Freedom and Learning

[Kayla Doreo]

I wrote a blog on our family blogspot that specifically addresses my thoughts on association of freedom and learning. Basically, it's really a rant about homeschooling requirements that we have in TN. I've been looking into it and came across the requirements. All the requirements are put in place as attempts to keep things within the schooling/education box. I think the requirements are silly but it is the law in the area. Seriously, less govt in our children's lives, the better. We do not need the mandates of 'you need to do all this or else you're not eligible to compulsorily teach your children'. No, nobody is truly has the right to force the kids to learn, but anyone can do that. No degree necessary to shove a math book in front of a kid and say, "you have an hour to finish this or else".

Anyway, this says it all.

Freedom is Earned?

[melissa]

here in italy we have a yearly exam for homeschoolers. It is not standardized and each individual school decides what should go on it. the child is examined in front of 3 teachers with written and oral. My dd who is 9 and has taken 2 of these exams so far has done just fine, without having ever had to force a text book infront of her. she has the school books (work books, really) and she does them when she feels like (or not;o). around march she picks up momentum, looking at, and working thru the math and grammar worksheets at a more rhythmic pace---she still is learning in freedom, but because she knows she will be tested, she looks at the workbooks more than I think she would if she did not have to be tested.

I dont push, but I do add the suggestion to "do workbooks" at the end of my "Im bored" list...if she gets to the end still saying no, at least half the time she will decide to do a page or two.

xxmelissa who is unschooling in a country that has almost no homeschoolers.

[Karri Lewis]

That is what the role of "conscientious objector" is for.