We got back from an HE camp late last night and I've just now read all your comments here. Thank you for all of them and thank you also for respecting the spirit of the debate and this quite without any policing whatsoever, please note!
I really do hope ever more fervently for a positive outcome from the review process. The camp made me even more acutely aware of how precious autonomous home education is.
These autonomous young people are extraordinary. I do believe they are now quite different from their schooled peers. They haven't been lied to in subtle and confusing ways. eg: they haven't been told not to bully whilst themselves being perenially bullied by the very people who tell them not to do it, they haven't been taught to believe in democracy whilst living in an autocracy, they haven't been told to believe in the value of free thought, whilst being told very precisely what to think, etc, and this sort of thing means that they are very clear on matters of ethics and epistemology.
They are kind, witty, generous, co-operative, responsible, discerning, shrewd and strong. Their example should be shining like a beacon as the way forward for education, rather than be facing the threat of extinction.
6 comments:
Its lovely to have such positive observations. It can be really demoralising at the moment even though its really important to discuss everything thats going on.
I have never been on a home ed camp although I'd love to. Dh is a teacher and never off at the time of camps and I don't feel confident camping on my own with 2 young children. Still this will change over time and I'm looking forward to it.
Really glad you enjoyed it.
Jo
I so missed being there with you this year!
One of my most favourite things is sitting with a cuppa in the mornings on the patio outside the kichen, watching children being children. Free to run through those woods, build dens, play complex games, living a little dangerously knowing we are on hand to help ONLY if asked, otherwise left alone to have so much fun!!
All the other stuff we do there, the kayaling, treasure hunts etc is all an added bonus but that free range fun and education they get for themselves, is so worth seeing.
Having had children in school and out of it, I have never seen the like anywhere else but at home ed camps like this one.
We missed you too no-shoes, but your spirit was there!
Dear Jo,
I'd say good call re camps. For me it was sometimes quite a challenge managing just one, never mind 2 young ones on my own at many camps, and this even when we went with other supportive families we knew well. Not that I would have missed it...just that I now realise how much easier it can be!
I managed very easily once they turned 6, but they did know lots of other people there very, very well indeed.
Do hope you enjoy it when you do eventually get round to it...perhaps you should come down this way!
This comment of yours will have to go down in my book of best ever quotes! It explains the whole problem with coercion and the poor thinking and hypocrisy that ensues:
"(Autonomously educated young people) haven't been lied to in subtle and confusing ways. eg: they haven't been told not to bully whilst themselves being perenially bullied by the very people who tell them not to do it, they haven't been taught to believe in democracy whilst living in an autocracy, they haven't been told to believe in the value of free thought, whilst being told very precisely what to think, etc, and this sort of thing means that they are very clear on matters of ethics and epistemology."
d
Actually, I was thinking about this on the way down to Bristol today.
And whilst I was chatting to three autonomously educated young people.........you are so right and it must be said loudly and clearly...
Can you expand on this a bit more and send it on an A4 piece of paper?
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