Hey Folks, I am new to this discourse community, this tribe, and am really loving it. And coming from where I come, it is TOTALLY FASCINATING how the ideas that are resonating here, about the nature of “real” education, choice in learning and what propels deep engagement, and the punishments and toxicities of the institution, parallel very directly the so called “alternative school” movement in this country. Beginning with the radical school critics of the 1960s (John Holt, Ivan Illich), who felt that the institution couldn’t be reformed, there are little bands of outliers who have been pursuing free school and democratic school models for decades. But they’re not on Netvibes, EduCon, Bloglines, or even the Huff Post. They are very invisible politically (something I get on them about–link to upcoming piece about that.)

How might we get these tribes together? There is much mutual learning that might occur…

http://northeastunschoolingconference.com/Whatsitlike.html

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=4778233706

http://eligerzon.com/worldschooling.php

I was thinking that maybe 7th grade would be a great last formal year with a year transition into the Unschooling world with some structure to retrain and then off to learn. See a mix of field trips, adventures and virtual experiences.

Stephen Heppell who blogs at heppell.net has talked about this extensively.

I genuinely believe that this approach will work for many, many students who struggle with the auditory approach to learning so common in schools over the past hundred and fifty years.

Personally, I think that you need more than just a screen, so how about field trips say 4-6 times a year to do immersive learning in; space science, survival skills, charitable work.

I hope this helps
@bartoneducation

However in the interest of not digressing, I think the important thing is that we look in the mirror and stop making excuses and getting defensive. We spend way too much time trying to justify things that are just unjustifiable.

Schools need to change big time. This is not a teacher thing, it is the structure within which teachers are asked to do their jobs that is the problem. Just continuing to do things the way we have done them for ??? years because we can’t think of a better way is insanity.

There are better ways and the saddest part is that keeping kids out of schools in many instances is better. Hopefully, we can put our energy into coming up with better options. From reading the great comments here, many are already doing this. Unfortunately, it is an overwhelming minority of our schools.

Sometimes as an educator I can become arrogant. I think that students who don’t like to learn have had the “joy of learning” beat out of them by school. Most of the students that I know who don’t like to learn have parents who don’t like to learn, and come from homes where learning new things is not a priority. It is not the fault of the hard working teachers who went before me.

And kudos to all you teachers who have inspired kids to learn who come from a situation where learning isn’t supported at home.