The Educational is Political

I talk with so many people about education, and so often I feel like I haven't managed to communicate why I would want to homeschool. Its hard to do without a three hour conversation. But I want to improve. How about this:

I want for my family far more freedom and self-direction than the system is willing to accommodate.

The educational is so political. Study political science, and you will likely begin with Socrates, whose crime was corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens. What and how we teach our young people is a powerful force to wield.

I recently told a politician I would vote for him because I valued what he had to say about improving public education. I couldn't miss the crestfallen (and maybe confused) look on his face when I said my family would probably homeschool. I'm all contradictions. What I mean is this:  Yes, please improve the public system. Families deserve a quality public option. I want something more radical, but I know most don't.

I know teachers against this awful "ed reform" movement who must think I have drunk the Kool-Aid about how America's public schools are failing. Well, politics makes strange bedfellows. It's finally okay to criticize school. School, which is traditionally associated with apples, kids trotting off with their cute backpacks, young minds growing enlightened as autumnal sunlight beams in their classroom windows.  I had a few days like that in school. But mostly I received damaging messages like: perfection is the goal, the reason to learn is to make money, make sure not to question authority too much, girls usually struggle with math, and my "favorite:" when you are excited about learning you are a nuisance to your teacher and classmates.

For this reason I stand with those who say we don't need ed reform. We need an education revolution. No test, no curriculum adjustment, will solve the problems that are inherent in our current system.

I feel stuck. Do I fight against standardized testing while operating in a system that needs to be fundamentally restructured? Would it be immoral to want free, self-directed education for my child while fighting for something different for other children? Even if it's what they and their families want? I fear the answer is yes, which is why I care so deeply about education yet want nothing to do with a career in schooling.

Critics of some proposed reforms, like vouchers, say that these changes will gut our public schools. Silently, knowing I need a three hour conversation to explain myself, I think: good. We need something new, and there's usually a pile of ashes before a phoenix can rise.

Math: Naming How the World Feels

We've been doing the first chapter in Count on Math, which is about attributes of materials. That's curriculum-speak for adjectives. We went to the beach and felt hot sand and cool, rumbling waves. Before the weather got cool, I set up outside water play with toys for pouring, sinking and floating. I listen as Ladybug observes that the sack of potatoes is very heavy, the food is very hot, water is very wet, and oatmeal is very sticky.

The opportunities for discussion are so numerous that I lose track. I have approached this unit with several books, a few planned activities, and a lot of listening. Bug was already excited to talk about her world, so this gave her another way to do it. She has enjoyed Spiky, Slimy, Smooth: What is Texture? and Wet Dog! We also checked out Dry or Wet by Bruce McMillan.

We've done some cooking together, usually where Bug helps me dump and mix muffin ingredients. We also took a walk and collected leaves, which went along with art (and obviously science). The leaves were brought inside and we fingerpainted them. Today we took about five minutes and played with one "hot" coin and one cold coin.

In between it all we've been seeing friends and getting out in the community. Church School began again, as well as Joyful Noise, our music class. Ladybug was overflowing with happy energy during the first music class. I'm reflecting that, much like her father, for this child music is a necessity that satisfies a very deep need.

When I mentioned to my mom that Ladybug likes poems, mom reflected that poems give words to a feeling or experience, often one that we didn't have a way to talk about before the poem. It seems that the life of a small child is all about these types of intense experiences without words. Parents of toddlers eventually figure out that naming the child's feelings can help with temper tantrums and other outbursts. It's so validating. Mom's idea was that poems are a similar kind of validation. For us, this math chapter has been in the same vein: empower the child to express how her world feels, looks, sounds, and smells.

Packing Up Summer, Easing into Fall

Most of the books I ordered for fall have arrived. There was only one I was really disappointed with (Sounds the Letters Make), but I'm glad to have the rest around. As all this curriculum was delivered to our house, I pondered how I can place such a high value on child-led learning and still crave curriculum. The answer seems to be that the books are mostly for me. I like to read through them and cull ideas, which are then filed away and help to inform my observations of what Ladybug wants to do.

Of the books I ordered, one of my favorites is Count on Math. The first couple of chapters are full of sensory-play ideas--actually appropriate for a very young child. This book is perfect for me. The planning side of me is satisfied with having a mathy book with lesson ideas laid out in a row. And the side of me that's concerned with free play is thrilled that the activities are just that: set up an environment for the child to explore as she will. It reaffirms for me that when we are playing at the beach, stacking toys, or digging in the dirt, that Ladybug is doing and learning exactly what she needs to.

Homeschoolers really enjoy the freedom to create their own family schedules rather than follow the ones required by school. I'm starting to feel that freedom this year. As the days get a little cooler, I think to myself, "Is this it? Are we starting? Should I 'ramp up' or do anything 'official' now?" And I answer myself no, just relax. Keep doing what you're doing and ease into it. Last week we spent a lot of time out of the house, so this week we're doing a lot more just hanging out. Going at a comfy pace.

Most of the "school" books are set aside in the basement for me to check out in the evenings. Ladybug did ask me to read "Math Play," so I read the first activity to her and we wound up singing and clapping and stomping "1 2 3!"  Our current Winnie-the-Pooh is Eeyore Has a Birthday, because several friends have birthdays around now. That fits in nicely. And we've continued reading our poems for each month in Treasury for All Seasons. With my reluctance to let go of summer, I was a particular fan of the final poem for August, "What Shall I Pack in the Box Marked 'Summer'?" The image of carefully storing the fun summer memories is a sweet transition to the new season.