Growing Without Schooling 52

GRoWll{G WITHOUT SGHOOLING

keep from wrltlng IeEEers. If he had an bDlnton. he told someone - no matELr how'famous Ehat Person mtghr be. If he wanted to know something' he aeked - no maEter that no one elge

was asklng the same thlng. t'lhen.John had someEhlng to say, he hrroEe !E down, and moie oflen than noE he sent it tn the maiL to someone who would soon i{rlEe back. So John'e corresPon-

dence files conEaln llteralIY hundreds of conversatlons. If hls

publtshed writtngs are'- even.at-Ehelr

freshesE, necessarlly Ehe end ot a particul;r paEh of thoughc, Ehe leEEers leE ue see John quesElonlng' doubtlng, EeettnS thlnSs ouE' and withouE reallzlng lE - dre$tlng tor us the rlch Dersonal, Polltical and sociecal background agalnsE which his acEual dally work wes seE. As you saw ln Ehe lagt lgsuer we John Hblt was alwaYs surPrising have begirn planntng speclal.scttv!oeoole. He Eook some delight in thls; tieE here each month lnEcead ot a 8en- 6ftin. when he had a book abouE co eral "ODen House.tt ln JulY, WendY come 6uE, hls letEers would be full Baruch bhowed about 20 adults and of soecuiation abouE whether people chlldren how Eo weave bagkets, a fun would say "Johnrs.Sone too far thls and rewardlnq Dastlme. BY the Elme time," wfrether he'ii los-ome old vou ret thlsi ire'Ll have had the allt6s or make some new oneg. I f'HomEschooleis Plcntc,r' which wtll alwavg found - and I'm sttll ftnding tnclude an tmpromptu muslcal-Jan, a sur- that when John ssld something feastt iraternelon a treasure hunt, mosE lnEerusuallY it was Drlslnt lssue's thls Check and bubble-maktng.

Lstlnri and EhaE if lc surprlsed even I'Calendarrr for S-ptember and October. those-6f us who rhought we knew hls Please noce lhese evenEs ar9 glsgEhlnklnc. it was especially worEhy ot er on the second ThursdaY of the eEcenEt6i. When John HoIc - flercely monEh. beEter The FamlIv ClrcIe 6rElcIe feacur- devoced to making schools olaces for chlldren - started seylng lnc che MEhE-?a-mfnay or nay noi ire was no lonqer lnterested ln chis' be-ln Ehetr SePt. 19 issue - we've some DeoDle reallzed Eheyrd beEEer heard confLicEing rePorts. Also, a oav atceirEion. OEhers decided he'd l,Jall SE. Journal reporter sPenE a it6pped ouc of Ehe terrlcory of confoT'iTfm-fri-EfiE phone with Pat nlFhls !s in Ehe letters: cerir, FarEnga, gathertnb facts, so i.taEch. john's efforts Eo explatn hlmself, to for ai irEtcle Ehere, anY of You who orove he meenE Ehls, and hls concern' read that publlcatlon. h!s raw disappoinEmenE' exPressed to Volunteer PatEl PiEcher of Maine h!s closest iblleagues and frlends. has lust flnlshed putEinS EogeEher an What comes through most strongly ln lndei to GWS #4I-50, plus the suppleche lecters ls that none of thls was menl YOUNG CHILDREN: NATURAL LEARNeasv. Perhaps the reason John was ERS. lle'1I have coples avatlable here EEG to defbnd hls ideas so sErongly for $1.50 (prlce lircludes postage). wes EhaE thev had been so hard-won.

People often ask me where EheY can "You can'E liragine how much I haEed of flna GWS scortes on partlcular. faclnc Ehet.r' Ee said aE one Point coDics; I Eurn Eo the lndexes flrsc c5nclusion EhaE schools would noE of'all'and usually flnd whaE I had in hts chance. I thtnk ofEen now of the many mlnd. cr!cics, less famlllar itlEh John's Books go ouE of Princ so ofEen, work, who say bY waY of dlsmlssal' lE's a nlce surPrise when they come cook "Joh; HoIt girve up." John back. Two field- guides in our caEalog DrinEed spaae t.o answer this charSe ftE ouc of prin- for a whlle' buc iome of it rn GwS - buE he answered nord vou can 6qain geE them from us: mosElv bv Ealking abouE Ehe schools.

REPT1LES AND AMPHIBIANS ($2.95) ANd one Ehini r beli6ve publication of SPoTTER'S HANDBooK ($3.95) .

Johnrs lEtgers will do will be Eo In GWS #50, we ran a sEory make avallable a full story' one lhaE called "Frlendly DisErict in Mlnn." is aE Ehe same Eime the story of a Sharon HillesEad told us' too laEe' man's life and of a Particular era, thet the distrlct she r{trote abou! was wlEh lEs tenslons and beltefs. I'd ln Des Molnes, Ior.ra, noE Mlnnesota. tlke to thlnk that no one, after readShe apologlzed for not maklng Ehat ing John's IeEEers, will be able Eo clear. --- Donna Rlchoux sai "He cook che easy way ouEr" buE rather will, afEer exPerlenclns wiEh John a parElcular timer a ParEicular MKOFIIOLTETTERS lournev. be able Eo see wiEh more ilarlty'whac John was doing and why Slnce John died, those of us who he belteved tn oot"tr,l5;nnah want co conEinue his work (and EhaE sheffer crouo lncludes any and all of you who Enfnil of yourselvLs this way)- have had to think verY seriously abouE whac it means Eo do thaE. Irve been FElvCtulEERhlG.Gf.l lflT lucky enoughr in recenE weeksr-Eo exFrom the sPeech Norm Lee (NY) pertincd tFe coming EogeEher of Ewo qeve at che membrlal service for John ictivlEles which, in their relacion FoIt in OcEober 1985: to each other, have contribuEed dlrectlv to Ehis process. I've come ...In 1950, soon efter I hed Eo BosEan Eo work-on Gl,lS and, at the been flred from my first Eeachlns j9P same tlme, to organlze Johnrs lelEers for lhe s!n of using "unconvenEional'l for oubliiation.-Few tasks fit methods (I had surrounded my English tocether as neaEly as Ehese do; whlle htith paperback books and said' class puEtlnc, out GWS w'as a dally concern rrl-eEts read- oirr r{ay to Ehe doorrr) r I bf .lohi's for Ehe Past several years' discovered John's flrst book. I ran hls letters tell the storY of how he to my sElll-Eeaching friends. "Read carne Eo care about that' and whY. Ehls! HOW CHILDREN FEEL!rr "BuE' John, by his own edrnlsglonr couldnrt

C

52

o

o 6 I

o

U

lNorm Lee speaks

lJohn Holt

at the

memorial service

in oulncv, MA.october 'l985.

Norm," Ehey sald, rrEhe EiEle is

for

HOW

FAIL." 'rJusE read i!," I told chemTou'lI see tha! chis man knows whaE Ehose klds in your classroom ere golng through all daY." I Eook Eo suPPIYing PaPerback books Eo the kids ln schools, helping Chem seE uP booksEores - PromoEing readlns as a subversive acciviEY. (EnEirE villages were readtng paperbaek books just co see if Ehere were anv dirtv ones.) Then mY Ewo sons wei'e borir, and iE suddentY struck home: there were only Ewo Prlorities: I had to change Ehe schools before chey reached kindergarEen age' ancl I had- co sEoP war before Ehey reached 18. I later learned thaE Ehese were exacclY John's Priorities Eoo: Eo slop wir; and cb bring an end to Amerlca''s War on Children' So I scarEed Eraining Eeachers in college. Six Years LaEer, when I ftnaLlv iealized EhaC Chere tras as much chance for changlng Ehe insEicuEion as Ehere was to get Ehe morning sun from Ehe wesE' I gave uP enEirery on the svsEem and sEarced a sel!reliance'magazine. We would show peoDle thaE they could do mosE imPorEanE thtnss beccei- Ehan instiEutions. JusE Ehen-I 6Ti?l-John HoIE had sEarted GROWING WITHOUT SCHOOLING' and I wrote Eo him.

CHILDREN

2

listened to the children Eirelessly. morning about 6 orclock, - One when $/e were walking quietly among Ehe tents in the campground'and eijoy_ ing the brighE JuIy morning sunshiie, John was sEopping to EighEen a Eent here and pick up a paper Ehere. We were talking very quietly abouE the way the world was going, and he suddenly said, "It will take a lons Eime for people Eo begin Eo lisEen t5 ctre John HoIEs and the Norm Lees. But eventually theyrll have Co, if Ehere is Co be any kind of livable world at all." I hras silenE all Ehe wav back to Ehe cabin.

The thing about John is that he cared so deeply. He cared so deeplythat he made us care. We hear hiin talking Eo us when we play his tapes; hre are so graEeful that he left them for us to hear. We hear his voice when we read his words in his books.

We see him in the letters in CWS. and in the encouragemenE it is giving Ehe growing number of people who are trying to make Ehis EhreiEened orb a place safe for the children he loved.

We see him in Ehe faces of the child_ ren - in Eheir joy as they discover the world and mikL serse of it on their own terms. And we see him. too. in t.he Eender expressions on the faces of the peopLe assembled here, remembering him with loving hearEs...

Karen Cox, an American in EngIand, wroEe in the nehrsleEter of EnU-

CATION OTHERWISE:

...AbouE a year afEer our arrival in Michigan, we arranged for John HoIt Eo come to vrestern Michigan to speak at two colleges.

...I remember Ehe firsC evening us. We had tak6n him to Ehe auditorium in mv husband's college where he was Eo sp6ak chat evening. While the crowd gaEhered, John saE on the edge of Ehe stage and greeEed the nearesE children. Soon there were children siEting on both sides of him swinging theii feeE and Lalking Eo him. B6ch-John and Ehe children appeared content to be there, nonb-of them thinking abouE the impression Ehey were maling, or whether there were "importanE"-people who should be paid attention.

LaEer thaE evening, we Eook John and his ceLlo home with us. John had spent a busy day in traveLling, lecEuring, dining with dignitaries, and giving a formal address followed by a quesEion and answer period. tle hadexplained to our chiidren (then aees 5, 7 and 9) rhat he would verv li[elv be tired and want to eo straieht to' bed. But.iotr" ranreJ E" the children. He sat on "irir-"icrrthe oiano bench and took ouE his cello. The children crowded around curiouslv and he grinned at them but did noE oiav: they hadn't asked for a performance so he wasn'E giving one. Buc he did vJant Eo share something he loved and isnrt EhaE whac pliy is at its best? John sat Ehere'with his beloved celIo, almost shyly, and inviEed them, by his Look, to enjoy this vronderful thing with him. Wtieir they seemed fearful of touching if hi: said, "Do yolr want Eo heai the bumblebee?rr (Aha.l I thought, he's going Eo play something for Ehem. ThaE wiLl be nice. ) But he had someEhing else in mind. He made a sudden buzzing sound on the cello and Ehe children-lauehed wiEh delight and surprise. Beforel91g_ each of Ehem was having a go, all huddled round John and his cello.

The chiLdren said goodbye wiLh genuine sadness when John left. Thev he

came Co sEay wiEh

hadn't had a chance ro finish carvine their HaIloween pumpkins with him before he had co- leive. BuE rsee vou in BosEonril we said to each other.

And it was in BosEon that r^re meE again. This was perhaps the perfect prace Co see John. He once said fhat he felt incredibly lucky to be able to live in the city he ioved best, doing work he really enjoyed. hte meE hlm in his crowded office and took him with us for a picnic in the BosEon-PubIic Garden. hle three adults talked among ourselves and Eo Ehe children as Ehey came and rnrent. We Ealked about children, perhaps John's favorite topic. He founil chiidren endIessly fascinaEing, as we did. NoC everyone who says Ehe rishE thines about children iikes co 5e arorrf, them, but John did, His chief delighc in the office was a toddLer whose mother worked for GWS. The babv had Ehe run of che premises and a 6ig sign on the office door warned newcomers Eo enEer carefully so as noE Eo knock Ehe baby over,..

"LD."K|DSBLGSOft,l

A reader nrites:

...Our daughEer, who is now 13, was diagnosed as learning disabled in Ehe second grade in South Carolina.

AE that time she r^ras an acute asthma-

tic. The school system tesged her while she was taking heavy doses of epinephrine, The drug caused her to lose her ability to concenErate and she- became hyper from the drug. My husband and I were verv uDseE. Sha couldn'E read and was very low on aII the Eests, they said...

LAfter four more years of public and privaEe school] she has been home over a year now. We have watched her blossom into a warm, loving, selfassured-young lady, and we are very -orouo oI ner.

As an aside, our friend here also has an L.D. sfudenE who is a teenager. He started having extreme physical problems from Ehe stress he felt at school. He was removed from school Ewo weeks ago and che physical problems have aImoiE totally iti;appeared. He is becoming seifconfident and self-assured.

I should menEion thac my daughter who was Labeled an L,D. btudent in reading had taught herself Eo read by age 3. I would take her into bookstores and if she could Dronounce the Eitles of Ehe books she i^ranEed I would buy them for her. She would then bring Ehem home and read Ehem to me. Because we played games with her she could add, subEracE, multipLy and divide by the time she reached first grade. All of that was losE when she entered regular school. . .

It has taken vears Eo deorosram her from che L.D. iabel. Ic hls Seen within Ehe LasL six months where she wiII read for pleasure...

RICH FAIUILY PREFERS HCMESCIIOOL

Another reader wriCes:

...John HoIt indicated in TEACH hardly any subscribers Eo GWS or homeschoolers were wealthv.

Well, my husband makes 9500,000 (five hundred thousand) dollars a vear. so obviously I could afford anythtng for my three children. However, we homeschool and plan to cont.inue Eo do so.

There is no limit to the wonderful opporcunities r re can give our children r4rhen Ehey arenrt shackled by a YOUR OWN EhaE

school schedule. I have the lrorld aE fingertips with my husband's busi-

my

ness Eravels, and sometimes go on

short weekends with him, Ieaiing mv children wiEh another homeschoolini family, but I ache for my childrenthe whole Eime, and find ChaE my favorite Eimes of all are when i'm on the floor pLaying r^rith them, or working. Cogether wiEh them, or curled up in bed with them, etc.

The besE thing about having money is having a housekeeper (jusE once a week for heavy cleaning)-so I can spend all my Eime hrith mv familv.

I feel the Lord- has blessed me with' an idyllic siEuation.

The kids don't even know we HAVE money, because we're stilI bargain hunEers, coupon clippers and g-neraIry EhrifEy consumers. They sEil1 need Lo learn Ehe values of-T-E?ift and hard work, so as our incone increases, our lifestyle does noE. This way we are able to bless others all thetime with money we donrE need, I am Erying to develop so many values in my children that I don,E see how it would be possible if they were away seven hours a day or more.

