This essay is not an argument for non-schooling, it is also not a plea for graduating from Harvard at seventeen. It is about the learning journey. About the nest, and learning to fly.
“Learning starts with love. Love starts in you.” And love means paying full and deep attention to who you are with, what you are doing, what you are learning. Ivan Illich has a lot of good things to say about real education ie not the state produced version, but how we all used to learn, from our parents, our elders, our peers. Definitely not from the Machine 😊
Yes, read Unschooling Society a few years back and was amazed at his clarity. It has been fifty years or so since he wrote that and so much has only gotten worse. Big frustration for me. And it hardly makes a difference whether in France, the US, or Britain. Loved how he saw the exact same effects in other institutions, way ahead of his time.
But I must admit, I've stopped attempting to reform the system, and just try to make sense of my own life and process.....asking myself what a better form would look like.
More time with your son, perhaps, or find him an elder he respects and can learn from. Wish I’d followed my own advice 😂 they all turned out ok, but v little credit to me.
From my perspective (with kids all grown up now) the teenage years are the toughest time for any parent. I remember the sleepless nights from worries... but we all survived and remained friends along the way. Learning starts with love. Yes! And teaching should start with love too.
Thank you Veronika, I also have two adult daughters, both in University, and both struggling to find their path. All three first went to the same Steiner school, but Jobbe, my son, attended ten years later. Things had shifted from a pretty wonderful learning place to a system conforming administration by then. No regrets about taking him out of school, but it definitely isn't a easy road. It now often feels like there is no road at all and practicing trust is central.
Yeah, with so many more options for kids these days, it doesn't necessarily make it easier to find one's path. I always felt that the best we can do as parents is to be a 'good role model' and find our own path.
Josh and I feel in many ways that we're at the same stage as our 'kids' in terms of finding our path, which makes for many interesting conversations in our household (or zooming across borders).
Do I see the remnants of the teacher in you?
Swipe swipe swipe says the Green Man; a child is the upgrade of you 🤔
“Learning starts with love. Love starts in you.” And love means paying full and deep attention to who you are with, what you are doing, what you are learning. Ivan Illich has a lot of good things to say about real education ie not the state produced version, but how we all used to learn, from our parents, our elders, our peers. Definitely not from the Machine 😊
Yes, read Unschooling Society a few years back and was amazed at his clarity. It has been fifty years or so since he wrote that and so much has only gotten worse. Big frustration for me. And it hardly makes a difference whether in France, the US, or Britain. Loved how he saw the exact same effects in other institutions, way ahead of his time.
But I must admit, I've stopped attempting to reform the system, and just try to make sense of my own life and process.....asking myself what a better form would look like.
More time with your son, perhaps, or find him an elder he respects and can learn from. Wish I’d followed my own advice 😂 they all turned out ok, but v little credit to me.
Beautiful post, Bertus. Totally resonate.
From my perspective (with kids all grown up now) the teenage years are the toughest time for any parent. I remember the sleepless nights from worries... but we all survived and remained friends along the way. Learning starts with love. Yes! And teaching should start with love too.
Thank you Veronika, I also have two adult daughters, both in University, and both struggling to find their path. All three first went to the same Steiner school, but Jobbe, my son, attended ten years later. Things had shifted from a pretty wonderful learning place to a system conforming administration by then. No regrets about taking him out of school, but it definitely isn't a easy road. It now often feels like there is no road at all and practicing trust is central.
Yeah, with so many more options for kids these days, it doesn't necessarily make it easier to find one's path. I always felt that the best we can do as parents is to be a 'good role model' and find our own path.
Josh and I feel in many ways that we're at the same stage as our 'kids' in terms of finding our path, which makes for many interesting conversations in our household (or zooming across borders).
Yes Pascalle, you hit the demon on the head....
Luckily the boy teaches me on a daily basis.