The typical Left vs. Right political spectrum is a false dichotomy. Both the political Left and Right use force to mold people in society against their will. Donald Boudreaux analyzes this and explains a better political spectrum in chapter 2 of Everything Voluntary. But politics does not have a monopoly on false dichotomies. Another one…
Tag: schooling
Chapter 28 – 10 Ways We Misunderstand Children
Table of ContentsPrevious – Section Five – Chapter 27 – “On Seeing Children as ‘Cute’” by John Holt 28 10 Ways We Misunderstand Children by Jan Hunt 1. We expect children to be able to do things before they are ready. We ask an infant to keep quiet. We ask a 2-year-old to sit still.…
Chapter 24 – Natural Born Bullies
Table of ContentsPrevious – Unschooling Resources 24 Natural Born Bullies by Robin Grille The media attention given recently to the phenomenon of bullying in schools, is truly a cause for celebration. Finally our world has begun to take seriously the plight of children: the most powerless sector of the community. Initiatives under way in schools…
Chapter 23 – Grown Without Schooling
Table of ContentsPrevious – Section Four – Chapter 22 – “Unexpected Benefits of Unschooling” by Sandra Dodd 23 Grown Without Schooling by Jason Hunt This interview was given to five unschoolers for a feature story in the Spring 2010 issue of German magazine Unerzogen. What are your current interests and plans for the future (that’s…
Chapter 22 – Unexpected Benefits of Unschooling
Table of ContentsPrevious – Section Four – Chapter 21 – “Whose Goal is it, Anyway?” by Pam Laricchia 22 Unexpected Benefits of Unschooling by Sandra Dodd As I write, my children are 18, 21, and 23 years old. They are in Quebec, New Mexico, and Texas. I have time to review the effects of nearly…
Chapter 18 – Schooling: The Hidden Agenda
Table of Contents Previous – Section Four – Chapter 17 – “The Trouble with Traditional Schooling” by Vahram G. Diehl 18 Schooling: The Hidden Agenda by Daniel Quinn A Talk Given at the Houston Unschoolers Group Family Learning Conference. I suspect that not everyone in this audience knows who I am or why I’ve been…
Chapter 17 – The Trouble with Traditional Schooling
Table of ContentsPrevious – Section Three – Free Market Resources 17 The Trouble with Traditional Schooling by Vahram G. Diehl Traditional concepts and applications of learning have generally been one-sided. The “teacher” transmits information in the form of conclusions through words and images, while the “students” are expected to act as flawless receivers and adopters…
Chapter 21 – Whose Goal is it, Anyway?
Table of ContentsPrevious – Section Four – Chapter 20 – “What is Unschooling?” by Earl Stevens 21 Whose Goal is it, Anyway? by Pam Laricchia It all started with a plant. My husband was talking about training a plant – just the right combination of water and fertilizer, the right soil and sun conditions, a…
Chapter 20 – What is Unschooling?
Table of Contents Previous – Section Four – Chapter 19 – “The Right to Control One’s Learning” by John Holt 20 What is Unschooling? by Earl Stevens “What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, not knowledge in pursuit of the child.” – George Bernard Shaw It is very satisfying for…
Chapter 19 – The Right to Control One’s Learning
Table of ContentsPrevious – Section Four – Chapter 18 – “Schooling: The Hidden Agenda” by Daniel Quinn 19 The Right to Control One’s Learning by John Holt Young people should have the right to control and direct their own learning; that is, to decide what they want to learn, and when, where, how, how much,…