Unschooling

Aden · 04-25-2010, 10:12 AM

Interesting thread.
First thing I found interesting were several choice words throughout - Liberal, Conservatives, Communism... Seems it is a bureaucracy.

Anyways, letting kids pick their cirriculum? I don't know. I guess the first thing I'd be worried about is the work ethic that would develop. Kids these days don't like homework and will fight and moan about it, but it's gotta get done because the school system knows it's expected. Let them choose a program that's foot loose and fancy free, I wonder how much work would actually be getting done. Because, really, kids have better things to do these days then study or do homework. If it's a choice, I'd bet at least 75% kids wouldn't do it. And we're GOOD at making excuses.

My school offers a few programs for kids in different levels (ex. Math Pure, Math Applied; Chem/Bio/Physics or Science) that sort of helps to teach at different levels.
We've also got a CPS course (Carrer Planning...Something. Studies maybe) which is an optional course you can take instead of having spares. I took it, because the "cool" kids took spares and that'd give me WAY to much chance to run into them, but it was a neat program. Lots of little units in crazy things such as Enviromental Issues, Health Care system... Kind of little bits and peices of what you'd find in carreer choices. Each unit you complete gives you three credits.
It's an OPTIONAL course, so it's pretty bare. Kids get to choose what they want to do, and work it their own pace. Now, some kids who don't have the option of getting spares are put into this course, and I've seen them **** around with the same unit for weeks on end and just not doing the work. Because it's not a graded class, you just get credits that'll add up for when you graduate. But I could see that happening a lot in "Unschooling".

Not that public school is a god-send, by any means. It's ****ed, too. I just don't see how anyone could fix it. I don't mind the school work, per se, but being the loser than I am, I find the atmosphere reallly sucks, mostly with peers, some with teachers.

I dropped out when I was 14 for two months, went back and had to work like a dog to catch up to everyone again. It was physics that I was having issues with and I just couldn't get it. I can't even remember what I was trying to learn, but I had stayed after class with the teacher so he could explain it to me better but just watching it being wrote wasn't really helping and he was looking at me like, "****, you're a useless bastard". He had to go "hands on" instead of just writing it on the blackboard so I could get it and he was really frustrated, at the situation or me, I don't know, but I felt bad and I felt like crap cause I could see he didn't even want to deal with me.
My ex-gym teacher couldn't stand me. I hate sports, and I hate gym. Again, you know, I think the loser roll comes into play cause there's nothing like tackle football to let the bullies really slam you and get away with it. I mean pile drive you into the ground with a kidney shot. But he was an aggressive teacher and that's what he liked to see. I'm not aggressive; I've had girlfriends beat me up. You know when someone see's you and this look of disgust or disdain crosses their face? That's what it was like. I forged so many notes to skip it. He passed me only because he never wanted to see me again.

Kids are even worse. In the hallway, washroom, parking lot, assembly line, the teacher goes for a coffee while working in the classroom.. They never quit. It's like walking through a war zone sometimes and you never know when the enemy could strike. A long time ago (unconcious habit, maybe? I don't remember doing it) I trained myself not to use the washroom at school, I don't go anywhere near the cafeteria nor the gym/playing field outside. I remember about five years ago the teacher's came while I was getting the **** beat out of me - I ended up with a broken finger and bloody nose, etc - and we were both sent home for the day. Good fight, buddy, see you tomorrow.
Everyone knows, but no one really has the time to try and do anything about it because there's always something else going on.

I think the biggest problem with the school system itself is the people. Truth be told, I'm not sure it's ever going to be fixable because people just don't want to change.

04-25-2010, 10:12 AM	#29 (permalink)
Aden Groupie Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 47	Interesting thread. First thing I found interesting were several choice words throughout - Liberal, Conservatives, Communism... Seems it is a bureaucracy. Anyways, letting kids pick their cirriculum? I don't know. I guess the first thing I'd be worried about is the work ethic that would develop. Kids these days don't like homework and will fight and moan about it, but it's gotta get done because the school system knows it's expected. Let them choose a program that's foot loose and fancy free, I wonder how much work would actually be getting done. Because, really, kids have better things to do these days then study or do homework. If it's a choice, I'd bet at least 75% kids wouldn't do it. And we're GOOD at making excuses. My school offers a few programs for kids in different levels (ex. Math Pure, Math Applied; Chem/Bio/Physics or Science) that sort of helps to teach at different levels. We've also got a CPS course (Carrer Planning...Something. Studies maybe) which is an optional course you can take instead of having spares. I took it, because the "cool" kids took spares and that'd give me WAY to much chance to run into them, but it was a neat program. Lots of little units in crazy things such as Enviromental Issues, Health Care system... Kind of little bits and peices of what you'd find in carreer choices. Each unit you complete gives you three credits. It's an OPTIONAL course, so it's pretty bare. Kids get to choose what they want to do, and work it their own pace. Now, some kids who don't have the option of getting spares are put into this course, and I've seen them ** around with the same unit for weeks on end and just not doing the work. Because it's not a graded class, you just get credits that'll add up for when you graduate. But I could see that happening a lot in "Unschooling". Not that public school is a god-send, by any means. It's ed, too. I just don't see how anyone could fix it. I don't mind the school work, per se, but being the loser than I am, I find the atmosphere reallly sucks, mostly with peers, some with teachers. I dropped out when I was 14 for two months, went back and had to work like a dog to catch up to everyone again. It was physics that I was having issues with and I just couldn't get it. I can't even remember what I was trying to learn, but I had stayed after class with the teacher so he could explain it to me better but just watching it being wrote wasn't really helping and he was looking at me like, ", you're a useless bastard". He had to go "hands on" instead of just writing it on the blackboard so I could get it and he was really frustrated, at the situation or me, I don't know, but I felt bad and I felt like crap cause I could see he didn't even want to deal with me. My ex-gym teacher couldn't stand me. I hate sports, and I hate gym. Again, you know, I think the loser roll comes into play cause there's nothing like tackle football to let the bullies really slam you and get away with it. I mean pile drive you into the ground with a kidney shot. But he was an aggressive teacher and that's what he liked to see. I'm not aggressive; I've had girlfriends beat me up. You know when someone see's you and this look of disgust or disdain crosses their face? That's what it was like. I forged so many notes to skip it. He passed me only because he never wanted to see me again. Kids are even worse. In the hallway, washroom, parking lot, assembly line, the teacher goes for a coffee while working in the classroom.. They never quit. It's like walking through a war zone sometimes and you never know when the enemy could strike. A long time ago (unconcious habit, maybe? I don't remember doing it) I trained myself not to use the washroom at school, I don't go anywhere near the cafeteria nor the gym/playing field outside. I remember about five years ago the teacher's came while I was getting the ** beat out of me - I ended up with a broken finger and bloody nose, etc - and we were both sent home for the day. Good fight, buddy, see you tomorrow. Everyone knows, but no one really has the time to try and do anything about it because there's always something else going on. I think the biggest problem with the school system itself is the people. Truth be told, I'm not sure it's ever going to be fixable because people just don't want to change.