Free recordings from the first online, global homeschooling conference, including all the audio-visual presentations, are available now . . .
For those who do not enjoy and flourish in conventional schools there seem to be few choices: homeschool or enroll in a private school. However, even most of those choices mimic the conventional school model, so for someone who does not learn or enjoy the way school teaches they are not great options . . .
Carlo and I finally published this book! I think it was worth the wait and I hope you'll agree. Pat Farenga talks about the creation of this book and Holt's legacy and work this Friday, August 23, 11AM, at the free, online global Homeschooling Conference.
This inaugural conference is our attempt to bring together as many groups and people who have a genuine interest in helping children learn in their own ways and schedules, rather than forcing children to learn what economists, politicians, and educators have decided they should know at any given age. Steve Hargadon and I have created this event rather quickly this year, but we decided we had to give it a shot and bring it to life on our own rather than continue to wait for sponsorship and the perfect moment . . .
Read More
The Common Core Curriculum eliminates handwriting in favor of teaching keyboarding skills instead. This might make sense on paper, but are we seeing the future clearly with this change?
Read More
Colllege enrollments and tuitions rose like bottle rockets for years but now they are crashing as quickly as spent fireworks.
A new study shows that exposing children under 2 to learning videos, apps, and other screen-based educational products is not effective and the educational claims being made by the manufacturers are overblown. But parents seeking an edge for their child continue to purchase these products . . .
Homeschool Alumni Reaching Out (HARO), wants to be a nonprofit that provides physical, legal, and financial assistance to current and former homeschoolers in unhealthy situations.
Read More
What a treasure this is: If you meet anyone who claims homeschooled children can't get into college, or will have extreme difficulty being admitted, please direct them to this web page. It was updated in 2013 and provides hard evidence that being homeschooled won't stop you from getting into a selective college or university.
Read More
Pat Farenga speaking with French homeschoolers in Paris, July 3, 2013. The similarities and differences between France and the United States about homeschooling are striking.
Mary Leue writes about the new book, The Legacy of John Holt, and reminds us of the very touching tribute the Finn girls provided in GWS 49: "It is the best memorial tribute to John Holt I have ever heard, and never fails to move me to tears!"
Day Farenga at the Eiffel Tower, July 4. Did that really happen?
Read More
Read excerpts from the soon-to-be published new book about the life and influence of John Holt: The Legacy of John Holt: A Man Who Genuinely Understood, Trusted, and Respected Children.
Read More
Susannah Sheffer, the longest-serving editor at Growing Without Schooling magazine, has just had a stunning collection of her poems published: This Kind of Knowing. Susannah's essays and poems have appeared in numerous magazines and journals, and she is the author of four books, most recently Fighting for Their Lives: Inside the Experience of Capital Defense Attorneys.
"Don't
limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time."—Rabindranath
Tagore.
The young man in this video makes a strong case about this, and other learning issues, from the point of view of the learner . . .
Though we are pushing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as the skills most needed to compete economically with the rest of the world, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates jobs that require empathic skills are also surging in demand . . .
Education and Consumerism: Have schools confused being a consumer with being a citizen? Ivan Illich wrote, "The existence of schools produces the demand for schooling. Once we have learned to need school, all our activities tend to take the shape of client relationships to other specialized institutions . . ."
The status symbol of a university degree is wrapped up in many values for Chinese and American education consumers: their high cost, the scarcity of top-level teachers and resources, public bragging rights about you or your child’s intelligence, and so on. I’m reminded of Ivan Illich’s phrase, “The university graduate has been schooled for selective service among the rich of the world.” . . .
Read about Cevin Soling's new project: "Seeking submissions of student works expressing their hatred of school for publication . . ."
Escape From Childhood is back in print as a paperback for the first time in over 20 years! Plus a preview of the new book The Legacy of John Holt: A Man Who Genuinely Understood, Trusted, and Respected Children.