tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post3465243696370174490..comments2024-01-01T08:07:16.443+00:00Comments on Dreaming aloud: Damn Compulsory Education - Part 2Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post-32948576033485296392012-09-15T15:22:16.459+01:002012-09-15T15:22:16.459+01:00I do feel your pain. I am a Montessori teacher and...I do feel your pain. I am a Montessori teacher and have been for almost 20 years. I preface with that just to say that I kind of have a combined teacher/parent perspective. When my boys were young and went to the school where I taught I always felt ENORMOUS pressure for them to be perfect, and when I disagreed with some of what was being said about who they were and some of the behaviors etc, I was sort of given the message that I needed to tow the line or find other employment. I always felt that I was wrong. Now that I am older and a bit wiser(hopefully), I see that my maternal instincts were correct. I cannot tell you how much grief I have at some of those earlier choices. I so applaud you for talking to the teacher. I am just sorry that she didn't listen more fully. <br /><br />I have so many thoughts on the issue that would be too long for a comment, but I just want to encourage you. Your instinct is valid. And it is true that there is sometimes a huge disconnect between home and school...sort of an invisible us and them mentality. I have been working hard to change that perspective on the teaching side and truly listen to parents. But it pains me deeply to hear other teachers constantly complain about parent interference. Parents are after all entrusting that school with their beautiful children. I am actually seriously considering homeschooling my daughter when she gets to be school age(I am again a mom with a toddler at age 43!) but am trying to be open to all options until we get to that point. So many good thoughts your way and thank you for this lovely and honest blog.<br />Emmiehttp://piejesu.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post-66737110080746351302012-09-11T01:10:51.035+01:002012-09-11T01:10:51.035+01:00Thank you for the update -- I feel your struggle s...Thank you for the update -- I feel your struggle still & think you're wise to remind us that if something is NOT working, we can choose to work to change it. I think you absolutely nailed the primary difference between schools and home - we do operate at home from a place of feelings & intuition & schools do not, perhaps can not. Much luck to you & your lovely family in this big transition. urbanwildchild.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10486156035287397034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post-6072075322282996642012-09-09T12:49:31.429+01:002012-09-09T12:49:31.429+01:00its such a tough one, I feel for you and your fami...its such a tough one, I feel for you and your family Lucy!<br />Our LO went to the local playgroup but cried every time (and i could hear her from my yoga class each time)- she would stop- either when she was cuddled or when she fell asleep (shutting down?) - on the 3rd time I heard her crying i took her out- the leader told me they were "leaving her to cry, as they weren't allowed to cuddle the children"- that decided it for me- no more play-school! what kind of people don't cuddle little children when they cry?? <br />She has her name down at the Steiner school to start kindergarten next Easter- although i don't hold Steiner education up there as whats exactly right. I was asked to take my son out of a Steiner school after 6 weeks (he was 3) as they couldn't cope with his special needs- so much for a school that nurtured the individual child! He ended up doing pretty well for a while in mainstream, then we Home ed'd a bit (i went a bit crazy!- I was a single mum with no support) and then he really thrived in a special school. He has just finished 4 years of college and came out with a distinction :) <br />On the other hand my husbands family are all home ed'd- 6 kids!! 1 is now a doctor and 1 is a nurse/midwife in the US. Whats interesting in his family is the girls really resent that they didn't go to school- they really struggled when it came to studying, but the boys just accept how it was- although my husband wants our kids to go to school!! We probably cant afford for our LO to go all the way through Steiner- plus she is very bright (my eldest daughter left Steiner ed at 6 because she was bored), our local school is welsh speaking- so thats another hurdle, I'd be open to Home ed if there were other local families to join with.<br />At the moment its just a case of seeing how it goes! good luck, keep to what you know is right for you and your children- they are all different and have different needs! xxxxRachaelhttp://www.moontimes.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post-58066634233538876822012-09-09T10:30:41.207+01:002012-09-09T10:30:41.207+01:00Oh erin. I started thinking and planning for my ki...Oh erin. I started thinking and planning for my kids education 8 years ago when I was first pregnant. I read books, dreamed dreams, visited the local-ish steiner schooll when he was three weeks old, which no longer exists, tried gathering support to create an alternative school, looked into home schooling, helped set up and educate together school (but dropped out cos of the principal that was appointed)... and now we're back to square one. <br />I hear you, I feel you. And your friend too.<br />it makes my heart weep not just for my children, but all children that school is as it is - and yet there seems no desire form the 99% to do anything to change or question it -and so the dissenting parents are just that, annoying dissenters who are a bit cranky about everything. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08664045557725853106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post-49002657398973135102012-09-08T23:35:25.425+01:002012-09-08T23:35:25.425+01:00this entire saga so far makes me feel so torn and ...this entire saga so far makes me feel so torn and sick and heartbroken and..scared. for what is to come.. i already knew it. i already hear about it from one of my kindreds, with her gloriously, amazing, spirited daughters.. with their wild minds and imaginations, their brilliance.. and then having to sit in a classroom, colouring fucking mickey mouse colouring pages- when at home they're drawing DNA strands because they find them beautiful... <br />fuck. school..... why. why. why did it ever end up in this way? <br />i was hoping so much that there would be a beautiful little natural educate together.. or a lovely little waldorf school for when my daughter is ready. but oh. there is.....not. <br /><br />sigh. i have a few years. so much can change.. but still, i feel ill already. erinhttp://www.starvingartistink.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post-15981262525328634042012-09-08T21:18:13.722+01:002012-09-08T21:18:13.722+01:00Thanks Lucinda. May your miracle happen.
xThanks Lucinda. May your miracle happen.<br />xAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08664045557725853106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post-21330322719602156282012-09-08T21:11:51.434+01:002012-09-08T21:11:51.434+01:00I understand so much what you are going through. O...I understand so much what you are going through. Our just turned 5 year old is going to her last term at the local steiner school after having been there a year. We love it, but can't afford it due to job changes and a new baby. I feel sick at the thought of her going to the local school and have cried for pretty much the last 9 months. I have debated home school on and off and are still undecided. I can honestly say its the most difficult decision. Im praying for a money miracle. Big hugs.Lucindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post-20970763286548166532012-09-08T21:03:51.092+01:002012-09-08T21:03:51.092+01:00Thank you dear friend for seeing me, knowing me, h...Thank you dear friend for seeing me, knowing me, hearing me, getting me, loving me xxxAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08664045557725853106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935975561680117519.post-58893289441491162162012-09-08T20:56:32.408+01:002012-09-08T20:56:32.408+01:00Lucy, I can't say how much I LOVE how you writ...Lucy, I can't say how much I LOVE how you write, you have a way of putting your exact feelings into words and I know that this is what they are... your exact feelings. hugging you, lots of love x x xLaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16646760896578776857noreply@blogger.com