I jrrst Ehought I'd leE you know we ARE out there...

UMFRAIDSMRASSMENT David KenE (TX) gave us a copy

of a leEEer he sent Eo Linda Mifll' (TX), in response to "prevenEing

Truancy HarassmenE," GWS #50:

...Before we moved to Texas from Virginia in 1981, we were very concerned abouE Ehis quesEion- of profile. Why should we wasEe efforE and monEy in court action if someone blew che whistle on our skulking miscreant truants? And suppose we losE in court for some reiion? Much easier to hide them completely, exercise the greaCest caution even wiEh those who claimed to be homeschoolers, make friends with evervbody, evade direcE questions. A gieat deal was_at stake, vie thought, eiough to justify taking precautions untilthe day arrived that we feIE sure enough of our approach EhaE we could puE our heads ouE in public. As the children moved inEo slhool age, we considered pulLing our names from Ehe GWS direcEory. IE sounds as if Ehis is about where you are now.

Then we did a real mental fliD. We saw that socieEy was intimidaEing us to the poinC we inEimidated the children, as surely as if we had hired an armed guard (or teacher) to pen Ehe children in during these "school hours." Us, the agent of the school system? ! We Ehen unwrinkled Ehe vThole sheet and decided to do just whaL we wanted Eo do wiEh our children, no maEEer lrhat. If the school system didn't boEher usr we wouldnrt bother the school sysiem. We Ehen relaxed and Ehe childreir bLossomed.

So whaE happened? Were we boEh-

ered by cops? Yes. Were we bothered by the school system? yes. In fact, we were bothered by the Department of Human Resources. Birt we hab learned Eo walk right dovrn the middle of the

street like we o$rned it, and nothing One day Robert was _ 1) Cops. taking a printing proof from Ehe house Eo where I worked, abouE four blocks away, because we had a deadline. On his way home, a cop pulled up beside him and asked why he wasn't in school. Robert: "I homeichool.r' Cop: "Have you ever been to Ehe was sEopping us.

GROWING }IITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

Today, if someone asked me, I'Is police station?" Robert: "Why, no.'l school out Eoday?" I'd say, "No way, Cop: 'rWhaE's your address?" Robit's never out, we're homeschooling." ert Eold him, and Ehe cop moved on.

If people see thaE you are deterNo great sweat for Robert, and Ehere mined, sure of yourself, and friendis a clear reason why this cop ly, and noE some radical flake, I stopped him: he was wearing his overalIs. Since Ehen when he has gone don'E think they'll give you problems, and your chiLdren would ouE during the day, Eo Ehe store or love it. wherever, he wears his good cLothes Of course, I am a radical flake. and is never stopped... We have no Never had ShakespeEie and the TV, so we neiCher dread nor glorify cLassics beat out of me in school, so cops; Eheyrre jusE guys, I read a Iot, stuff people wouldn't 2) AusEin school disErict. touch \^riEh a lO-fooE pole generally, Truancy lady came by one day for a so [ ]eave you with a couple of chat, to find out about a schooL-age cuotaE ions : chiLd. Oh yes, we had two, we said, Ehey are homeschooLed. Lady kept Obliged Eo wean our souLs from asking rrhaE iE was we didn't Like i-hinoc on which they thrive, abouE Ehe Austin schools. A couple of We give up living, just to keep davs later. we had a letcer in which alive. we were ordered under oain of courE Should they be said co Live who canaction and a $150 a day fine to geE noE breathe free air Roberc in school no Later than Or sce fhF 1 iqhr- wiEhouE Friday. [.le wrote a very stif f reply, oppressive care? describing in great detail whaE our program was, wirh a few legal poinEs - Maximianus Ehrown in, quoEed the remainder of How guard our life with gate sad Eo Ehe Texas school law Ehat the disand waLl, trict had omitted in its leCEer, And scarceLy trusE Ehe sErength of and never heard from Ehem again. our own hall.

3) DepE. of Human Resources.

- Ovid ChiId neglect and educational neglecE was what we goE from DHR. They had heard from a source (whom, of course, And from Joseoh Ciano (MO): they could noE idenEify) that we had six people living in a two-bedroom . , . I have always homeschooled my aDarcment and iE looked Like some sons (12 and 14), I have never given sthool-aged children, too. Turned out consideration to school hours per se.

Ehis nosy neighbor mistook for our We have gone anywhere aE anytime. children a couple of small girls who When people ask we simply state thaE pLayed noisiLy ouEside her window aIl they are homeschooled. We have never day, buE it was too Late for apolobeen threaEened with arrest. We have gies, then. AgenE came on Like a been lefE alone because we do not act ton of bricks: we would have an agent or think as if we were doing somecome out to Ehe house to interview us, so we hopped to it and prepared a Ehing criminal (having a good time). wriften statement and had her read iE I also do noE geE upset wiEh peopLe before we said anything, pulled ouE a if their mindset is geated to Ehe usuaL. Every conEact like that, "Is pad and pen and Eold her we were school out today?" is Eo me an opportaking noEes of everything said and tuniEy Eo publicize homeschooling, so waiEed. She read the staEement, said I welcome it.

Ehey didn'E really want co pry, were It is difficult for my children surprised Eo learn I was employed go places on their own as we Live Eo (had been Eold otherwise), backed twelve miles from town. But even in right off, but said they wouLd have CA Ehey were never far from my watchEo refer Ehe chiLdren co the school districE, since Ehe homeschooling was ful eyes and ears. However, we might go to a shopping mall during "schooL out of cheir Eerritory; hence, #2 hours" and I might go shopping at above. So the bears have alL jumped Sears, etc. while they visiEed other aE us and run away. shops of interesE Eo Ehem. So, yes There remained Ehe neighbors, they would be "on lheir own." When and Ehese can be pesky. One old Lady quesEioned they mighE simply repLy, down Ehe street asked every Eime she "We are home educaEed and Eoday is a saw Robert why he wasn't in school. field day in Consumerism." My childThen one day she and I began Ealking ren are well aware of their legal about dogs and break-ins - two very right Eo be home educated and so am favoriEe subjecEs of hers - and I, so they speak with a greaE deal of during the conversaEion she said ouE authority and lack of timidiEy. They of the blue she had some kinfolks could probably quoEe Pierce vs. SocithaE had never gone to school, and a eEy of SisEers, etc. . . good thing, too, che way these awful schools were getEing, and in a second she was railing away at Ehe schools more effectively than mosE people CALJF: FRIENDLY @UNTY... couLd manage. Gave me a good chance From Connie Pfeil (CA): to expLain a couple of reasons why we wanted co Eeach Ehem at home, and now 1984: ..,When Gretchen Eurned 6 she is friendly with us. Other neighI sent--ii my affidavit and we became bors have been very friendly and interested in the childrenrs progress. a privaEe school. This year we Eransferred across the county to the IndeWe learned you can'E hide your children if you wanted to. Some home- pendenE Program at Ehe Venture school in another district. The program was schooling friends of ours nearby use originally for high school sEudents a Dost office box Eo be on the safe but last vear ooened its doors to side, and were shocked Eo hear a four younger homeschooling families. friend of Eheirs in town ask PointThis year the program has more Ehan blank, "How's Ehe home Eeaching 15 families. The gentleman who is coming along?" Everybody in town "supervising" us and his principal seems Eo knold iE, but nobody was are both incredibly supporEive of sayi.ng anyEhing and nobody was comhomeschooling, very open Eo our indiplaining; Ehey seemed Eo undersEand vidual ideas and, in facE, keep why our friends weren't outgoing and sEressing the imporcance of each co be sympatheEic wiEh what they are chil"d's own individualiEy and learndoing.

GROUING iliTHOUT SCHOOLING #52

ing style.

Each child receives a suppLy and material stipend of $I00, is encouraged to esEablish a relationship with the local school, buE for those of us from ot.her districEs, we have a formaL relationship wiEh a schooL in the new district.

We wiII be able to use materials, library, compuEer room, etc. We also have access to Ehe Instructional Media CenEer and to old books being discarded. Our "supervisor" comes Eo visit every few weeks for an hour or so. to talk to the kids, answer any of my quesEions and just Eo get to know us so he can beEter helo us find whaE we wanE and need. We are asked to keeD a dailv journal of activities, crbarive momenEs. and reflecEions. l,le are also going to "assess the effecEiveness of our homeschooling program" with a couole of Eests. This is kind of thrbatening, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. 0n Ehe one hand, I'd like to "know how she's doing," and then, wiEh a post-Eest, how I did.

But on Ehe oEher hand, I don't believe tests are Ehe way Eo find that ouc. , .

IJohn HoLt commenEed here: rrNor do I. AII tests measure or can measure is how good you are at taking EesEs - which might be interesting to know. BuE theyrr donrt and canrt mea-..-^

r

^^--i ,,rr15.

-^

l

J

L986: ,..Thinss are even becEer here ifr-fontra CosEa County than they were in '84. There are now five

school districts

with

Home SEudy

Pro-

grams - Ehe original one (San Ramon), and four others, MounE DiabLo, MarEinez, Byron, and Brentwood. They aLl offer different programs and some are more enthusiastic than others. lJe were with Ehe San Ramon program in

'84-85 but are now wiEh the Mount Diablo onei as iE is cLoser. These cwo have the Largest programs; the others have iust one or two families. ...The Mount Diablo program is a more sEructured program Ehan San Ramon's was lasE year. They are giv-

ing us (in exchange for the $2,000 Average Daily Attendance tax money) appropriate school Eexts, $30 of supplies from Ehe cenEral warehouse, use of equipment (tabLes, maps, video

stuff, filmstrip viewers and films, models, cassecEe Eapes, arc prints, etc , , etc . ) and monEhly workshops/ sem-

inars for the parent-teachers. The Teacher, Marj DeWiEt, visiEs each home Ewice a monEh and also arranges field crips and helps Eo make all Eherrneat scuff| of Ehe districE available to us: GifEed and TalenEed classes, assembLies, Iibraries.

In recurn each family signs a contract which is really very accepEabLe... InEerested people or school districts can write to Joyce Hardy, Home Study Program Administrator, Mt. Diablo School District. 2730 SaLvio St, Concord CA 9451-9 . . .

Home SEudy

IDR: I connie mentions a rrcontracti beiween Ehe family and Ehe school districE, and I just want to say briefly that, to the best of GROl,lING l,llTH0UT SCHOOLING #52, Vol . 9 No. 4' ISSN #0745-5305. Publ'ished bi-monthly by Holt MA 02,l16.

Associates, 729 Boy'lston St, Boston 'l986.

Second$20lyr. Date of Issue, August 1, paid M. at Boston class postage POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gt'lS' 729 Boylston St, Boston MA 02]16.

ADVERTISERS: Deadlines are the l5th of oddnumbered months. Chnistmas Shopping Ads due Sept. l5 (GtlS #53), Contact Patrick Farenga.

4

knowledge, whaE educators call "contractsrr and what a courE would consid-

cuted because school was ouE for

the summer, but there were rumors that some districEs in Alameda CounEy er a I'contracc" are-two very differwere looking for families to take to ent Ehings. I plan to e,rrite more court in the fall. Ginny said thaE about this in Ehe next GWS. many homeschooling families were afraid to rrrock Ehe boaE" and hoped chaE the whole affair would blow Al,lD AI{ UNFRIENDLY ONE over, No one was raising money; no In May, the Alameda County one knew any helpful lawyersl many people in neighboring councies were school suoerinEendenE sent a rrNotice Regarding-'Home Schools"' to all fami- taking the aEEitude, "It's noE happenIies in Ehe ,:ounty who regisEered as ing to us, so we don't have Eo do anyprivaEe schools. It said: Ehing.rr She says Ehat che best thing Ehat has happened so far is EhaE California' s Comoulsorv AttencommunicaEion between Ehe fundamentaList ChrisEian homeschoolers and dance Law requir-es chit eveiy child shall aEtend full-time schooL from oEhers has imoroved.

Fremont, is Ginny' s ilistrict, age six through age sixteen. That law introducing an Independent Study proreouires EhaE alL children be engram, which she is working to make roiLed in one of the following: l. oublic school similar Eo the ones in San Ramon and 2, brivate school Concord (see Connie Pfeilrs leEEer in 1 ^-i,.-ts^ this issue). No disErict in Alameda J. PrrvaLe LuLorlng program A nrrmber of narents have been County, which includes BerkeLey, Oakland, and Hayward, yeE offers IndepeneducaEing their own children wiEhin Eheir own homes, outside of the struc* dent SEudy.

Eure of a public school sysEem, using the private school exemption by filing an annual Privace School Affidavit with this office. A recent AIa- @JRTNE\A6 ARKANSAS: On May 19, Doty and meda County CounseL Opinion on Ehis Phyf fiE-tr|fr-fTy f iled- suic in iJs oismaEter has sfipulated Ehat such "home Erict Court, asking thaE the recenE school" teaching is not a legitimaEe private schooL, but is acEually a pri- homeschool law be declared null and vate Eutoring program. Private tuEors void. in CaLifornia are required to hoLd a OHIO: There's been progress in a numbeF-6f the ohio prosecuEions, valid California Teacher's Credential for Ehe grades and subjects to be according to the June issue of CLONLARA/HOME BASED EDUCATION PROGRAM'S Caughc, and such credentials musE be newsletEer. In each case, Ehe issue verified by rhe school disErict of residence of the student. was that the parenEs did not possess lf you are operaEing, or cona bachelor's degree, and in mosE of a schoolr" the cases, the judge remanded the sidering operating, "home issue back to Ehe schools for a oroand do not hold a valid teaching creper adminisEracive hearing. Ohio- law dential, we suggest you conEact your schooL disEricE of residence Eo endoes noE specifically require a colroll your child now for fall semesEer lege degree, only that parents be classes. Enrollment in a recognized "qualified to Eeach.'l privaEe school would be Ehe only TENNESSEE: Ramona Sumner (7637 oEher accepEable alternative (except Huntei-R-if,--TTfson TN 37 343 ; 6L5for vaLid privaEe tutoring) to public 842-7789) lost custody of her two school enrollment. older children in a recent divorce, If you hoLd a valid Eeaching in large part because of her homeschooling, She would appreciaEe any credential and wish to tutor sfuhelp or suggestions, denEs, those studenEs must be regisTEXAS: The sEate was granEed an Eered through their school district exEenEf6fr-unEiI July 28 in Attorney or resloence.

Tr ic ih6 rocnnncihiliru nf Shelby Sharpe's class action suit, parents EhaE their children comply Leeper et al v. Atli.E!ot_I.99-pstdgg! # SCnOOl ljlSCrlCr eC aI. wiEh Ehe Staters Compulsory Attendance Law, and those sEudents not compLying with that law will be deemed EruanE. OIHERIOCALNE\AE William Berck SuperinEendent For addresses of homeschool organizations, see GWS #48, or our "Homeschooling Resource Listrr' $1.

