Thursday, January 29, 2009

INDEPENDENT LEARNING IN PRACTICE



HOMESCHOOLING IS FUN! 

Here is a small preview. 
But you can also get a larger one on Amazon:


Preface
I recently read in a book about advertising, that PR strategies have a lot in common with military planning and advance: It’s usually about overwhelming, reinforcing and maintaining a position on the conquered territory.

It may not seem very civilized, but that’s how things often work in our world. - It’s a very basic and primitive way of existing!

One should think, that in institutions devoted to education, such as schools and universities, more enlightened measures were used.
Sadly this is not the case. Far too often education is based on the same barbaric principal of overwhelm, threat and fear.
Although these days physical punishment may no longer be used, you have to look for a long, long time before finding a teacher who practices a free and non-suppressive style of teaching and who will allow the pupils to gain knowledge by investigating and experimenting!

Education is almost always funded by somebody or something in power, which demands that it is in line with the beliefs (and interests!) of that financial source.

That’s why we have chosen independent learning.
- So that our children can have a taste of freedom right from the beginning!




What is Independent Learning?

Independent Learning covers four different types of studying for students in the basic school years:

- Home-schooling


- Un-schooling


- Private tutoring


- Attending a private school, which is not sponsored and which allows its pupils to use independent, un-manipulated teaching materials


In this book we will take a look at all possibilities, but mainly focus on home-schooling and un-schooling, since this is what you as a parent will need most help with, if you should decide to put it into practice.Should you choose private tutoring or sending your child to a private school, the thing you are most in need of will perhaps be other parents that can recommend you a suitable school or a tutor (with a good reputation), that you can trust to treat your child well.





The difference between
home-schooling and un-schooling



It is called home-schooling, when you teach your child at home, using the books and materials that follow a particular curriculum.



As for un-schooling, I have to admit, I myself have only just found out the meaning of the term, even though I have been doing it for years.

Imagine that!

I simply didn’t know, that what we had been doing was considered a method and had earned its own name.

Un-schooling is when you allow your child to teach him-/herself.
He/she would typically be given inspiration and impulses, even goals and targets, but it’s all based on a very free type of tutoring, that is not intended to talk down to the pupil or sees knowledge as something that needs to be enforced upon a person.

All one does, is inspire the pupil, have him choose what he/she wants to do, agree upon targets and check the progress, help and explain, until he/she reaches his/her goal.
__________________________




But can anyone just go ahead and do it?




Don’t you need an education and approval by the authorities?
What about marks and exams?


Children need to be with other children, need to learn to fight their way through… a couple of bruises form their character, don’t they?
And surely one can’t expect to get a job or make a decent living in our modern world, without having been to university or a college?
No company would ever hire such a person!


Really?
Well, just read on and you will find the answers to these and many other questions and worries that caring parents like you are bound to have!

The book is now available here: