Seventh Generation Academy
We've finally filed our private school affidavit and came up with this name for our homeschool, which is really befitting of our green, organic lifestyle. The name comes from Native Americans who believe what we do now will effect the next 7 generations. We hope to live by this rule and become more socially responsible and conscious of our actions.
Why Homeschool?
There are numerous reasons why we homeschool, but the main reason is that my philosophy doesn't coincide with the current public/private school system. I believe in NO homework, NO grades, NO school textbooks and definitely NO standardized testing (especially in the Elementary years). I strongly believe in being self-taught, which I think is the only way to retain any learning. I hope to instill the "love" for learning; not regurgitating facts in order to pass a test, only to be forgotten later. In fact, standardized testing doesn't really measure anything, except maybe your socioeconomic status.
Our current school system is broken; it's also become a business. When billionaires like Bill Gates and the Walton Foundation (Wal-Mart) contribute millions to education under the guise of philanthropy, you have to wonder what their real motives are to "educate" the public. I saw Oprah's special highlighting the documentary Waiting For Superman that is getting a lot of hype and hailed by critics as a must-see on education reform. What they failed to do was present the other side of the debate. I believe the real focus on educational reform is replacing, or a substitute for, a jobs policy. Who's going to fill all those jobs at Wal-Mart? Race to the Top is a way that fits into this new economic order of a so-called jobless recovery and what's really going on is a vocationalization of education. The reformers are trying to privatize schools and call that reform, but I don't believe charter schools are a panacea to the current educational problem. It's easy to blame the schools, the teachers (especially the union) and the students. Instead of pointing fingers and shutting down public schools and firing teachers, they should really look at the core problem - which is inequality and poverty in this country. Not everyone is lucky to be homeschooled or wealthy enough to find good private schools. Until we fix this societal problem, we will continue to have an educational crisis on our hands!
Although I'm homeschooling, I have a vested interest in the public becoming educated because as Thomas Jefferson said, "an educated populace is the best defense of liberty and democracy." Sadly, we are continuing to lose our democracy through our watered-down curriculum in public schools, especially when they re-write history and eliminate civics courses. We need to have a radical shift of our current educational paradigm. Who knows what the future holds, I may have to put my kids back into the "system" one day.
My greatest influence has been a school teacher, John Taylor Gatto, who wrote several books on education - "Dumbing Us Down" and "Weapons of Mass Instruction." Check it out!
Educational Goal
I want my kids to be critical thinkers (have a mind of their own), question authority and challenge the status quo. I hope to avoid all the pitfalls of an institutionalized school where conformity, bullying, cheating, peer dependency and materialism are the norm. I also don't believe in pushing kids beyond what they're capable of and we know what the results of this are: low self-esteem, drop-outs, and sadly some suicides. It's silly and counterproductive to expect every child to read at the age of 5 or 6, which most schools now expect. They use "drill and kill" methods and focus on teaching to the test, which surely is going to produce a lot of unhappy children. Most kids are on their own timetable and we should respect this. I never pushed Malayna to write nor did I expect her to read at the age she did (before 5). In fact, I had initially wanted to do no formal education until she reached 7 years old (like Finland where they have high academic success) using the Waldorf methodology. However, since Malayna showed interest in academics far earlier, I went with what she was interested in doing (what some call child-led education). It's a great joy when I know that she is doing something that she loves - isn't that what true learning is all about? Don't get me wrong, homeschooling is not all roses and there are things that I expect from her, but for the most part self-learning is highly encouraged.
Finally, unstructured play is highly important in the lower grades. Less academics and more free play equals better, happier and more successful children!
Classical Education
This is the method I am following at the moment, but I consider myself more eclectic in my approach (using various curriculum). That's one true beauty of homeschooling; you can change curriculum to fit your child! At the moment, this seems to be working for us. Classical Education is a throw back to an era when literature based education was the norm - not image based, but language based, where you use living books in place of dry textbooks written by a committee of people to bore you to death! "Classical Education depends on a three-part process of training the mind. The early years of school are spent in absorbing facts (Grammar stage), systematically laying the foundations for advanced study. In the middle grades (Logic stage), students learn to think through arguments. In the high school years (Rhetoric stage), they learn to express themselves. This classical pattern is called the trivium."
Since Classical Education is strongly print-based, I believe in limiting digital devices and electronics to young children. My kids are allowed to watch TV (very little), but I try to strictly limit commercialized programs. As far as computers go, I don't see a need at this young age. Although some folks might argue that this might be a disadvantage in the future, I don't believe for a second that this will be a hindrance to my kids, especially when technology changes at lightening speed. Also, how many of us used computers as children? I think most of us are doing fine and pretty proficient in using it!