C0LOMDO: Some interestins items IDR: ] Pamela Pacula (CA) of HOME CENTERED LEARNING says, "I donrE see from EEE-frEFdleEters of Ehe coaoRADo that Ehe CounEy has a legal leg to HOMESCHOOLING NETWORK and the NORTHERN COLORADO HOME SCHOOL ASSO_ sEand on if homeschoolers meet the chaLlenge." There are no requirements CIATION: The Colorado Home Schooling Adviin California staEe law abouE where a privaEe school may meeE or who may sory CommitEee continues to meet Eeach in one, monthly wiEh sEaEe officials Eo work The Oakland Tribune oublished a on problems. The group has succeeded supporEive editorT?T-6fr-Ji:ne 26 : in revising the form for "ParenE Re"...Those parenEs who choose Ehe home quest to Use Home-Study Systems," buE schooling alEernative should be they were not able Eo remove the rrord allowed co do so wiEh minimal sEaEe "Requestr" offensive to some, as the regulation and without fear of sEate sEaEe regulations specifically use it.

A homeschooling parent, Leona harassmenc. Stace compulsory educaHemmerich, is running for State Board tion laws originally $rere meant to ensure aIl children an opportunity Eo of Education, and anoEher candidate, Jerry Crisp, says he supports home become literate, not to give formal schools. educaEors a monopoly on dlspensing Homeschoolers and state offilearning... Professlonal educators clals met rrith reDresentatlves of would be beEEer off concenEreElng on Ewo school dlstritEs, Aurora and the results they get from sEudents Cherry Creek, whlch usually turn down who do. attend chelr schools..,rl (CA) homeschool requests. As yet there has says Ehat Ginny Schwlngel been no change ln the boardsr acEions. as of mid-July, the situaEion wes aC CHRISTIAN LIBERTY ACADEMY has rea standsEill. Nobody was being prose..

fused to seek approval from the StaEe Board of Education. About 50 families

in Lhe

sEaEe have been

using Eheir

maEerials. The sEate has no choice but Eo deLete CLA from the lisE of staEe approved curriculums.

KANSAS: KANSANS FOR ALTERNATIVE

reDorts thaE a revised truancy law ias passed May 8. For the EDUCATION

first Eime, truant officers must give written noEice to families of susoected truanLs, and the parenEs have 5 days to give an "acceptable response." Every reporC of truancy must n6w be invescigatbd by Social ahdRehabiliEaEive Services, or by Ehe counEv attornev.

MnnYLanl: LasE year, Jim Mayor (2682Tffi;ld, Chapel' Dr, Damascus 20872) obtained the homeschool oolicies from each county in Che sCate and Eyped up a one-pige summary 1ist.

Might be useful for those looking for the best possible district in MaryIand; send him a SASE for a copy. However, the Mayors caution thaE some policies have already changed since the lisE was made.

MICHIGAN: Rep. Tim Walberg has inEroduced House Bill 5356, which would remove the teacher certification requiremenE for homeschooLers, and require parents Eo Eest their homeschooled studenEs in the 4th, 7Eh and lOth grades. Test results would not be submiEted Eo sEate or local 6ilEhorities, Supporters and opponents of the biLl testified at a oubLic hearing June 20. There will-be Ehree more hearings and the bill will probably go Eo commiEtee in September, Meanwhile, Pat Montgomery of CLONLARA SCHOOL and three families fiLed suit on June 20. They named 13 sEace officials as defendanEs, and said Eheir civil rights have been abused, as Ehe regulations as appl-ied Eo homeschoolers are unconstitutionaLIy vague.

ONTARI0: Some homeschoolers are conceii-e-d-?5ouc the "shapiro Report, " which recommended more state control over private schools. Barney McCaffrey has set up the rrCitizenrs CommiEtee for Academic Freedomrr (PO Box 27I, Killaloe, Ont. ) to rrinform and educate legislators and Ehe gen* eral public on some of the more sinisEer implicaEions of Shapiro's recommendations.tl

tors

TEXAS: The May Texas Home Educa-

E ter savs-Tffit-ii-6F of=Ee public protesc of their proposed definition for "privaEe schools" (GWS #5f), the SEate Board of EducaEion has drafted a formal resolution urging the Texas Legislature to either define the termsrrDrivaEe school" and "oarochial schooi" or to authorize thi StaEe Board to do so. The state officials say that for now, home schools are to be Lreated as private schools.

WEST VIRGINIA: Deirdre Purdv of ALTERIFTTVES-TM-trDUCAT I ON re Dor t i Ehat a three-Derson commiEEeb - a lawyer who is-a homeschooler, and representatives from WEST VIRGINIANS FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM and WEST VIRGINIA HOME EDUCATION ASSOCIATION - met with Ehe sEate superintendent abouE Ehe Attorney General's ruling on home schools ("Trouble in W.V., GWS #51).

The superintendent agreed not Eo prosecute anv families unEil 1987 if homeschooleri brought a "friendly EiiEil to geE Ehe issue settled. So all of the above groups are raislng money, and Deirdre and Wally Purdy (and probably other femilies is weli) wtllfil! sult in Kanawha CounEv Clrcuit Court (CharlesEon). Thev will ask for a "declaratorv iudqement" on their behalf. a EacEia EhaE John Holr ofEen

ItrEwJfe

quence

GROIIING !lITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

3

recommended.

WYOMING:

An AP sEorv from

Cheyefrn{Tdred. 615/86, iays Ehere are 107 home schools across Ehe sEate, wiEh about l8l students.

In che Spring/Summer newsletEer

of WHEN (WYOMING HOME EDUCATION NETWORK), Jack Murphy wroEe, "For a while iE appeared thac Albany County horne educators would be required Eo submic a dailv schedule and to reveal EesE insEruments used for the children. However, that proposal Idas withdrawn after objections were raised by some home educators'.' If such imposiEion is made, r^7e have been advised thaE home educators should comPlY wiEh Ehe LeEter of che law by submitting to the board (or adminisErator) evidence of a sequenEially Progressive curriculum in fundamenEal academic topics buE noc feel obLigaEed Eo comolv rrich the other local requiremenEs..." - DR CATENDAR 24,1,-I985 : HoIE AssocilepEenber House. "Mem6?ies of John ates Ooen Holt. "- Special guesE Peggy Hughes ' ' of John's colleague and close friend since 1959. 6-8 PM. AE our office; 437-1550. ohone ' OcE. Ll-12: Columbus DaY Weekend Conf e?e-frd4--NETional Coal iE ion of AlEernative Community Schools. In Boston area. ContacE Ron Miller, 6L7 -492-L923 .

Open House.

OcE. 22: Holt Assoc. r' t'Ie ' 11'have 3 "MeetThE-ME'clnEosh.

Mac computers here for hands-on experiences in arc, music wriEing' deskEop publishing, eEc. 6-8 PM. Phone 437 -L550.

Nov. 8-9: British Columbia 4th AnnuaT-IEE?fring Fair. l0 AM - 6 PM. Columbia College, 6037 Marlborough' Burnaby BC. $5 per adulE, $7 per famiLy. Contact Sandy Hanson, 604684-5605.

We are happy Eo run notices of major homeschooling evenEs, but we need pLenty of notice' Deadline for GWS #53 (evenEs in November & LaEer) is Sept. 15. Deadline for GWS #54 (events in Jan. & later) is Nov. 15.

GET-TOGETHERS

AAI D FAI

RS

l'lhen Susannah asked Susan Richman (PA) how this yearrs "Homeschoolers Weekend" wenE at their farm, Susan replied:

...After doing this for five years I Ehink werve learned a lot about having Ehis sort of big gettogether EhaE mighE help others who are thinking abouE hosting someEhing similar. Every year iE all Sets easier, coo, rather Ehan harderr more enjoyable for our family and I hoPe for everyone else. I'm wanting Eo

explore jusE why I think iE's gone so wer [.

First, we are not afraid nold to be VERY organized. Schedules typed uP and passed ouE to folks lisEing Eimes of discussions, meals, kids' activiEies available. It's all ouE in the open, so people know what to exPect, and chen r{re see to it thaE it real Ly does happen, by announcing Ehings via loudspeaker, etc. This year we had four Eime sloEs for discussions on SaEurday (starting afEer Iunch) and two discussion times on Sunday, wiEh Ewo or Ehree choices each Eime sIoE. I know the first year we had the Weekend I'felt very unsure about whaE tvoe of structure to have - I didn'E *iitt to appear like a school wiEh GRO}IING }IITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

bells ringing and schedules to follow, buE aU the same time I wanted people to know fhac l^re had planned a lot for them, thaE they'd made the usualLy LONG triP for someEhing lrorthwhile and substanEiaL' noE just a vague picnic of chiE-chaE. We've been to a few too manv of Ehose... I always try to involve as many people as possible in brainstorming ideas for discussion sessions' trying to make them focused and concrete - for monEhs ahead of cime I'm always asking homeschooling friends whaE they'lL wanc Eo talk about aE Ehe Weekend. The discussions I've been parE of have aII been good in-dePrh -sharing cimes, noE "once over IighEBeyond planning for Ehe ParenE discussion rimes, tFere's Ehe' plannine for aLl the kids - I0O or more eacE time. I've feIE iE's especially importanc Eo help Ehe kids feel EhaE we indeed welcome Ehem fully' We've NEVER had a "leave Ehe kids with a kind aunt or grandmoEher" Eype of announcement; insEead, r{te encourage whole families Eo come, seeing this as a good place for homeschooled kids Eo meeE one anoEher informalLy' Kids had several options this year - they were welcome to sit in on and take part in Ehe discussions if they wantbd ro, they could join in a number of acLiviEies planned by families (these were all clearLy Located by maps and sisns and wriEEen up on the schedule of-the dav. and *e ilso announced Ehem over- our loudspeaker system when their Eime came), Ehey could swim or fish in our pond (wi!h parenEs), or they could just PLay with friends around and abouc. Anyone planning on someEhing Ehis size should be having sure -hey do have enough SPACE for everyone, especiaLly kids, Eo sprea9 ouE, We also made a "hay jumP" in the barn, and EhaC was a good hit with kids. Also had Ewo new baEches of kittens and Ehey were carried and loved and patted all weekend long' and kept many kids happy. I was especialLy pleased that Ehis year several KIDS led activiEies - Emily and Niki Kissel (6 and 9) Ied a gymnascics Eime, teaching everyone a simple routine, Nathan Wilcox (9) gave a puppeE show EhaE showed how to make several Eypes of puppets, Jaime McMillan (8) demonstrated how Eo make naEure prints, and Willy Moffat (11) worked with his mother in helping kids make junk sculptures. Last year Emily Murphy (12) demonscrated several science experimenEs, and her good feelings abouE iE were what led Eo her family hosting Last fall's "Homeschoolersr Science Fair.tt We sEarted asking aII Parencs to help with providing famiLy accivities after Howard felE exhausted by being a one-man enEercainmenE crew for the first several years. He'd lead nature walks, sing-alongs and square dancing in the barn, demonstraEed goaEmilking, and got freeze-tag games going. He did everyEhing excePt talk to another adulE or join in a discussion session. We realized we needed help, and lots of it, so lasE year we wrote righE on Ehe registration form for the Weekend EhaE ALL families would need to provide some half-hour activity Eo share with others while discussions were going on - and everyone came through. (Oh, noE everyone' buE plenty enough - we didn't really expecE that EVERYONE would offer something, and didnrt need THAT many activicies anyway! ) Howard has really appreciated Ehe change, and feels like HE has a greaE time at the Weekend now. too.

ThaErs probabLy Ehe first

and

most important rrrule" about having somelhing like Ehis - make sure you

structure it so that YOU have a good Eime and donrt feel Put uPon. In line with this I make sure that I hardly step in Ehe kiEchen all weekend to tidy up or do dishes or mix juice (leE alone cookl), buc inscead am careful to let others know how THEY can help, and try Eo have everyching labeled beforehand so that things are reasonably easy to find. Everyone is always very helpful abouE cleanup' especially kids. We always have a "watermelon and popsicle" cleanup afEer SaEurday night's poEluck suPper - all kids who help ouc ltith gaEhering up liEcer for five minuces geE fiisE go at slices of watermelon and, Ehis year, yogurE and orange juice popsicles, . .

I'm including a coPy of

Ehe

schedule we had Ehis year, so you can see what topics were discussed. Seems all did indeed go well' and were well attended, The one year we offered FOUR concurrenE sessions and onlY chree cime slots, things seemed to drag, and always one discussion

folded because not enough folks showed up. BecEer, we've found, Eo have Eo end sessions a biE before Ehings geE sEale chan co ho-hum through Che lasE 20 minutes. ...There are more and more really commiEEed and serious and LONGTERM homeschoolers atEending fhe Weekend. Less and less of che families whose oldesE child is ll months old and who Ehink che idea is wonderful, buE who fade away when kindergarten Eime comes aLong." In every discussion Ehere were LOTS of experienced folks who've been aE this for Years and couLd show many differenE PersPecEives, and discuss how things have changed for Eheir families over many homeschooling years. One moEher, a "novice" and a bit nervous abouE doing everyEhing 'rrighE," said lhaE she was so oleased ro find Ehat there was no ONE i^ray co do chings properly, that each family musf instead find their own way'.. She had aE first a chance Eo viewed che i,leekend as take notes from Ehe ttexpertsrtt and I think was grateful to find instead chaE she felc now a bit strengEhened in her abiliEy Eo make her own decis ions . onp intPrestins discussion was on the value of networking' nel^rsleEEers, geE-Eogethers, group ouEings' support groups, eEc. - and how much "Eogetherness" among homeschoolers is iusE Eoo much crouble and even inEeriupEive of homeschooling rathe! than suboorEive of iE. Asain the differentls between familles were broughE up - some feeL much greater "homeschooling social needsI chan others, and enjoy and take Part in regular group gatherings ' For oEhers a VERY few gatherings a year is just right' recharges them enough and lets Ehem geE in touch wiEh other families they mighE wanc Eo get to know betEer on chair own Eime. I think it is perhaps a mistake for homeschooling groups to

THE BASICS Simple, practical adviss on how to teach vour children at home.

SPECIALOFFER: Onty $6.95 + $1.00 Post. & Hand ALTERNATIVE EDUCATTON SOURCES

6

take on too much in che way of planning Coo many group acEivities - IF this makes a burden on one person, or even if Ehis leEs everyone else feel Ehat Ehere is no need Ehat they can filL by offering something to others (the "pros" are provlding it all).

