Alternative forms of schooling

[Jonse]

Question...what do you define as social conditioning? I disagree to allowing the internet and a computer be my children's guide. I think that is a bad idea. Would be interested to know how that little experiment works out for you though...

Well, it worked out from me. My parents and family members have little to no understanding of politics, economics and the nature of life. People had told me when I was a teenager things like "Bush raised the gas prices", and after I questioned why, they said "because".

I live in Arizona. There was nobody around to serve as mentor and the school systems here are awful.

If it weren't for the internet, I would undoubtedly be locked in a very narrow minded, bandwagon view, probably voting for Obama hoping ignorantly that something might change, watching network news and believing them that "Ron Paul is crazy"...because I had the resources available, I was able to learn knowledge, something that, as has been previously pointed out, is much different than being "taught".


Social conditioning to me can be teaching a child during the developmental years anything that is entirely subjective as though it is fact. This can be anything, but it is general either political or religious, and it general goes along the lines of "this is what is true" as opposed to "here is the information, here's how to read it, you figure out what is true", which I believe is the way a child needs to be educated to build a structured mind that relies on research instead of speculation.

 

[moostraks]

Well, it worked out from me. My parents and family members have little to no understanding of politics, economics and the nature of life. People had told me when I was a teenager things like "Bush raised the gas prices", and after I questioned why, they said "because".

I live in Arizona. There was nobody around to serve as mentor and the school systems here are awful.

If it weren't for the internet, I would undoubtedly be locked in a very narrow minded, bandwagon view, probably voting for Obama hoping ignorantly that something might change, watching network news and believing them that "Ron Paul is crazy"...because I had the resources available, I was able to learn knowledge, something that, as has been previously pointed out, is much different than being "taught".


Social conditioning to me can be teaching a child during the developmental years anything that is entirely subjective as though it is fact. This can be anything, but it is general either political or religious, and it general goes along the lines of "this is what is true" as opposed to "here is the information, here's how to read it, you figure out what is true", which I believe is the way a child needs to be educated to build a structured mind that relies on research instead of speculation.

Do you have children? It is the responsibility of parents to protect and rear their children. Throwing young children at the vast information on the internet with no b.s meter to filter the information will get you a very confused individual. You contradict your own claims when you formulate guidelines on how to read the information as at that point you will insert your bias as to how to sift through what is necessary and unnecessary. The way one ascertains what is subjective is well....very subjective and based upon one's past experiences in large part. So the children aren't going to be able to decide what is true for themselves until they have the experience from which to pass judgement. That is why parents should help guide their children until they are strong enough to make their own judgements. It is similar to raising flowers. You can't just toss seed into the wind and expect that the flower patch won't be overrun with weeds. You also can't raise them in a sterile environment and expect you can toss the flower out in the world once it has grown and it will survive just fine. There is a happy balance of exposure to the elements once a beings roots are established so you achieve the healthiest outcome.

 

[Eagles' Wings]

How would you encourage a highschooler, who has been used to public education, to consider un-schooling? This is a very bright kid who under-achieves and slowly loses confidence as the year progresses. Parents will not just pull out of ps because kid wants to be there.

 

[Barrex]

I would seriously advise that you try this one:

https://www.coursera.org/



It is free, effective and you choose what to study. It is awesome.

 

[Eagles' Wings]

I would seriously advise that you try this one:

https://www.coursera.org/



It is free, effective and you choose what to study. It is awesome.

Thanks, Barrex, this looks fantastic. Now to work on convincing student that this is the way to go. Or, one of the possibilities.

 

[Natural Citizen]

This guy is nailing it right. On now is a discussion with Dr. Robert Rose who suggests changes we could make to the school system.

There is nothing he has said yet that i do not absolutely agree with. http://www.newsradioklbj.com/Other/Stream.html

Almost over though.

 

[Eagles' Wings]

This guy is nailing it right. On now is a discussion with Dr. Robert Rose who suggests changes we could make to the school system.

There is nothing he has said yet that i do not absolutely agree with. http://www.newsradioklbj.com/Other/Stream.html

Almost over though.

I read over much of his material on website. I wrote him and hope to get his insight. Thanks for the info.

 

[Natural Citizen]

I read over much of his material on website. I wrote him and hope to get his insight. Thanks for the info.

Here is the discussion from last night. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIgpvw8bFfU
Just listen to the first hour for his discussion on "schooling".

Irrelevant of the first hour discussion on schooling, the latter couple of hours is discussion with theoretical physicist Amit Goswami, a pioneer of the new paradigm called "science within consciousness." He discussed the nature of consciousness, evolution, and how the notion of God is connected with quantum physics. In a sense, basic reality is comprised of consciousness and all possibilities are contained within that, he said, noting that past, present, and future are included in this, so that we are left with a kind of timelessness, or eternity, as it's referred to in spiritual traditions. We are here because consciousness wants to manifest possibilities, and through the setting up of limitations, we are able to evolve to subtler and subtler forms of manifestations, he continued.

A source of causal power (called "downward causation" in religion) allows for possibility to become actuality, he explained. Consciousness communicates with matter and doesn't require any signal, as matter is part of consciousness itself, and this quantum non-locality (signal-less communication) "gives us the basic measurable concept that can then verify the existence of God," Goswami stated. Regarding, evolution, "the data suggests very strongly that while there are continuous epochs of evolution, there are also very quick bursts of evolution," which could be seen as quantum leaps, or the creativity of consciousness itself, he noted.

He also addressed the subject of quantum medicine. Quantum physics legitimizes what are called subtle bodies-- which includes feelings and thoughts and the mental world, he said. This means that in addition to our physical body, we have a vital body that we feel, a mental body that thinks and gives meaning, and an intuitional body. According to Goswami, disease can occur not just to the physical body but to the subtle bodies as well, and treatments such as acupuncture and homeopathy can be particularly effective on the subtle bodies.

I had mentioned the discussion with Amit in the Bill Nye thread but it's since been abandoned. Is interesting because Amit actually agreed that science is by default false. In effect...

 

[XNavyNuke]

How would you encourage a highschooler, who has been used to public education, to consider un-schooling? This is a very bright kid who under-achieves and slowly loses confidence as the year progresses. Parents will not just pull out of ps because kid wants to be there.

Gift the student in question a copy of the Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn. It is written specifically to be read by teens, not their parental unit(s).

Good luck!

XNN

 

[Eagles' Wings]

Gift the student in question a copy of the Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn. It is written specifically to be read by teens, not their parental unit(s).

Good luck!

XNN

Thanks, XNN. Have ordered a couple of her books from Amazon and can't wait to show student.

 

[allen09]

Gift the student in question a copy of the Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn. It is written specifically to be read by teens, not their parental unit(s).

Good luck!

XNN

What was the book all about? What issues are being tackled?
Planning to buy the book soon for reference purposes.

 

[Eagles' Wings]

Asking for thoughts/prayers for a special intention involving an individual in traditional highschool. So close to making a choice for alternative schooling. Strong influences that want to silence that choice. Thank you.

 

[brandon]

How about NO "schooling" and just learning? Children are hard-wired to learn. But they learn in their own way at their own rate. Let them. The idea that children need to be force fed some curriculum on a fixed timetable is diametrically opposed to the way learning naturally occurs. Provide a good role model. Provide ample resources. Curb your agenda, get out of the way, and let nature take its course.

Based on my own experience I'm totally with you here. I basically dropped out in 8th or 9th grade and I'm doing very well. The thing is, I don't think every kid is as motivated to learn independently as I was. And I learned a ton in college that I doubt I would have learned on my own. But overall we really do need to move in this direction,or at least have it as an option for some kids.