his stock options reward, what Jet.com’s sale to Walmart for $3.3B meant for Eric, running for US Congress in 2012, Ron Paul’s influence on his journey to libertarianism, types of libertarians, cryptocurrencies, future education plans for his children, and much more.
Riley’s Journey, Anarcho Agenda Podcast (1h26m) – Episode 096
Episode 096 welcomes Riley Blake of Anarcho Agenda to the podcast for a chat with Skyler. Topics include: Riley’s podcast, getting into audio processing, the challenges of being blind, origins of our libertarian journeys, podcasting challenges, free market of ideas and never censoring people, self-directed education (unschooling), the cycle of abuse in parenting, school, and the state, power vs. freedom, negotiating with children, becoming better people through libertarianism, and more.
Disobedience is a Virtue
When we spend most of our formative years being bombarded with the message—from parents, teachers, the media, agents of the state, etc.—that obedience is a virtue and disobedience is a sin, we “learn” that lie at a very deep psychological level, way beyond merely an intellectual understanding.
Mission Creep II
Schooling is growing in every direction. And at the same time, it is stifling the growth of its so-called beneficiaries. Once again, process overcomes product. Schooling is destroying education.
Authority Easily Leads to Abuse
This was a shitty circumstance. It isn’t “fair” that it happened. However, this happens with most teachers, and most people in places of unquestioned authority. In fact, the situation that occurred in college was a situation I had vastly more leverage than in previous similar situations.