One Ehing Lhat has worked jusE incredibly well out here is that there has been a chain reacEion of families offering rrfairsrr at their homes. The Murphys sEarted it last fal1 with Eheir Science Fair, then Ehe LaEinetCes foLlowed uo a few months later with an ArEs Fair, and just this spring the Fullmers had a Social SEudies Fair. Irve been Eo them all, and they have been wonderful days, with the right balance of Eime for families Eo share wiEh oEhers very concreEely about what they have been doing at home, AND lots of free Eime for kids co play and parents Eo TALK. This aLl has involved no homeschooling organization "superstrucEurel or committees or burdensome planning for anyone over a long period of time, as these are all individual family offerings. (Our newsleEter is certainly a help in getEing Ehe word out abouE these geEtogethers - you do need a local vehicle for sharing information. ) One mother at the Weekend, whose husband is a chiropractor, is now Ehinking of offering a HeaIEh Fair in Ehe fall, and we are seriousLy considering having a MaEh Fair here aE our farm (thinking iE wiII be a good Eime Eo investigaEe the more wonderful side of maEhematics like Moebius strips, brain-Ceasers, geometric constructions, eEc. These fairs give a real focus for Ehe gaEhering, people know WHY Ehey are coming and Eheir kids know they will be Eaking part (and usually getting inspired by others). I Ehink this night be a biE different from monChly "support group meetings" EhaE Iack a clear focus, rhat mighE seem poinEless Eo both kids and, eventuaLLy, parents. Or EhaC may not even involve the children aE all buE relegate Ehem to babysitters.

When I was describing these family fairs to a TV interviewer lasE winter, she asked jusE how was this different from SCHOOL gaEherings or classes - iE sounded so organized and subjecE-oriented, I guess. I answered chaf, firs! off, these were not COMPULSORY gatherings - folks who donrE wanE to participate, who donrt Like this sort of thing, are perfectly free not Eo. Second, these involve whole families and children of many different ages, and everyone has Eheir chance to share and be lisEened to respecEfulIy. And third, Ehese are noE COMPETITIVE fairs, no prizes are given out Eo turn some kids into winners and some inEo losers. Children participaEing are free to Ealk or NOT EaIk abouc their display, collecEion, experimenE, book, whatever iE is Ehey have broughE. Some choose Eo be quiet, feeLing uncomforEable before a group, AND THATTS OK - Eherers no pushing the shy child, buE most really rise to Ehe occasion and talk on and on abouE whaE theyrve learned abouE aE home. Often oarencs share Eoo, as Ehese are Erua FAMILY studies, not jusE an I'assignmenti' for Ehe child, Kids would field questions from boEh kids and adults, and Ehese quesEions r^tere genuine ones, not "quizzes." We have always come away from one of these Fair days feeling good about our oern homeschooling, and feeling inspired by what oEhers have snareo. ...One organizational bit of )

advice if a family thinks of having a fair - iE has worked best to have these be all-day affairs, with more formal sharing of projects and displays done early, before lunch. AfEer a greaE poEluck lunch - I always say Chat Ehese geE-CogeEhers are wonder-

ful for Che FOOD if for noEhing else!

- che kids usually scaEEer for play and Ehe parenEs enjoy the free Eime to Calk (and talk and Calk...)

PUSIJINIG - ITORE OR LESS?

of t^lashington: ...IE amuses me Eo atEend a homeschool meeting and find that except for a few crazies (mostlv me) everybody is Erying to oucdo the school! aE their own game, rrmoLding mindsrr or sEuffing them..

From Mike Kern

On

the other hand,

McCutchen (KY) wriEes:

RuEh

...At our annual KENTUCKY HOMEpicnic, I was especially pleased to see a growing interest in the more relaxed approach Eo homeschooling. There were parents of fairly young children who were already noEicing signs of tension and strain in Eheir children. This, they attributed to Ehe teacher-Eype, school-type Ehings they were subjbcting Eheir children to. IU was obvious thaf Ehese young parents eJanE very much to beLieve in and ErusE Eheir children in relation Eo learning, but itrs sEiLl such a foreign concept in our push, push, push socieEy...

SCHOOLERS

IDR: J John HoIE used to predict Ehat mosE parents who tried a very

school-like aDDroach at home would either relax, aE leasC somewhat, or give up and put the kids in school.

Certainly Ehe bulk of the evidence we have seen at GWS has shown chis co be true so far. Let us know what you see, RGERS ON I.EARN II{G SEeohanie Judv (BC) senE an arEicLe, "Personal ThoughEs on Teach-

CARL

ing and Learningrr thaE well-known psychologisE CarI Rogers wrote in 1952.

Some

excerpts:

...Mv experience has been that I cannottffi teacn. Io aEcempc rE rs tor me, ln EhE-16ng run, futile.

It seems Eo me Ehat anything Ehat can be taught to anoEher is relaEively inconsequenEiaL, and has little or no significanE influence on behavior. That sounds so ridiculous I canrt help buE question iL and at Ehe same time I presenc it.

I realize increasingly that I am only interested in learnings which ETgfiif icanEly inf luence beEavior.

Quite possibly Ehis is simply a personal idiosyncrasy.

I have come to feel that the only learning which significantly influences behavior is self-discovered, self -appropriaCed learning.

Such self-discovered learning, EruEh thaC has been personally appropriated and assimilaced in experience, cannot be direcEly cornmunicaEed Eo anotherl-TE-T66n as an individual Eries Lo communicaEe such experience direcEly, ofEen wiEh a quiEe natural enthusiasm, iE becomes Eeaching, and its results are inconsequentiaL. It was some relief recent-

ly to discover that Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, had found this Eoo, in his own experience, and scated it very clearly a cenEury ago. IC made it seem Less

a

Dsurd

.

As a consequence of the above, I realize that I have lost inEerest in being a teacher.

When I Cry to teach, as I do

somecimes, I am appalled by the results, which seem a little more than inconsequential, because someEimes Ehe Eeaching appears to succeed. When this happens I find thaE Ehe results are damaging. It seems to cause Che

individual Eo distrust his own exDeri-

ence and to srffi iilT Hence, I have coie to feel that Ehe outcomes of teachins are

either unimporEanE or hurEful. t^lhen I look back aE the results of some of my past teaching, the real resulEs are the same - either damage was done or nothing significanE occurred. This is frankly troubLing.

As a consequence, I realize that I am only interested in being a learner, preferably doing things that matter, that have some significant inf luences on my or^/n behavior. ...This whole Erain of exoeriencing, and the meanings that i have thus far discovered in it, seem to have launched me on a orocess which is both fascinating anil at Eimes a liEtle frightening. It seems to mean leEEing my experience carry me on, in a direcEion which appears Eo be forward, towards goals thaC I can buE dimly define, as I try to understand aE least the currenC meaning of Ehat experience. The sensation is that of floating with a complex stream of experience with the fascinaEing possibiliCy of trying to comprehend iEs ever changing complexity...

THE]HREATOFrcRCE

Q. Isn't it good for a child Co be made t.o do things he doesnrt like?

A. No, it isn't. It isnrt good for any of us to have to submit, wiEhouE any other reason, to naked superior force. It makes us feel cowardLv. ashamed, reseneful, rebeLlious. It 'fills us with the desire to push someone else around as we were pushed around, There mav be times in ordinary social Liviirg, when children, like adults, must be compelled by Ehe threat of superior force, Eo do Ehings they don'E want to, but iE is never good for their character and Chese situations should be kepE to a minimum. - JOHN HOLT, 1968.

S.JPPG lqJB [rOlHER [/ADE YCU-, Over Ehe years Irve had a few

long phone calls from parenEs who are concerned about the lack of academic interesE shown by one of their child-

ren. Among other Ehings EhaC cause Ehem worry is the fact Ehat the chlld will show an inEerest in someEhing and the parenE will arrange for a chance to follow up on it - lessons, a visit - and shortly thereafEer che child loses inEeresE, Somewhere in these conversations I've said someEhing like: how would YOU feel if someone older Ehan vou say your mother, or moEher-in-liw lived with you now and always worried abouE wheEher you nere OK, whether you read Coo llEtle or too much, and whether she should do someEhing to fix you up? Suppose she goE upset because you signed up for a course sornewhere and Ehen drooned orrt?

GROTIING IIITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

I

she MADE You continue?

Suppose --

The parenEs laugh ruefullY in

recognition. "That would be awful' I'm ilways signing up for Ehings and dropping ouE," EheY say..

There are many good reasons ror droooinq ouE of an adulE education clais -"ttte brief exposure was enough to satisfy one's curiosity, someEhing abouE the-Eeacher Eurns one off, one has less time than expecEed because of oEher changes in one's life.

ArenrE we Lucky thaE, as adults, we CAN quit? Nobody teLls us we have to finish what we begin' or worries abouE what that says abouE us. So maybe it's reasonable to exEend chat same privilege Eo our children. - DR l.oof{l.lc

FOR ENTHIJSASTS

Peter Bergson (PA) wroEe in

Ehe

PENCIL Sharpener, Summer 1986:

...Many of us remember that one Eeacher, coach, Librarian, who so Loved what he or she was doing Ehat we couldn't resisc geEcing caught up in Eheir work with Ehem, even though we had had no

interest in cheir busi-

ness originaLly. I've Ealked with many people who came Eo love Greek' gram*ar, graphs, geograPhY, jusE because Ehe enthusiasm ot one adurt

so infecEious. It

seems

to

me

this is Ehe cyPe of siLuaEion

that

was

we

FEoifd be looking to Provide for our children - Eo place Ehem in the com-

pany of interesting people who have a child-like fascination and sense ot wonder about their work, and who wouLd relish Ehe opPortuniEy Eo share Eheir love of aLgebra or hierogLyphics or cabinetry wiEh another Person.

My wife, Susan, has been on the lookout for such peopLe for Ehe Last

couple of years. One of her most recbnE finds occurred after EmiLy (8) Eook an immediate liking to one of Ehe

arEists-in-residence at our re-

source center. It wasnrt so much that Emilv was desperate Eo Learn more aboul recycling and care of our environment - she was alreadY one of the committed - irrs jusE Ehat she took

an immediate liking Eo Sandy.Drayer,

new head of the Lower Merion/Narberch Watershed Association. So Susan asked Sandy if there were some way EhaE EmiLv and she could concinue Eo work Eoeether. IE turned ouE Ehat Sandy

waI looking for a helper in her 6nvirorunental work and was delighEed to Eake Emily on as her assiscanE. As I write Ehis vety sentence' EmiIY is scanding by my side, bouncing uP and down, eiciled to tell me of her afternoonis project wiEh her new friend...

FOIESI'ABCI.JT RECI.jREI/ENTS Last year, NancY Wallace .(NY)

in response to Paula King's letter in GWS #42, abouE Paula EuEoring a 4th grader in reading: ...WhaE a neaE LecEer... There she spent three years (onLV three_ y.rr") and actuaily sucEEEiled in healine wounds caused bY school, wounds chXc practically deltroyed Ian academically and that would have descroyed him psychologicaLly before many more veari had passed... Yet Paula saYs Lh.t itt a i,ay, she failed because she always had to push him - he was never really self-motivated. ...Her letter reminded me a lot of mv own exPeriences in mY lasE two vears in high school, first at Pacitic uigft ScFooL, and Ehen aE a Place caLled-ContinuaEion School, which was

wroEe

cROllING l,lITH0UT SCH00LING #52

tinuacion SchooL knew that school couldn't be free as long as it was comDulsory and I knew chat lthaf they reailv "anted to do was Eo helP me Which Ehey did. escapl.

-...Paulars sEructuring of Ian's academic Life helPed him Eo be free, too. Her own kids donrt need that structure, because for her' iE doesn'E much matEer whether her kids read when Ehey are in fourEh grade or not (they'll be haPPY and busY and thatrs what counts). But for Ian, Ehe would have been wonderfuL excepE Ehat exDectations of his ParenEs, the school was compulsorY - and we knew school. and even himielf, were differEEa-E Tf we ditfirt-go-t.o Pacif ic we enE. Her structure helPed him Eo had Eo go somewhere else. In addisucceed and gave him back his selftion, slnce most of us thoughE Ehat confidence. and now he even has Ehe we wanted to go to coLlege, we felt tools he needs E6-Secome selfthat we had co take the courses that mocivated if and when he Pleases. were suDDosedlv required for coLlege IErs not just PauLa, Ehough, who entrance'- 2 years of maEh, 3 of Engis torn between sEructure and freelish, U.S. hiscorY and so on. dom. ProbabLy most of us are, most AfEer a few months at Pacific I esoeciaLLy if we are dealing with found the dishonesty intolerable. The scirool authorities who require cerschool was preEending Eo be like a tain kinds of academic accomplishfamily, but it wasn'c' it was_a mencs from our kids' The imPortanE schooi, The teachers just couldn'E kids to be admit EhaE we were Eaking Eheir class- thing is for us and our cleai about whv the strucEure is es because we had to, and Ehe kids necessary (and- perhaps it isn't, in often seemed confused and resenEful which ca3e we should- be honest about as Ehev alcernated between believing EhaE. too) and we and our kids also thaE tfiey were really being given the have to agree EhaE the strucEure is freedom to choose and realizing that OK, as long as it serves and gives they weren't' The bind we were in, them their freedom. reaily, was thaE noE onIY did the To be Less PhiLosoPhicaL about state insisE thaE we show uP at iE - if Ehe superintendenE requires a schooL, but iE was reaIIY our Partest each year' it may entsr exDectaEion thaE we would go to sEandardized be necessary for our kids to do a cercollege (we onLy acquiesced) and our Eain amounE of structured work to geE oarenEsr expectaEion EhaE we would ready for iE. BuE if good scores on take the required courses Eo get into the sEandardized Eest mean another collese - arid yet Ehe teachers were vear of homeschooling wiEhout too aII pieEending"(or hoping) thaE cheir iruch hassle. how can we feeL guilcy clasies were Fun and inEeresEing and thaE structure?. ' . about if And even uP. showed we why that's we did find an occasional class interesEliE, there were enough other kids in che class (maybe onlY 2 or 3) who ETTEFSABOUTTEENS realLy didn'c wanE to bb there, and.

From Nicole Flores of California: so rilhc away Ehe aEmosphere changed, and there was no way Ehac class couro ...I dropPed ouE of high school be fun. when I was 15 and in Ehe ninth grade.

