One reason I'm drawn to unschooling is because it allows a child to follow her interests without forcing someone else's notion of what she needs to know on her. The basics are the basics because we all need to know them. If we all need to know them, we will all learn them in due time, without being forced to learn them at a certain time. At least thats how my theory goes.
Anyway, I just don't see the need for parental control in the name of cultivating a child to be his best self. This article encourages me.
1 comment:
Nevermore! That was an awesome Simpsons episode.
If the reading thing is Anna's self chosen goal, its probably less of a struggle for her than a challenge. If its someone else forcing it on her, it may indeed be a struggle. My favorite education quote is from David Elkind "Education is not a race." Just because a child is not reading by 5 doesn't mean they never will. I love all the stories about kids who learn to read much later than others and they 'catch up' quickly.
A friend of mine taught her daughter phonics and she now thinks that she actually slowed the child down because the child was already demonstrating a lot of typical pre-reading skills when she began phonics instruction [the child did not ask for phonics or even show an interest]. The mom was worried she wouldn't learn to read 'in time.' But it sounds to me like it was just more work and stress for everyone. And, she may have been at the exact same place she is now had she been left alone. But maybe not.
I just think that people who want to learn to read will learn to read. And I think most people want to learn to read because they want to find out things without having to rely on others. But it doesn't have to happen at 5.
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