Amen. What's sad is it's exponential - most people who got through traditional schooling see nothing wrong with sending their own kids.
Sinda | Homepage | 08.31.07 - 9:36 am | #

Exactly. And a wonderful antidote to those who think the problem with schools is that they aren't "embracing the new technology". I have a post about that up

http://jovecanada.typepad.com/tr...hey-still- .html
JoVE | Homepage | 08.31.07 - 10:46 am | #

I meant to tell you on your previous psot how jealous I am of you getting to hear Gatto speak. Unschooling as an approach really appeals to me.
kactus | Homepage | 08.31.07 - 10:47 am | #

wow, interesting stuff. Looking forward to the rest of the coverage.
more cowbell | Homepage | 09.01.07 - 3:34 am | #

One thing to consider, though, is that the belief that these things are best left to the home environment works on the assumption that the home environment values creativity, motivation, and like things. In those cases where the presiding home value is more along the lines of being the good citizen and not thinking beyond that, then having a public shared education provides a chance that otherwise wouldn't exist. I truly believe that I would not have been as open-minded and argumentative about the world had I not been exposed to the free-thinkers that taught my classes in high school. I think well-taught children can be well-taught anywhere, but the quality of that education depends on the person teaching, and one of my favorite things about education is that it offers the chance for children to believe things other than what their parents told them to.

(Thanks for your blog...I just started commenting, but I've been reading for a while.)
fizzyg | 09.02.07 - 10:13 pm | #