ConEinuaEion SchooL was, bY waY My mom and her boYfriend made it of contrasE, a tocalLy honest place l6gally possible by turning our home I chaE school and it was the first inlo a DrivaEe school. we of aLl, First in' ever felE happy It''s great. TheYrve been ProvidalL knew Ehac iE was either conEinuaing me with resource maEeriaLs and tion school or jaiL. The suPerincenthiee vears laEer I've become inEeresdent of schools had Eold us chaE and ced in-subiects I would have shrieked che police officer who stoPPed bY if I-was still in high schooL. reguiarly rnade it clear, too. In addi- about I'm writing science fiction stories' ti6n. ch-ere was Ehe clear-cuE rule reading physics, and most imPortantly no unexcused absences or You were t've lEainLd how to think for myself Ehrown ouc - with Ehe resuLE that and make my own decisions. Basically' you'd end up in juvenile haLl until che freedoir I Lacked in school has you were 18. The Ewo Eeachers, who me Eo grow uP'.. enabled us wanEed side, were very much on our to graduite as soofr-e-s possible so chal we couLd be free from the Mary BeLl (TX) writes: Ehreats of the SuPt. and Ehe Police officer and geE on wiEh the business ...Our second son sEayed home of life. They made it cLear to each for 7gh and 8ch grade. We foLlowed of us exacELy whaE subjects we had to John Holt's insEruccions of not EryEake in order to graduate ( in my case ing to Eeach him anything - we jusE it was a year of U.S, HiscorY) and , leE him "decomDress" as John called Ehev seE i:p che school in an unusual iL, The firsc months KennY read way-- regiinented and yer free, butalmosE noEhing. He sEayed busy with aLirays coEally honesE. School was for oroiects buE did no "school work'" three hours a day and each morning we Afc6r cwo years hE-decided to give had Eo write down the Ehings chaE we hieh school a try' so he Eook the oLanned Eo do for thaE time. We were SSIT (Secondarv SchooI Achievement iree co do noEhing or to do one thing TesE) for admi3sion to the Catholic for Ehe whole time (Like U.S. HisHigh School and scored so high_ Ehat tory) but we had Eo acEually do whaE th-y put him into advanced llorld we said we would. The Eeachers were Histoiy and advanced Algebra.. His wonderfr,l and inEeresting people and readin! score was in the 98th percenthey worked on poeEry and philosophy tile, and Ehis was a kid who almosE wiEh me when I asked for heIP, bue never reads. He once said Eo me' they never seemed disapPoinEed when I "What did anyone ever learn from a spenc-nry-ehree hours jusE doing my book?" I aLmost died, since I love to U. S. Hi-story so I could get out of read.

Ehere and be realLy free. Unlike Ehe So now Ken is finishing his 10th teachers aE Pacifit,-E6 thoughE chaE Pacific was free, the Eeachers at Con- grade and does not Plan to go back to

for hish school dropouEs. Plcific was smill and intimate 35 kids and about 7 teachers - and grades and mandaEory classes were inheard of. You Eook as many or as few classes as you felt like or You could make up Your own classes and either teach yourself or find someone to teach you. And teachers' bending over backwards noE to aPPear coercive, never seemed co notice if You showed up in class or noE. lE all

8

high school. In Texas he has to wait unEil he is 17 Eo Eake Ehe GED, buE he does noE want to ever go back to high schoor again. He wants to give college a try LaEer on.., PA: 1a

FromLorraine

stand thac for one to sav. r'I donrt know'r is a real sign of iraturitv and I do so love being maEure. Sooo. we go Eo Ehe library-and bookst.ores (new and used) where the girls geE books on subjects Ehey

wanE

to find

ouE

cLarkorMedia, l:i;rf,|3:tn.:1'":?I;t:ff'"lrl3"3,tn"* shared duties arouid the house.

A

great many things they ask are Ehings in Echool'but have forg[tEen since - noE having any use for' iE. For Ehat matter, i wasn,E interesEed in it theri.

Abigail, who taught herself to read (wiEh o;ly cr"1,ai help from me) beEween the agi:s of 6 and b, now .eads adulE-Evoe books boLh to herself and alou6^to our 8o-year-old cousin Floren wiEh whom wi: live...

Some of her other inEerests and occupaEions include: BibLe reading, US piesidencs. US sEaEes and Cheii' capiCaLs, geography, human anatomy, babysittin!, I sbtf-aesigned waLking/ exercise piogram, math (Ewo or EhreE times a wbekl using the ARITHMETIC MADE SIMPLE book, iffeccionaEeLy known in these parEs as ARTTHMETTC MADE IMPOSSIBLE), cooking, piecing a quilr, crochecing, wriEiig ienpall, her clarinet ana Ieito, ana ilaying iast (but cerEainly not least) doing yard and house wori<, She 'flair orefers housework and has a real for decoraCins. She even likes Eo iron. something*she definiEely discovereA on her oinl ...

Rebekah is dragging herself meEhodicaLlv (for Che second Cime)

....My daughter, Lorraine, is now I',learnei"

g1"ld

except for one year in a

small, private kindergarten, has been walLacers letter in GVJS #50 regarding long-timers has given me motivaEion to write. f)no nf f hp orrl rr honof i f c nf homeschooling stilL. concinues - that of Lorraine being able Eo, and having opportunities to, communicaEe hriEh people of all ages, even- Ehough now many peopLe Eake her to be older because of this ability. We have been discussing her peers' communicaEion abilities and note the following: several of her homeschooling_friends to be shy; however, if Ehey lppear feel a sincere desire for communicaEion on the other personrs parE, an honesE, EhoughtfuL, in-depth (if appropriate) conversaEion will follow. This is in conErast to her schooled friends who seem to be initially non-shy with many cliches at their disposal for Light talk.

Needless Eo say, much thoughtful or in-depEh communicaEion does not usuaLly follow. Lorraine seems to be acquiring the skill Eo bridge this gap, as I may say I am, too. through ARIfHMETIC MADE SlMpLE. Every Regarding Keith Organ's "Rock Eime ahe reaches a Dart Ehat seems t6 Music, Not Classical" (CWS #50): her confusing or just unclear, she Lorraine has been taking piano goes back Eo base'one. This second ressons for several year-q. During Eime through has been much easier. this IasE year, lessons have been Though she-enjoys some magh, overall spent encirely on learning blues and it ii noE her-fivoriEe DasEime and jazz for gia1o. The emphasis Eoward she takes comfort in knbwing that the end of Ehis year has been on C.S. Lewis didnrE care much"for maEh qualiLy and feeLing of Ehe sound, either. She works on it everv dav whereas I perceive classical piano though, even Sundays, and reiist's my sEudies emphasize manual dexterity. sugg6stion co take a day off from tfre Her music-reading ability has proaggiavation. She tells me there's so gressed as much as if she had continmidh she wants Eo learn she can'E ued wiEh classicaL, maybe even more. dilly-daLly by Caking a day off.

I don't mean Ehe entire year has been (Now. f kn6w Lhere aie oeobLe out spenE on piano, she has many other there who have Eo Ehreaten'Eheir interests -- compuEers, pen palsr chiLdren to get Ehem to do "school surveying, horses, friends, family work', on any-day, never mind weekI mean the enCire year of piano. ends, who w6n't-believe Ehat this is Iessons has been spent on_ bluesl jazz. a self-driven learner. They probably My oldest daughter, Linda (26), wouLdnrE beLieve either thit'I've is homeschooling her daughters never forced or even coerced mv childJessica (6) and Dian (4), wiEh_ baby, ren to clean Eheir rooms or splce", Melanie looking on. Even_though Linda and yet, I have one super neatnik,' was not homeschooled, I feel EhaE one who'is basicalLy tidy and one who Jessica and Dian are second generahas some exgremely 6rganized clutger! ) tion homeschoolers!,.. ...Other areis of interesC for Rebekah are BibLe prophecy (especially as iE relates to the Jews); An trndal-c from RuEh McCutchen English liEerature and history; ("Busy Family in Kentucky," GWS #46): ancienE history in general, with an emphasis on Ehe Romans; physics and .,.The mosE freouent resDonse chemistry; and LaEin, which she's thaE I geE nowadays fo Che sticemenc sEudying from a book she goE (along that my children are homeschooled is, wiEh nineEeen other books) aE the "ReaLly? How wonderfull I admire you, pubLic school's dead EexEbook deposibuE I could never do LhaEl I .iust tory. She also plans Eo geE inEo don'E have whE'e-Tt cakes, eEci, eEc." Greek soon, Along wiEh reading enough When I tell Ehem that I don't do it, !o geE fairly frequent atLacks of Ehe children do and tri to exolain a eyestrain, she finds time Eo pLay biE frFa-E-I*frean, I'm m6E with'incredu- Ehe piano enough Eo cause occasional Iity and furEher remarks about how outbursEs from oEher familv members. hls/her child could never be ErusEed She's been taking lessons ior flfceen to do iE thaE wav and more moans and months and iE wouldn'E be puEting Loo groans ab6ilE-parbntal inadequacy. fine a polnE on it Co say that she's Novr thaE Deborah, Rebekah and fast closing in on her moEher, who Abigail are 17, 15 and 12, I find Eook Lessons (the "you musE practice more and more thac thev reaLlv are for thirEy minutes i day" kiird) for doing it on Eheir own.'They L6ng ago elght years as a child. Irm beginning reached the point of asking me more to think Ehis freedom Ehing mighE questions that I don't know than ones carried too farl She conEinues wiEhbe ihat t do, Ir wouTif*56 embarrassing her lrriEing (poeCry and shorE if it wEe not so amusing. I underl sEories), drawing, correspondence, completely homeschooled. Nancy

and house and yard work.

Deborah has been using the very good algebra book by John Saxon, Jr. for four months or so and has completed, on her own, approxinaEeLy 415 of the lessons... She has been studving LaCin for abouE Ehe same period-

of Eime using a book I got at a fLea market for 25(, which is the same pubIicaEion I used in the high school I rrbrainsrr aEtended where only Ehe

took

Latin... Spelling has never been Deborah's sErong suiE, so recenEly she began learning 50 words every week, using a lictle deLapidated book (from Florenrs collection) enEiEled SEVENTY LESSONS IN SPELLING. It musE be aE least 75 vears old but is full of those words that trick so manv of us,.. She sEudies the Iesson for-one week, vraiEs a week while studying a nev, lisE, and then without revie$r, has one of us give her a verbal test.

Her conEinuing inEeresC in geography and maps (boEh old and new) has led Eo a grohring inCeresC in hisEory and currenE internaEional events. This has spurred her to read the daily newspapei (mostly Ehe fronE section) and co sEarE a file of clippings which she has found particularLy interesting. Much of her reading now involves non-fiction on other countries, PakisEan and India being the most recent, . .

Deborah plans to attend college and has been reading up on the various insEiEutions in BARRONTS PROFILES OF AMERICAN COLLEGES, Ehe reading of which is quiCe an education in itself.

This update is incomplete, buE iE does give one a fair picEure of whaE Chese older homeschoolers are doing wiEhout pressure or coercion, simpLy because they find the world an incerescing place and have had Cime Eo pursue Eheir individual areas of interest. . .

THE NEED FOR APPRENTCESI-IIPS

Joyce KinmonE (UT) wrote in the Tender TuEor, ApriL 1986: Since Dick works awav from home (he's a "working facherrr), he has less Eime Co spend on his own business. His talents are in video, which is not where Robbie or Ritchiers inEerests Iie. When Dick reoairs machines no one is interesEbd in heloing him (although aE leasE he is aE home). When he transfers people's old home movies to video, Robbie'does splice the films for him. When he tapes programs and such, Tina usually helps him. (She wancs to be a phocographer, so chey may end up wiEh their own production company someday. ) But the point is that vre haven't really been able to come up with anything saCisfactory for our boys Eo do. And that is a real Droblem all over our socieEy. (Even- the boys in school are seldom doing what Ehey really should be doing. When they finish school it may Eake Lhem years to find out what Ehey really wanE Eo do.)

My boys do know whaE Ehey want to do; Ehere just isnrt anyplace for lhem Eo do it! When Ehey were younger we could supply them wtth tools and materlals and space and time; but now thal they are older they really need to be employed in something real, making a valid contribution. The old apprenticeship situation, v,rith a few changes, would be so good for boys Eoday.

Robbie needs Eo be outdoors work-

ing wlth a forest ranger or a geologisC, Iearning their Erade. But Ehat isnrt possible so he is really markGRO}IING I.IITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

9

ing time' Playing around until he is 16-and can get a beEEer job. And even Ehen he will be working in a fast food place, noE learning what he needs'Eo know or developlng hls besE calenEs. Ritchie should be worklng with an engineer. Last monEh he wanEed to leari abouE jeE engines, so he made reguLar crips to. Ehe plumblng suDDIy sEore' and we hacl a roE or noiie-and fire in our backyard. ThaE kind of Ehing was greaE when he was vounqer, buE-he's almosc 18 now, and therE ought Eo be a Iab somewhere where he couLd go Eo conduct exPeriments with sophisEicated equipmenE and work wiEh real jeE engines' '.'I hope homeschoolers will be abLe to open uP the world of work and leE their ceenagers inl ...

of college I neiEher discovered nor was shown (wiEh ctro very slight excepEions) anything abouE the rorld that-seemed to inviEe further exolora!ion. I dld not uncover or

my years

of Ealencs or possibiliseem worEh furEher cultivation. I did not become in any sense beEEer acquainEed with mv ohrn aociety or with the world,-or aware of-Problems which needed mv aEtention' I was not PreDared fo; or directed Eoward, in any i^rav. the work which I was actually to do.-tn fact noEhing Ehat haPpened Eo me aE college gave me in anY sense. che imoortait noEion EhaE one of the greaE tasks of a growing person is Eo Iiscover his work. All I did, Iike most of my classmates' was to go Ehrough c6llege Ehinking thac. when you g5c through, y9y 89E a job -. which was noE at aII the same cnlng [on: ] Yes, indeed, and we hoPe as findine one's work. NoEhing chat I thev will tell us about it. The heard or EncounEered at college gave issues of aPPrenEiceships' exploring me Ehe idea Ehat it mighE be imPoralEernatives Eo corwork opEions, 'finding work EanE, or possibLe, for people Eo find worEh doing, and Lege, work'Eo db in cheir life from which in-general biidging Ehe 8aP between Ehey would get deep saEisfaction' and childhood and adulEhood' are ot exwhiLh mighc-have sbmething to do wiEh Ereme concern to us. You'll flnd sevgheir own !alenEs and aPtitudeseral more sEories abouc Ehese copics Nobody ever suggesEed Eo me wnaE worK in this issue, and Please keeP sendEhat ;ight be.-Nobody ever sugesEed ing us your ideas and exPeriences. to me wEaE kinds of work there were Eo do, or discussed with me' or encouraqed me Eo Ehink abouE what NgIMPRESSEDRT@IEGE kinds of work mighE be worth doing' parEicularly, whaE kinds of work I From Mike Kern of WashingEon: inight find worch doing.

- The iob or career I did PrePare .,.I am amused bY the homage mvself foi was in fac! wildLy unsuitthat homeschoolers Pay to instiEuco *y tasces and cemperamenE. If I Eions of presEiSious higher educa"i gonb int.o what mY schooling had tion, e'g. Harvard' MY wife and I osceisibly prepared me for, Ehat is, borh graduaced from Harvard and I industriai idministracion, I would think co exDecE Harvard Eo be fundahave been both dreadfully unhappy and mentaLly diiferent from high schoo a failure. is naive. Harvard differs from high I began coLlege with the hoPe of schooL Like army generals differ from maiorinq in physics. During freshman armv maiors. It's older, more soPhisyeir t Eook i sophomore physics and a tlcited] erc" buE like majors and ioohomore maEhematics course. I did generals, Harvard and high school are ve?y weLl in the physics and adequatein Ehe same business...