Although reading and math are important, we shouldn't discount other areas of learning - the arts, science, civics, and especially history. I believe we are ALL born creative, but then we grow up and lose it. I hope to prevent this from happening to my kids.
What About Socialization?
This is the question asked by most people! "Oh no, they aren't around kids their age, so how are they getting socialized?" Socialization comes from being around people of ALL ages and not in an institutionalized setting (think prison) segregated by same-aged peers where being in the "in" crowd and conformity is important. Malayna's main socialization comes from caring adults. She is currently in a homeschooling Science Club and we attend park days where she is surrounded by kids of all different ages. Although she tends to be cautious and does not easily assimilate to new situations, this is her personality and not the product of homeschooling!
We've finally filed our private school affidavit and came up with this name for our homeschool, which is really befitting of our green, organic lifestyle. The name comes from Native Americans who believe what we do now will effect the next 7 generations. We hope to live by this rule and become more socially responsible and conscious of our actions.
Why Homeschool?
There are numerous reasons why we homeschool, but the main reason is that my philosophy doesn't coincide with the current public/private school system. I believe in NO homework, NO grades, NO school textbooks and definitely NO standardized testing (especially in the Elementary years). I strongly believe in being self-taught, which I think is the only way to retain any learning. I hope to instill the "love" for learning; not regurgitating facts in order to pass a test, only to be forgotten later. In fact, standardized testing doesn't really measure anything, except maybe your socioeconomic status.
Our current school system is broken; it's also become a business. When billionaires like Bill Gates and the Walton Foundation (Wal-Mart) contribute millions to education under the guise of philanthropy, you have to wonder what their real motives are to "educate" the public. I saw Oprah's special highlighting the documentary Waiting For Superman that is getting a lot of hype and hailed by critics as a must-see on education reform. What they failed to do was present the other side of the debate. I believe the real focus on educational reform is replacing, or a substitute for, a jobs policy. Who's going to fill all those jobs at Wal-Mart? Race to the Top is a way that fits into this new economic order of a so-called jobless recovery and what's really going on is a vocationalization of education. The reformers are trying to privatize schools and call that reform, but I don't believe charter schools are a panacea to the current educational problem. It's easy to blame the schools, the teachers (especially the union) and the students. Instead of pointing fingers and shutting down public schools and firing teachers, they should really look at the core problem - which is inequality and poverty in this country. Not everyone is lucky to be homeschooled or wealthy enough to find good private schools. Until we fix this societal problem, we will continue to have an educational crisis on our hands!
Although I'm homeschooling, I have a vested interest in the public becoming educated because as Thomas Jefferson said, "an educated populace is the best defense of liberty and democracy." Sadly, we are continuing to lose our democracy through our watered-down curriculum in public schools, especially when they re-write history and eliminate civics courses. We need to have a radical shift of our current educational paradigm. Who knows what the future holds, I may have to put my kids back into the "system" one day.
My greatest influence has been a school teacher, John Taylor Gatto, who wrote several books on education - "Dumbing Us Down" and "Weapons of Mass Instruction." Check it out!
Educational Goal
I want my kids to be critical thinkers (have a mind of their own), question authority and challenge the status quo. I hope to avoid all the pitfalls of an institutionalized school where conformity, bullying, cheating, peer dependency and materialism are the norm. I also don't believe in pushing kids beyond what they're capable of and we know what the results of this are: low self-esteem, drop-outs, and sadly some suicides. It's silly and counterproductive to expect every child to read at the age of 5 or 6, which most schools now expect. They use "drill and kill" methods and focus on teaching to the test, which surely is going to produce a lot of unhappy children. Most kids are on their own timetable and we should respect this. I never pushed Malayna to write nor did I expect her to read at the age she did (before 5). In fact, I had initially wanted to do no formal education until she reached 7 years old (like Finland where they have high academic success) using the Waldorf methodology. However, since Malayna showed interest in academics far earlier, I went with what she was interested in doing (what some call child-led education). It's a great joy when I know that she is doing something that she loves - isn't that what true learning is all about? Don't get me wrong, homeschooling is not all roses and there are things that I expect from her, but for the most part self-learning is highly encouraged.
Finally, unstructured play is highly important in the lower grades. Less academics and more free play equals better, happier and more successful children!
