The
teacher pretended that algebra was a perfectly natural
affair, to be taken for granted, whereas I didn't even
know what numbers were. Mathematics classes became sheer
terror and torture to me. I was so intimidated by my
incomprehension that I did not dare to ask any questions.
Carl
Jung (1875 - 1961)
The
Distant Stars Tragically
there are many who can empathize with Carl Jung. One
parent once told me she associates math with clouds.
I understood her perfectly! Every time the math teacher
walked into the classroom she would gaze out the window
at the sky, seeking refuge in the vastness of eternity.
She is not alone. For her the distant stars were more
attainable than an understanding of algebra. What
had become of the natural curiosity, the genetically
encoded impulse to learn, with which she was born? I
think we all know the answer to that one!
To
Boldly Go She was but one of the countless
casualties of the traditional and formal education system
through which her generation passed. It was a delight
to witness her astonishment upon discovering she could
attain the unattainable and enjoy the journey in the
process. It is that spirit of adventure and curiosity
that made Star Trek such compulsive viewing. For the
crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise each new day was an encounter
with new worlds where fresh horizons, fraught
with challenging situations that expanded the mind
and immersed the senses, beckoned. Many homeschooling
families, I imagine, can rightly lay claim to "have
boldly gone."
The
Creative Tension An
underlying theme of the series was the relationship
between Mr Spock and Dr McCoy. A clash of cultures and
temperaments that drew and repelled each in turn and
ultimately affected a change in both. I am sure there
are numerous aspects of state education that repel
us and frustrate us in equal measure, but within those
systems exist individuals who inspire and transform
lives despite the constraints and difficulties they
encounter. Individuals who instinctively lean towards
the philosophy expounded by The Family Unschoolers Network
as plants leans towards the sun. The tension that
existed between Spock and McCoy was powerful yet creative.
Having met neither was ever the same again. Except for
the existence of Starfleet neither would have met
and each would have been the poorer. Where, however,
does the common ground exist for teachers and homeschoolers
who share the same philosophy of learning and aspirations
for their children?
The
Distant Country The
gradual emergence of community schools threatens
to render obsolete the hostilities within the education
community. A growing recognition that the current
model of state education is unsustainable, unworkable
and undesireable is gaining pace. Respected and influential
voices have already begun to expound their vision for
the future. Schools as such would cease to exist and
be replaced by learning centers open to all the community
throughout the day and evening. Other agencies would
be embraced by this model to ensure ease of access to
different sections of society. Grandma could collect
her pension then attend her computer class with her
grandchild. The point
is these models would be inclusive. A homeschooling
parent and child would be as entitled to access them
as anyone else - and just as welcome. Within the context
of such a model the experience and expertise of homeschoolers
everywhere would prove an invaluable resource indeed.
But that's another story.
Next:
That's Up To You
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