Ly in the maEh. BuE iE seemed co me' aird t rhink in reErospecE with good reason, that I reallY understood And from Zelma Klinger (Sask.)' noEhing of whaE maEhemaEics was whose daughEer hopes to apPrentice aE abouE.-I was one of che many students a radio staEion next Year: who learns from schooL Eo go Ehrough aIL of the motions, coPY down Ehe for...This year, as mY daughter mulas and proofs and do the problems. sraduaces from Grade 12, PeoPIe are BuE whaE che language of maEhemac!cs Isking, "Are you going Eo college?" meanE, hthere it came from, where it as if Eo say, "SurelY now You're gomieht lead. what iE was for, how it ing Eo do something normal." I have coilld possibly apply Eo any serious no-kinder things to say abouE college work or chought, of all Ehis I had than abouE high schooL. I feel it's noE Ehe slighEest idea. 'iust more of the same' I realize Ehat I therefore decided, PerhaPs ior some icrs ineviEable (Ehere just righELy or wrongly, Ehat Ehere was no isn'c any oEher way to become an point in my continuing in PhYsics M.D., D,b.S., D.v.M., eEc. ) but for a ilchough I loved the subject. Nobody great many, iE's jusE a sYmbol or for as much as a second discussed someEhing to do. I feel mosc Proteschis question wiEh me. Nobody in-Ehe sors are well paid for Precious physiis department, where I had done liEcle. Universities are overcrowded i^rei L , sa id- "How come you ' re changand graduaEes have a hard time finding?" Nobody asked me why I EhoughE I ing jobs in many cases. wanted to go into indusErial adminisA B.A. seems to be a Precration. In shorE, I, like mosE coLrequisiEe for jusE abouE anychin8. lege studenEs, scumbled and slid inEo IE's a good way Eo rid Yourself of this career or Ehat solelY on Ehe manv Eh6usands- of hard-earned dolraEher haohazard basis of wheEher or lar6. Every major Library conEains a not I was doing weLl in Ehis course B.A. I I would like Eo hear comments or Ehat course, found Ehis professor on Chis'. ' or EhaE professor inEeresEing' or some such Erivial consideracion. lE did not occur to me thaE it would be FOA/@IJ-EGESFAIL a good idea, before I decided co go inEo physics, to find out somehow From a file of unPublished whaE kinds of Ehings real live physiarEicles by John HoIE: cists did, or what sorE of Iives theY My own college exPerience conEri- led, or how they in fact felE about their work. The onlY Ealk I ever_ buted almost noEhing to my education' heard around such questions was trom and was for Ehe mosE ParE an imPedisome businessmen, who simply said, as nenE to it. What do I mean bY this? I if chis was all that needed co be mean, in the first Place, that during GROI{II{G IIITHOUT SCHOOLIIIG #52

betome aware

Eies within myself which might

said, Ehat the physicisEs who worked in Eheir comPanies, or comPanies kno$rn Eo them, generally did research not of Eheir own choosing and did not make much money. used to Ehat r knew Older peofle -freiuencly about rrEhe seriEalk ouite ous business of earning a living."

But, as Thoreau rightly Pgil!"q 9"t' and as I was Eo see exemPLlrLeo ln the lives of manY PeoPIe I-later kner.r, someone who works onIY tor money - onLy Eo earn a living - is badlv -I cheated... had said thaE I did noE, while at college, uncover any caPacities or taLenEs in mvself thaE seemed worthy of developmeirr... ltt- I learned about mvself wa-s lhaE I was a capable studilnt, which I knew before I got to colleee. In any case, Ehis EalenE' thoue6 it had iEs minor uses' did noc seem Eo me to be one in which anYone could take deep saEisfaction. '..In general, I wouid say Ehat I left colieee thinkinq rather Iess of myself as a Derson Ehan I did when I came in. . . . It seems co me chat Ehere are several things Ehat a young person growing up inco this society -should be helped and encouraged Eo do. one is Eo iearn more abouE Ehat society itself, so as Eo know better what iEs needs and problems are. ln oEher words, a young person should learn as he qrows i^,hat there is out Ehere that needs to be done, what Problems call for his aElenEion. He oughE also to learn more, as he grows' abouE the ways in which people are doing something abouE whac needs Eo be done out therE... Young people who think they mishE want to go into teaching should be"encouraged,-and long before Ehey make any educaEional commiEment, to talk Eo Eeachers abouE their work, iEs oroblems and saEisfacEions' If Ehev want Eo qo inEo science, EheY stroirld go Eo Flaces where scientists are acEually aE work, so as Eo see better whaE in facE Ehe daily work of scientists is like. They should talk Eo some scienEiscs about whaE theY are doing, the joys, Problems, frusfrations, etc..

I find myself remembering Ehe firsE serious conversation fhat I ever had with anyone about mY work.

IE Eook place in the summer of 1946 after I had compLeted my Ehree years in the submarine service. The dropping of Ehe atom bomb had convinced was in very seriine ihat civilization ous danger and EhaE ways had Eo be found --ways very di fferenE from any vet atEempted - co estabLish some i<ind of pirmanent Peace - some kind of rule, law and goverftnenE over Ene encire earEh. I had no idea hor', co besin Ehis work. That is, I was in rhE oosiEion of someone who has discoveied EhaE there was a problem calling for his attenEion, buE does not yeE know in hrhac ways he might work about it. While I was in New Mexico chat summer, I EaLked to someone involved in the dealings aE Los Alamos. I remember alm6st nothing of our conversation except EhaE I came out of iE feeling t.hat in the Los ALamos siEuaEion as iE hras described to me, there would be Little opPorEunity for me Eo do what I thought needed to be done.

Later, when I was in Maine' I managed to meeE and Ealk wiEh a man who had spenE a large ParE of his life in tire foreign-service. IE had occurred to me chaE perhaps EhaE vras a useful place Eo work for worLd government. He quickly disabused me of Chat ncEion, pointing out thaE when one works in Ehe foreign service ot Ehe government, the only foreign poli_

10

cies, international policies, that one is allowed to advocaEe are the extant foreign poli.cies of the U.S. government. NeiEher publicly nor privacely can one criticize Ehem or propose something in Eheir place. This was exacEly what I needed to know... tlhat I am saying is that Ehese are Ehe kind of conversations thaE ought to go on while a young person is in college. Only by Ehe greatest good forEune did I decide, and was I able to furn my back on the career Ehat I had Ehought I had picked out for myself in college. Many young peopLe are not, or do noE Ehink Ehey are in a position to make Ehat decision after having spent four years studying vrhat fhey Ehink will be Eheir specialty. I had already known more than one young person who feels, in graduaEe school, that he does not really wanE to do what he has prepared himself to do, Ehat he has no real enthusiasm for iE, but who also feels Chat he is stuck wiEh it. ForEunaEely I did noE feel stuck. I lec go of my as yet unborn business career withouE any hesiEation or qualm.,. lE may be worEh saying something here about the way in which I did find my work. There was a good deal wriEEen in those early postwar days about world government. One very sEriking piece, which appeared in the AElanEic, was writcen by a young El:frE?iie named Cord Mever. Jr. As it ended with a caIL and a- DIea for world governmenE, I rrroEb him a letter, saying in effect Ehat I was as convinced as he was of the need for world governmenE, and wanted to give my full Eime to working for it, and did not know how Eo go about iC, did not know what sort of working opporEunities Ehere were. He wrote me back very Promptly, saying thaE he was glad to hear from me, EhaE the idea did indeed need people who were willing Uo work for it, and adding the names of a couple of organizations already in exisEence. I rvenE to see boEh of them, and talked to Eheir people about what they were doing and what I might be able to do, and eventually found myself working for one of them at a salary which would have scandalized my college associates if Ehey had known of it.

The story seems to illusErate the kind of lhree-way coming Eogether that needs to take olace when someone finds Erue work. Oir che one hand you have a social condition or a need - something out there Lhat needs to be done. In the second place, you have the young person, with inEeresEs, EalenEs, and capacities - also Eastes and concerns. In Ehe Ehird place you have some kind of place and opportunity for acEuaL work, an opporEunity which may in many cases have l-a tla .ro2l.pd Fnr ewamnla - ac RaLph Nader creaEed his own work

for pay with

some

room and board.

volunteered for

The cenCer, barely Ewo years old _ Iin 1982], has created- inEerim programs for about 75 sCudents in many ParEs of Che globe. so far, Mr, BuiI has relied enEirely on word of mouth,

doing no adverEising.

Moreover, he makes clear that he is not inEeresEed in seEting up a "wander-yahr" of aimless drifting in an exoEic place.

I'I've lived chrough the 60s," he said, shaking his head, "and I'm commiEted to strucEure and to the development of skills. I heLp kids focus on their goals, assess Eheir resources, and I offer them opportunities.

They have to do the resE - and Ehey do. t' ...rrl was pre-med at Duke and not really sure whether I wanted to be a doctor or noE.'r said one studenC, Tim JohnsEon. rrMr. Bull arranged for me to work with a doctor in the emergency and operaEing rooms in a Florida hospital, and itrs given me a firsthand look aE Ehe doctorrs life for five months, I'11 so back to college in January with a mich beEter idea of medicine.'l David Tripp, a Virginia Tech student., Eook his sophomore year off to spend seven weeks saiLing on a research vessel in the Caribbean.

"I'm glad I did it, and I Iearned a Iot about sailing, about myself and abouE being wiEh people," he said. "Part of making iE work was being adapEable. We were supposed Eo sEudy humpback whales, but when we got Ehere it was off season, so we had to setEle for coral reefs and conch.tt He added, "Mr. Bull can give you the opporEunity, but Ehen you have Eo make it work."

For two monEhs Mr. Tripp is working in a hamburger stand in Virginia, and then he will sEudy in Greece for Ehe spring term.

Parents and students asree that the real service of the IntErim Program is Ehe amounE of unusual opportunities thaE Mr. BulI has amassed.

Files on his contacts fill two drawers and are growing aLl the time.

One parenE said: "He's really good aE assessing young people and helping Ehem find out r,rhat Ehey want.

I would have had co sDend hours finding out abouE Ehese obportuniCies and making sure theyrre reliable. Even then, most of the ones Ehat are well known are exoensi-ve and noE thaE unusual.tt The 53-year-old Mr. BuLl is especially keen on apprenticeships.

YeE his job oIten involves persuading someone Co take on an apprentice.

His contacEs come from oLd friends, school ties and former pupils, as well as from almosE every L^ L^ ^ 1 1.,^r ^t ^^^ trr He is not always successful on ^nn^rf,,ni the first Ery. For insEance, several 'sEudents have wanted Co work with wildlife; one sEudent is combining II/AICI-MAKER FOR APPRENTICESHIPS Ehree months on a farm in Kenya wiEh sEudy aE the Konrad Lore..z Institute A reader alerted us to the exisin Austria. But Mr. Bull has been Eence of Ihe CENTER FOR INTERIM rebuffed so far on proposals for a PROCRAMS (233 Mt Lucas Rd, Princecon q'e gorilla farm in England to accept an NJ 08540; 6O9-924-044L), and sent apprenEice. for information. Cornelius BuIl, a He still believes Ehat the farm, former educator, founded Chis network which he learned of Ehrough a cousin Eo help young people (in particular) find apprenticeships and work opportu- in England, would be a raierrlopportuniEy for the right sCudenE. havenrE nities in their fields of interesE. given up,rr he said, "I sEill think I From a 1982 New York Times reDrint. can geE them Co come around,"... in the CenEeris licer6tt?E-: ...Fgr a fee, Mr. Bull creates Eailor-made, affordable programs for LDR: J After a free exploratory inEerview, the CenCer charges a flaE students, often combining some work

fee of $600 co cover a two year Deriod of time, plus Eelephone 6xpenles. $600 is a iot of money, but iL pales in comparison Eo the cost of college

EuiEion Ehese days. Besides, some of

the positions are paid, so sEudents interesEs - unlikely aE college.

Some work thaE InCerim studenEs have done: apprenEiced in Eheater, consEruction, ceramics, journalism, veterinary medicine; volunteered aE a zoo, a bird sancEuary, an orphanage in India, a Mexican village, an aquariumq earned room and board as a dorm assistanc in Australia, an ambulance driver, a ranch hand; resEored Byzantine chapels in Greece, and travelled wiEh a mime group in England, The CenEer for Interim Prosrams specializes in helping college itudenEs who want Eo "Eake a vear off." but I suspect they would be jusE as willing Eo help someone who wants to sEay out of college alCogether, If you become involved in this program, do please tell us abouE your experican earn money while following their

ences

.

\A/ORK PERI/|ITS & G.E.D.

From Frances Korn (NY):

...I puLled my elder daughter out of school when she was in 8th grade. She is now 16 and recently expressed the desire to geE a job (at leasE parE-time) and to go to evening classes to get her high school equivalency diploma.

In order to be admiEEed to the G.E.D. course, she needs (a) a fulltime job; (b) working papers in order Eo get the job; and (c) a release form from the lasE school she wenE to.

I asked the school for the papers, and they have her down as dismissed from the school as of the beginning of 8th grade. Since she has been rrdismissed from Che school svstem" already, she can't be dismissed a second timel Therefore she can't get the release papers, which means she canrt be given working papers, which means, in Curn, Ehat she canrt get a job; and neither can she go for Ehe G.E.D. course Eo get her high school equivalency diplomal ...The boEcom line is Ehac a student has Eo have aE least compleced 8th grade to geE Ehe various papers. ...I am being run around in circles, and wonder if you can advise me how other homeschooling parents get around the problem of working papers prior Eo che age of 18?...

IDR:I tle sent Mrs. Korn's Ietter to Seth Rockmuller, a homeschool-ing parent who just happens Eo be an aEtorney for Ehe New York State Education Department. He replied: ...I am enclosing a copy of SecEion 100.7 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. As vou will note, there is no requireirrent in thac secEion thac an individual have a full-tirne job in order to be admitted Eo such a preparaEj-on course. Hor.rever, you rdill noEe that in subdivision (e) of section 100.7, there are certain requiremerits which must be meE by school districEs in providing aLternative high school equivalency preparation programs for sEudents under 18 years of age. The naEure of those requirements is such that Mrs. Korn's daughter may well not be eligible for participation in an alternaEive program. ...There are, however, high GROI{ING IITHOUT SCHOOLIilG #52

school equivalency diploma PreParaEion programs run by agencies other chan school districts and boards of cooperaEive educational services and such programs are not subjecE Eo' che requilem6nts of secEion I00.7(e)...

cleaning help... ahhh' the lure of

superinEendent a coPy of che currenE and the name and phone number of a suDerintendenE in Rockland, MA who had been so friendly to homeschoolGWS

ers. ALI Ehese Ehings - a friendlY superinEendenE, a friendly lawyer, and two families requesElng approval octier programs may be run by community-based organizations or Post-second- - seemed Eo creaEe a Eurnaround in arv institutions. Informa!ion concern- our negotiatlng.

