The Organized Unschooler

I’m often awestruck when I hear what it costs for the state to operate public schools. In my state, I heard it was around $5000 per child. That just blows me away. I realize schools have administration expenses, custodial expenses and curriculum, insurance, etc… but it’s simply unreasonable, in my opinion, to believe that it’s [...]

Apparently, and rightfully so, Curtis Bowen’s mother was a bit pissed (but admirably organized) when she wrote a 40 page letter to the school district outlining the violation of her son. It all goes sort of surreal, however, when she begins to list her demands. You can read her entire letter at CurtisGotSlappedByaWhiteTeacher.com And if [...]

In order to fully understand what Mortimer Adler is talking about in his essay General Education vs Vocational Education, we must understand the historical and cultural context from which he is speaking. Modern readers who misunderstand this context are likely to misinterpret his intentions and thereby fail to see the logic behind his recommendations, which [...]

Two metaphors that have evolved to reflect the workings of the human mind are “a child’s brain is like a sponge” and “the brain is like a computer.” Although well-intentioned, the limitations of these models have resulted in educational practices that fail to address the true nature of how children learn, and subsequently lend themselves [...]

by John Taylor Gatto from The Underground History of American Education I want you to consider the frightening possibility that we are spending far too much money on schooling, not too little. I want you to consider that we have too many people employed in interfering with the way children grow up – and that [...]

by Christian D. Larson Promise Yourself To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. [...]

A middle school mom, Ann Wentworth of Fon du Lac Wisconsin wants these books banned from her daughter’s school district. She’s petitioned the school (at the expense of local taxpayers) and lost the first request for censorship. She keeps adding books to her list. I imagine every time she reads one it ends up going [...]

Five Reasons to Stop Saying “Good Job!” By Alfie Kohn Hang out at a playground, visit a school, or show up at a child’s birthday party, and there’s one phrase you can count on hearing repeatedly: “Good job!” Even tiny infants are praised for smacking their hands together (“Good clapping!”). Many of us blurt out [...]

After close observation of their own children, with a combined age of 61 years, observations of many other children in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Israel, Greece, Italy, Swiss, France, Holland, Belgium, England, Scotland, and the Bahamas, and numerous reports throughout recorded history, the authors have determined that a widely-distributed behavioral disorder has somehow been overlooked [...]

Thoughts on Punishment by Sidney Craig, Ph.D. The most commonly used and socially acceptable parental response to a display of “irrational” behavior (a temper tantrum, for example) is to punish the child for it. Most parents operate according to the widely held belief that the child will not repeat a form of behavior for which [...]