Classical Education
This is the method I am following at the moment, but I consider myself more eclectic in my approach (using various curriculum). That's one true beauty of homeschooling; you can change curriculum to fit your child! At the moment, this seems to be working for us. Classical Education is a throw back to an era when literature based education was the norm - not image based, but language based, where you use living books in place of dry textbooks written by a committee of people to bore you to death! "Classical Education depends on a three-part process of training the mind. The early years of school are spent in absorbing facts (Grammar stage), systematically laying the foundations for advanced study. In the middle grades (Logic stage), students learn to think through arguments. In the high school years (Rhetoric stage), they learn to express themselves. This classical pattern is called the trivium."
Since Classical Education is strongly print-based, I believe in limiting digital devices and electronics to young children. My kids are allowed to watch TV (very little), but I try to strictly limit commercialized programs. As far as computers go, I don't see a need at this young age. Although some folks might argue that this might be a disadvantage in the future, I don't believe for a second that this will be a hindrance to my kids, especially when technology changes at lightening speed. Also, how many of us used computers as children? I think most of us are doing fine and pretty proficient in using it!
Although reading and math are important, we shouldn't discount other areas of learning - the arts, science, civics, and especially history. I believe we are ALL born creative, but then we grow up and lose it. I hope to prevent this from happening to my kids.
What About Socialization?
This is the question asked by most people! "Oh no, they aren't around kids their age, so how are they getting socialized?" Socialization comes from being around people of ALL ages and not in an institutionalized setting (think prison) segregated by same-aged peers where being in the "in" crowd and conformity is important. Malayna's main socialization comes from caring adults. She is currently in a homeschooling Science Club and we attend park days where she is surrounded by kids of all different ages. Although she tends to be cautious and does not easily assimilate to new situations, this is her personality and not the product of homeschooling!
Higher Education By John Taylor Gatto
12 Things You Might Not Have Learned in a Classroom
You won’t find “takes honors classes,” “gets good grades,” or “attends only Ivy League schools” on John Taylor Gatto’s list of qualities of an educated person. Gatto taught in New York City schools for 30 years and was named New York State’s Teacher of the Year, but his experiences convinced him that what students need is less time in classrooms and more time out in the world. Building character and community, Gatto argues, is more valuable than learning from tired textbooks and rigid lesson plans.
Really educated people ...
12 Things You Might Not Have Learned in a Classroom
You won’t find “takes honors classes,” “gets good grades,” or “attends only Ivy League schools” on John Taylor Gatto’s list of qualities of an educated person. Gatto taught in New York City schools for 30 years and was named New York State’s Teacher of the Year, but his experiences convinced him that what students need is less time in classrooms and more time out in the world. Building character and community, Gatto argues, is more valuable than learning from tired textbooks and rigid lesson plans.
Really educated people ...
- Establish an individual set of values but recognize those of the surrounding community and of the various cultures of the world.
- Explore their own ancestry, culture, and place.
- Are comfortable being alone, yet understand dynamics between people and form healthy relationships.
- Accept mortality, knowing that every choice affects the generations to come.
- Create new things and find new experiences.
- Think for themselves; observe, analyze, and discover truth without relying on the opinions of others.
- Favor love, curiosity, reverence, and empathy rather than material wealth.
- Choose a vocation that contributes to the common good.
- Enjoy a variety of new places and experiences but identify and cherish a place to call home.
- Express their own voice with confidence.
- Add value to every encounter and every group of which they are a part.
- Always ask: “Who am I? Where are my limits? What are my possibilities?”
Resources
Learn more:
Learn more:
John Taylor Gatto Author of "Dumbing Us Down" and "Weapons of Mass Instruction"
Changing Education Paradigms A short animated video on changing the educational paradigm by Sir Ken Robinson. A must-see!
Are Schools Killing Creativity? A brilliant video by sir Ken Robinson that shouldn't be missed.
Midlife Crisis in Kindergarten A short video. A story of lost brilliance - how we learn the habit of settling for less - told through the eyes of a kindergartner.
The Death and Life of the Great American School System
A great book by the former Assistant Secretary of Education, Diane Ravitch.
The Read-Aloud Handbook The book every parent should own.
Einstein Never Used Flashcards How children learn better in a playful environment. Through play, children become life-long learners. Play = Learning! A must-read.
Higher Education? An interesting book on "How Colleges Are Wasting Our Money and Failing Our Kids---and What We Can Do About It." Hopefully will ignite a national discussion on higher education and if there really is a need.
Lies My Teacher Told Me Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong.
Explains why most students think history is boring and why it's the least favorite subject in school. A history lesson for the rest of us!
BookTV A great resource for many great non-fiction books. Shown every weekend on CSPAN.