On Gene's advice I restructured in! such programs is available from Ih. LITERACY ASSISTANCE CENTER iN NCW my curriculum report. The first one was denied, but the second one reflecYork CiEy, and I suggesE that Mrs. Eed only Er.ro changes. I lisEed our Korn conEact Jackie Cook of the Cenareas of study under che subjecc cqceter aE 212-267-5323 for informagory thaE educaEors would regard-_them tion... The one drawback Eo that is (like cooking projecEs under MaEh approach is Ehat her daughEer would because of fractions and measuren6t be eligibLe to Eake Ehe high ment). AIso I took Shane to the school equivalency exam unEil she library and we searched out a whole reaches 17 years of age. bunch of books chac we felt we could ...Mrs. Korn may also wish to have fun reading' For the auEhoriEies note Ehat a studenE maY receive a chis biE of spice was my curriculum. high school equivalency diploma by maEerial. In oEher words, wiEh Gene's Droviding satisfacEory evidence ot help I learned Eo sPeak the langgage iuccessfll comDlet.ion of 24 credits of the educators. I Learned to Ehink or Ehe equivalent as a candidate for like them, which leE Ehem see Ehac we a colLege-level degree or certificate were being responsible. This is aLl a at an apDroved tnsEiEution (8 NYCRR good supeiintendenE needs to know, too.7 tal[2][iii]).

WiEh respecE Eo Mrs' Korn's ques- EhaE responsible creaEive discipline is applied. They want Eo see Ehat you Eions concerning employmenE certifihave iE, caEes, I am enclosing Ewo booklets' This curricuLum was aPProved in one encitled "Laws Governing the January of L984' after fourteen EmolovmenE of Minors In New York months- of homeschooLing. The first SE;te;" which is prepared by Ehe New year was definitely the hardesE. Each York StaEe DeparEmenE of Labor, and year since, I've jusE resubmiEted a Ehe oEher enEitled "Legal InformaEion new curriculm and received approval.

Concerning SchooI Artendancer" which The school deparEmenE has Shane regisis prepared by che StaEe Educacion Eered as a regular sEudenE and EheY DeDartment. The School AEtendance receive federal monies for his acEendbobkLeE contains Ehe relevant scatuance. As a resulE we've been given tory provisions. lots of resourcesr lhe gym' the LibThere is no requiremenE chac a raries, Ehey bought us books, and student compLete 8th grade in order I've had a few conferences wiEh helpEo be eligible for an employmenE cerful leachers. In Ehe end ic's Eurned tificaEe. Pursuant to EducaEion Law ouE very well.

321-6(3), a full-time employment certiShine jusE curned 12 a few weeks ficate mav be issued Eo a minor 16 or ago and for much of che summer was 17 years of age who is not acEending olanning to aEEend our local CaEhoIic a day school. Such a certificate is ichooll-tle've been around in circles, valid for work in a factory or any a story I promise to tell in the ocher Erade, business, or service.

The procedure for obEaining an employ- future, buE for now if anY of You with older children would Iike to menE cerEificate is seE out in EducawriEe to me about your Problems and tion Lahr 32I7. AlEhough a schooLing successes I promise to htrite back and record is reouired for a full-cime maybe some of our discussions will employmenE certificate in New York CiEy, chere is no requiremenE EhaE end up here in Ehe magazine. PLease be sure to cell me if we can Print Ehe schooling record indicate that what you say. As our children get oldEhe applicanE has comPleEed 8Eh grade (Education Law seccion 3222). There er Ehe quesEions geE deeper and I is also no requirement t.hat a sEudent Ehink we all find ourselves wondering how other homeschoolers are answering obtain "reLease papers" from school in order Eo obEain an employmenE cer- Ehem. --- WENDY BARUCH Cificate, unless this refers to Ehe schooling record which is required...

If either you or she requires EARNING i/CX{EYAT6 additional information, please feel Carol WiLson wroce in Western free Eo conEact me...

Pa. Homeschoolers #13:

AT HOI/EAND LEGAL

To finish my story of how we decided Eo homeschool and what we did

to become legal (GWS #49-5L): having such a reliable lawyer, I relaxed ouite a bit. I should have done this a lot sooner. The idea thaE these auEhority figures had some Power over me kept me very defensive' Now with Gene BurkharE doing all the work of my defense I could simPlY Ealk to mY suoerintendenE and leE him know whaE kiid of DarenE I was and whaE our homeschobL would be. At Ehe same time thaE I was hiring a lawyer' mY friends Ehe Bridges (CWS #37) were doing their own negotiaEing niEhouE a lawyer. BoEh of us were working in our separate ways on Ehe same school di sErict .

One key thlng thaE Dorothy and Michael Bridge did which af fected both of our work was to give our GRoWING

tIITHoUT SCHooLING #5?

Luke's LatesE "gung ho" ness: Luke' s JOB SERVICE. He'd been ..

.

involvement has been his firsE busi-

saving his smalL alLowance plus all Ehe "card money" from relatives, for a firsE bike (two wheeLer)' but it wasn't fast enough, so he'd been selling off used coys. He and his dad had been washing our cars Eogether for awhile and so it started by John pay-

ins Luke $f.00 if he'd wash Ehe .nEire car himself. to John's meticuIous soecifications. Luke loved iE and got so good he and Dad-ETE he was readv Eo qo public! So he wroEe up ( only- wriclng' he's done ii months small advertisements Eo hand out Eo neighbors and friends. He charged $1.00, until foLks cold him he was doing such an excellenc job h9 needed to charqe more - now iE's $1.50 for a small cir and $2.00 for a large car.

In one day he washed five cars. MY son, who has always resisced )

caDiEal sm I ^ Hei began adding "waI1 washing" Eo his adverEisemenEs as he's always enioyed this iob aE home, and I felt

fre-aid a good-job (at least if You only cared about having the bottom foui or five feeE cleaied! ). So far no takers on this yeE - theY reallY

don'E believe a 6-year-old can do Ehis properly - but one IadY said she'll have him help wash walls when

she moves dovrn the streec in a monEh. So, Luke's saved his half of Ehe needed amount for the bike, tax, Eraining wheels - a whopping $351...

K]DS PUT OIJT NE\AETETTERS

] Jeremiah and Serena "Pen-PaL NewsleEEer" which we find impressive; Ehe qualiEy of the writing and the choice of non-fiction topics (largely hisEory and current events) make Ehem more inEerescing for me co read chan the usual fanEasy/poetry/arEwork sort of children's pubLication. I asked Jeremiah and Serena Eo EelI us more abouE the newsleEters, and received chese replies. FirsE, from Jeremiah: .,.I will cry to EeIl You abouE how my newsleEter and pen pal club sEarted. My mom is helPing me wiEh this by wriEing down what I have to say, since iE seems really comPIicaEed to me.

2\ years ago my family moved from Los Angeles, where we had a homeschooling group and lots of friends, Eo the Sierra foochills near YosemiEe, This is a very rural area with houses far aparE, and since we don'E go Eo school there are few places to meeE other kids. I was really bored and lonely and I needed something Eo do.

My mom suggested writing Eo Iriends in L.A., but EheY couLdn't read very well and did not write back. I hated writing so much aE Ehat cime. Sol-T-dtarted making wordsearches, codes, and puzzles, and cooied chem bv hand to send Eo seireral frienis. (Somehow I did not consider this nritinS.) ThaE was really' che beginning of mY newsletter.

When'I saw the CWS Pen PaI list I decided Eo write to a few more kids. My sister and I puE our names on Ehe lisc and we got so many letcers! Buc some people only wrote once.

Around Ehis Eime I sEarted doing Independent Study aE Mariposa County IndependenE Learning Center LGWS #441. My mom and I wanEed Eo do our own curriculum without school Eextbooks. My ceacher loved Ehe work I was doing on my newsleEters and asked if she could make a copy Eo keep for my schoolwork file (since I almost aiways refused co write she did not IDR:

Gingold (CA) each puc out a

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12

have much of a file). After that I began Eo work harder on mY newsletEers and they became my schoolwork. I started adding book reviews, history reports, news, and made up math codes with the new math I was learning. MY sister also sEarted making a newsletEer for her pen paLs. Then my teacher offered to nake copies for us to send to our Pen Pals on the school's copy machine. The pen pals Loved Ehe newslerters and I chought iE was much more interesEing Eo do than

regular schoolwork. I

sEarted writing a whole loE and stopped hating it. IE was so much fun

to see my writing and artwork in Drint My writing got better and better. Pretcy soon, Ehough, I EhoughE that it was geEting boring having onlv mv oDinions. I wanEed Eo excnanee-iniormaEion and ideas. s6 I 3ZT?[-Ehat anyone wanEing to receive Ehe newsletEer must contribute someEhing co it each month. I gave them all the job of reporEers and give assignments each monEh. IE works pretty well. LoEs of parents wriEe to thank me for encouraging Eheir kids Eo research and hrriEe. Everyone Likes seeing their work in print. Of course, not everyone wants Eo make the commiEment. Many of my original pen pals stopped writing, so I had to familef irore. Now we have around tenhas lies who contribute. MY mom now to tvDe Ehe newsLetters to save on room,-and there is even a Parents' page !

The Pen Pal Network is oPen Eo kids who like to research and write on many subjects. We are Peaceactivists, feminists, and non-religious. Some of our recently covered subiects have been: Indians, nuclear fower plants, Black Americans, and famous nomen in hisEory. You don'E have Eo be a greac writer' You just have to wanc to exchange opinions. My oen PaLs ranqe in age from almosE 9 to 13. Mv si6ter's ire from 5 to 9.

Please send 75d and an article about yourself Eo: Pen Pal Network, PO Box 74, Midpines CA 95345..' !

His mother Pam adds: ...I iust wanted Eo make a few comments about the kids' newsletEers (so I wouldn't cramp Jeremiah's style by putting in MY opinions).

He in particular has develoPed so much from writing these newsletters... For Jeremiah, everything has EO MAKE SENSE. HiS MiNd bAIKS AE doing someEhing "uselessr" which is why he hates doing schoolwork so much. To rdrlte a book rePorc seems poinEless to him, since he has aIieady read the book. But Eo PuE it in his irewsleEEer so thec many others can read it and learn from iE, wellt tha!'s somethinq real and worthwhile.

He loves to shaieTT6 knowledge.

Also, not being involved with oEher kids, he had been missing ouE on discussions and other Points of view. This has been alleviaEed a little by the newsletters.

Both kids have also come to appreciate fhe efforcs of oEhers. One f-itcte girl always had her letters wriEten by her mother' $riEh the girl Drintins, her name in an uncertain irand, REcently this girl printed an entire arEicle alone, and $troEe that she can now read, too. Serena was so oroud of her I couldnrt believe it. i'm so glad that they have the opportuniEy to care about so many other peopl6, beiif-as isolated ai they are.

What is really SreaE is Ehat r.re

have creaEed a homeschooling Sroup

for ourselves with people of our own inEeresEs... Being in a Position where we had no connections wiEh oEher people, vtriring became a necessiEv of life. And because iE was neclssarv. Jeremiah forced himself to overcome his dlfficulcies v,/ith it' Two years ago I had to write down arEicles for him Eo coPY over... It seemed to take forever, but now he can wriEe alone with norrsecretary"...

And trom Serena:

...I am 7\ and my newsleEEer is called the "Pen PaI Flyer." I am scarEing a club Ltlth my Pen Pals called t'Homeschoolers f or Peace. " I'le write a lot of letEers to Ehe President and stuff.

I have a suggestion for Pen pals. Have your mom write Eo your pen pal's mom. Then you will get to be better friends. Our best pen pals are family ones. They all have kids mY age and my brother's age and our moms write, Eoo. It's like when you meet a new kid aE the park. You will probabIy never see Ehem again. But if your moms talk Eo each other, maybe your mom will invite them over. One Pen oal familv came from Missouri to see i.rs and anbther sends us birEhday and Christmas presents.

Homeschool kids who would like to geE my newsletter can wriEe to me.

They musC be able to wriEe articLes. I am interesEed in articles abouE anyEhing, poecry, puzzles' and picEures.

Please send 75f for a samPle coPY together with an arEicle or LetEer entitled "AIl About Me." I really love homeschooling. We have a loE of fun. I wanE Eo be a reporEer when I grow up, Iike mY

go out to work or so that children from todav's small families can

make

contact with other children. But such needs musE be separaEed from the argument thaE traditional

forms of early

childhood education in schooLs increase scores on Eraditional attain-

ment tesCs. NoE

only does schooling at this

age not have an effect on subsequent educaEional aEEainmenC, Ehe research

evidence points convincingly toward the home as a much sEronger, and much more-ffiflortant, educaEional agency

in relaqualito develvery much worse Ehan most DarenE; tF-teve16ffig advenEurousness, inquisiEiveness, self-confidence, and curiosiEy in children. If educators wish to oromote the development of young children, Eheir sEarEing point must be with communiEy support networks for adults - communiEy support networks which will enable more Darents Eo relaEe Eo Eheir own chiidren in a sensitive, developmenEal way, It is parents, and parents alone, who are in a posiEion Eo give each child the individual aEtenEion he or she needs, and to "read" the meaning of his or her gestures in such a way as to hnow how to be able to create a develoomental environment which wilt lead che child to develop his taLenEs... than Ehe school - especiaLly tion Eo che really important ties which young people need op. Schools are, in general,

BUCI$.lG]HES\6IEM From Sue Radosti (IL), who is expecting her firsE child:

...Irm glad for the experience of having to buck the system to ensure a safe birth for our child, because I think werll know better grandpa... what to expect when facing similar pressures to conform over Ehe issue of education. One thing I've learned g\RLY SCIIOOUT\G NO EVIDET{CE rcR is thaE you can't rely on your feelings to bolster your convicEions From a oaper caLled "A Nation when Ehings geE rough. I beLieve in Really At Rilk," wriEEen by Dr. John home birth (and home schodfTfr[)l but Raven of Scot1and, in response to Ehat beLief is a combinafion of John Goodlad's study, A PLACE CALLED feelings and reason. So when the peer SCHOOL: pressure comes pouring on and my ,..Another of the organizational feelings turn to self-doubE and despair, my reason comes Eo the changes which GoodLad proposes is to rescue and says, "Hey, donrt forget lower the ages of comPulsory enEry the facts, Ehe documented reality of Eo, and exit from, school. These what hosDitals and schools do to recommendations derive from other litEle people!rr Irm wondering whethmyths, He has, for example' accepted er Ehis idea has any relevance to the early-childhood-education myEh. Deidre Purdy's observation of the He has accepted Ehe myEh of Ehe trivia-mind;dness of adolescents. And forever-young homeschooling population (GWS #50), It's so easy to feel he has accepEed the myEh of the Power enchusiastic about homeschooling when of the peer group. tlhile there is no doubt Ehat Par- your kids are still under compulsory age, but Ehose feelings canrt stand ents of young children lay down some of Ehe mosE enduring moEivaEional dis- up very weII Eo Ehe real pressures thaE homeschoollng brings to any posiEions required by socieEy' and household. That's too much llke develop in Eheir children compelencies and self-images which have a pro- trus!ing your taste buds to convlnce you that sugar isntt good for you. found impact on Ehelr lives, I know You've got to have a raCional base Eo of no evidence that Ehe same is com(excep! bY fall back on,.. negaEivelY) monly done schools. The task is to supPort ParenEs as educators who do Ehings which few teachers do, not to geE children lR/llrlGSOSL inEo schgol. There is good evidence Leslie Westrum (IN) wrote: that early education in schools has very little impacE on the very educa...Ming (Madeline, almost 6) tional outcomes with which Goodlad is preoccupied. One of the clearest find- came dangerously close to going to ines from che IEH work (Walker) was "real" school in the fall. At the rhlc children in school svsEems which worst of cabin fever season she began to look wistfully aE the schoolbus in recruit chlldren ac / Years or age the mornings, and aC last she decided are indiscins.uishable aE 11 trom she wanted to rrgo to a real school children in schoor svsEems wnlcn like real kids do.rr And I was so ars o burned out on the effort of iust eEaI neeo ror surviving, and being isolated ouE chaE mothers can GROI.IING WITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

t3

here vtich Ehree little

ones' that I

Eold her if she reallY $ranted Eo 80' she could. I called the school and they vrere gecEing readY for their end-of-year testing. They asked-me bring hLr in for Ehe two daYs of tesci. She spent the enEire week

Eo

telling anyone who would lisEen chat she would be going Co school the nexE

Thursdav and FridaY for her cests.

Thlrsday finaily came, and we

early, dressed, found milk ilonev. cook Mike to work so we could have-ihe car, had breakfast, made our beds - Ehe mad rush I remember from mv vears in school. t^le took James and nec[<y co a friend's house, then took Ming co school. We meE her ceacher (sh6 loved saying "my teacher"), and goE up

SecEleFin (which Eook about one minute) I left her. People have always said by keeping the kids home I would make chem coo dependenE when she was

but Ming was perfecEly at ease with ' this bunch of strangers. We Picked her up afEer school - Ehe Eeacher said everything went fine. The next dav the same ching - I haEe Ehose s."tci.tg ready for-school mornings. ihe following Tuesday che Eests were all graded, and I had mY meeEing wiEh the Leacher and the principal. IE was extremely enLighEening.

I was shown Mingrs Eest' which was all in code and meanE nothing to me. Then Ehey Eried to sell me on whaE wonders would be wrought if I enroLLed my child in school. TheY stressed that they have Ewo comPuters in the kindergarten classroom (they use Ehem for pre-reading drill). Ming did excellent in mosc of her work' In some areas she merely did "accepEable." The areas in which her work was onLy acceptable were constancly referred Eo as her "weak areas.r' Her so-called weak areas were penmanship, creative wriEinS, and sociaL sEudies.

(Social studies in kindergarten?)

Also her pre-reading skills are noE too greaE. (She just finished the fourEh grade reader and is working on Ehe fifth, but since kindergarEeners don'E read Ehey didn'E tesE her reading. ) I know her PenmanshiP is lousy, It's geneEic. Her faEher and grandfather are both brilliant, and neiEher of them can write worth a hooE. As for creaEive writing, I was told that each of the kids in kinderEhis year.

I,arten had wriEEen a book Ming has been wriEing her own sEories for a couole of vears now. I was noE imoressed, I was aLso cold about Eheirwonderful arts program. They got Eo make a ceramic PoE and have ia fired Ehis year' My Parents first boughE a kiln when I was 7 or 8.

Again, I was not impressed. The arcs program may be wonderful, but. Ehe bulLeEin board and hallways were filled wiEh the usual thirty-of-akind clone pictures from kindergarEen up Eo sixEh grade. I didn't see any work Eha! struck me as being oriSinal. JusE foLlow Ehe direcEions sruff. Ming currenEly spends an hour or so a day reading on her own, just because she loves to read, and anoEher hour or more making PicEures Ehat are noEhing like Ehe school "house, Eree, sun in Ehe corner" stuff.

FinalLy I asked whac they incended Eo do about her reading. They said they would give her Ehe firsE grade curriculum in first grade. If she finished it before Ehe year ended Ehev would "broaden her base on Ehac levelr" meaning Ehey rrould give her more of the same kind of work Eo kill Eime for che resE of che Year. In second grade they'd give her the second grade work, Ehen "broaden her base" again' Same thing in Ehi-rd GROTIING TIITHOUT SCHOOLII{G #52

grade. (Three years of whaE she calls work. " "babv 'Now comes the clincher' At Che end of Ehird grade if she can still read che fifth grade stuff, Ehen she is probably gifLed, so EheY'II PUE her'in an iccelerated program' They wanC Eo hold her back for Ehree then Push her. vears. ' i told them Ehank You kindlY' and Ehat if we decided to enroll her we'd IeE them know. Then I fumed half Ehe way home and cried the rest of a system the wai. 'be I couldn'E believe so insensiEive. I was outcould raeed: I had to cool off before I .oild-crv about iE. I feel so sorry for all the little kids stuck in lhis svsEem. ' I asked Ming how she felt about school after her Ewo days of it. Her reaction: "The playground was nice, but noc as nice as aE Ehe Park" (we day" each week) ' Ehere on so ntJe only goE"errand a liEcle bit of recess" Some of'che kids were nice, but not as nice as mY friends. TheY atafl! qive me Eime'Eo draw enough' I didn'E Err".t e"E Eo read aE all. tde had to sic sEill Eoo much. I reallY liked drinking milk out of little cartons' Ehoug6 ' " -FinaL conclusion - the major thines wronq wiEh our homeschool are (1) Efrat we-don'E gec to go Eo the oark enough, and (2) we don'E have initt in litcle carEons. The solution we have arrived at is EhaE once a week or so we go to Ehe Park. We Pack a Lunch, and take along liEtle cartons of milk (and we don't have Eo gec up early in Ehe morning). ' ' )

\(f,}G

I.EARI\EFS

Mas.sie Edmondson (ME) wroEe when

her chifdren were 5 , 4 and 2: .,.This maY sound incredible' buE I got through five years -of chenistrv ;ichout ever understanding che basit fact that it is the sEudY of Ehe elements from which chings are made and Ehe ways in which they interact and combine. In fact ic only dawned on me two weeks agol I could see a whole new world of exciting discovery oPening uP before me. This greaE'revelation came while reading a Sook co Joe on aEoms and molecuLes I iusE wish Ehis had sunk in 20 Years ag5! Joe is an avid investigaEor and s6cs rp experiments all over Ehe place - a iew daYs ago he sPent Ehe whole morning wiEh a jar ot water ano a sEraw and I was amazed aE the number of ideas he came uP wiEh. He is now putting on PaPer the various arithmetic-procbsses which he already knew - addi-cion, subcracEion, mulEiplication, fracEions and 'series and division, now has an excellenE grasp of the way our number syscem works. I have overheard some wonderful conversaEions beEween Joe and Anna (who is also excited about arithmecic) ' e.g.

"Joey, do you know whaE? 5 minus 2 is 3!" ...I have noticed wich all of Ehe children that afEer we have read about a new subjecE it takes anywhere from a week to six months for cheir minds to Process the information and then they'either tell one of us all abouc it, or draw a PicEure abouE it' or Ehey may come up with a quesEion-.

Abouc a month afcer reading and talking about the life cYcle of salmon, juJc as Anna was going Eo bed she isked, "Why don'E Ehe eggs of chac fish fall back down the waterfall?"

(Luckily I figured out $thaE she was Ealking- about - a-noEher advantage of

homeschooling.) One daY I rea9 a lone. fairLv technical book about raii, trait,- sleeE and snow to Joe' Thirieen davs 1aler, over breakfast, he scarted telling Ron all abouE it how hailstones are formed, the func-

rods, weaEher baLtion of lightning loons and -o on, jusE about everywe'd covered in facc.

Ehins -Latelv we've Ealked a IoE about -system for one reason or Ehe solar anoEher and- chis sparked a series of picEures by Joe of the earth and sun bomolece with land masses' seas' a dark and light half' our house' part of the sun I"because it's so big")' Iines made bY rockeEs in the skY.' stars, roads' the North and SouEh Poles. AII this makes me cerEain that children do not need our gimmicks for seeing whaE they have assimilated or the nice ideas we come uP with co CrY and reinforce cheir learning; EheY just need some time to digest it in their own graYs ' ...AfEe? breakfasE each daY we all do housework (although Emily is not really exPected co do much) ' I hope Ehey conEinue Eo enjoy iE as *rth as thev do now. The first daY Joe's iob was to wash the dishes and since ihere was a huge backlog I sorted out a certain amounE for him Eo do, but he just wanEed Eo,keeP on eoing. so he went on uncil EheY were ELI dore. Ehree hours later. He seemed incredibly peacefuL and hqPPy afEer doinq Ehis- and was very affectionaEe and open - he's usually very intense and wrapped up in himself' I could ciCe many insEances ot thls sacisfaccion from doing needed work or accomplishing someEhing (like Ehe tottering EabLe Joe spent four hours sawing.and hammering together a weeK ago)..

of Toronto: ...PoLly (almosE 5) seems to-be learning Eo read bY writing' in che wav thaE I've become familiar with chioueh reading aII Ehose great back issuei of GWS.-I find iE very inEeresting thaE, alEhough she loves stories and we read aloud a lot, the words she's learned first are those $rith an immediaEe Practical applicaEion: names of relaEions (so she can write co them), names of subwaY stacions, and words like "exit" and Ehe subway a "escaiaEor" (we ride on fair bit). There are many Ehings I don't Like about living in Ehe city, but as John saYs somewhere, You can hardly escape iearning to read tbere: the pi-inted'word is consEanclv thrusE before you.

An6ther of PollY's Practical approaches was to learning numbers' Aiinost as soon as my husband suggested to her that she could be a real help doing rhe food shopping. at our. co-op if she learned her numbers' she did.' So. for several monEhs now she' s been troEting off co the righE box or barrel, filling a bag wiEh rolled oats or rrhatever, memorizing the price per kilo, Ehen Punching it in the sclle, pushing the IabeI buEton' Eearing off Ehe label, and carrying che now-priced iEem Eo our grocery box. Needs very little suPervision and is very Proud of herself! ...She has a PretEY romanti.c view of school, withouE knowing anyEhing about iE' of course' and would like; I think, to go. She does go to Sundiy SchooI, Ehough, and doesn't alwavs like thaE, which is herPtul when-we talk about why she isn't soins co school. I mu3t saY I find SundIy School depressingly like reguFrom Anne Quick

t4

lar school myself - convinced churchgoer though I am - Ehe fishing for anshrers, the emphasis on discipline,

the art projecEs that have to be done a cerEain way in order to be right yuk Remembering how I too used to push discipline, encourage kids to crayon between the lines in coloring books (we don'E use coloring books any more), show them Ehe "righc" way Eo painE, cut, eEc., I thank God (and John Holt, and GtlS! ) Ehat I snapped out of that. We have found, sincb wetve begun to encourage our children to do (a) what they want when Ehey wanE Eo, and in their own way, with heLp offered only on requesE, and (b) real things, that everybodyrs life is much richer and fuller, and easier!

Polly and Jenny ( 21) helrp garden, cook, sew, clean, shop, and organize their own play (which is full of wonderful imaginaEive games wiEh dolls and dress-ups) entirely. I'm constanEly amazed aE whaE Ehey can do on their own. Polly can sew on a butEon quite respeccably - something I didnrt even aEcempt tiIL I was 9 or L0 - and right now is into all sorts of little sewing projects designed by herself - not very well executed, itrs true, but beautiful and imaginative, in my view. Off her own bat she'll decide Eo lug a basket of dry clothes up from the basemenE to the bedroom, and sorE them, One day she announced she was going Co dust and vacuum the downsEairs, and did!

Jenny, Eoo, wanEs fo do reaL things, and cuts her own cheese, spreads her own l iverwursE, eEc. , with a LiEtle heLp. Just tonight she set Ehe table quite successfuLly, and was thrilled!

Enough. enough - just LranE to say thaE it's working for us, and we're very happy. . . !

From an

arEicle about families

geEEing Eogether to buiLd play equipmenE. wriEten bv Cliff BuckwalEer in

Che PENCIL (PA)-newsleEter, Winter 85:

...Most everyone had brought their own tools and Ehe kids were in hardware heaven. There was one littLe

boy in parEicular who was curious about Ehe purpose of each piece of equipment and hardware. His father, unfortunately, Ehought thaE answering

more Ehan Ehree of his ouesEions was an annoyance, I have found this aEEi-

common in many adults. If is as Ehough we have this "Ehree question limiE" rule imbedded in our brains.

One or Ewo questions - fine. Three questions? OK. Any more and iErs rrNow

tude

wouldn't you be more interested in pLaying in the sandbox?rr Mind you, we say this to a child who has his head buried amongsE all the tools and looks like a dog with a new bone. But children are smart. This boy heard what his faEher really said: rrl want you out of my wayrrr and so he went.

Sad. I was sad and so I said Eo the faEher, "Children have a great need to know."

But I think he took Ehis to rrChildren

mean,

shuE up. I'

need Eo know rrhen

Eo

...Our Family Build Day was a Breat success. We built some wonderful play equipmenE, goE to know each oEher better, and had fun doing it.

There was a lot of eager Ealk about doing it again,,.

Towards the end of the day, some people lingered, Ealklng with one anoEher, some puECing, the finishing touches on Ehe swings werd built, The father thaE had earlier been unkind to his son was on a ladder, boring holes inEo the beam for eve bolts.

His son sEood on the ground near him, The father was using 5 spade bic that was too short Eo go Chrough the beam.

He was half muttering, half talking out loud to himseLf, trying Eo figure out how to bore a hole on Ehe oooosite side of che beam so the hoibs would line up. As aduLts do when they are stuck, he looked Eo someone else, in chis case, his son. They stood looking aE each other for a momenf, neither speaking. Then, almosE inEuitively, the son benE down and picked from his dad's tool box a very iong and very skinny thing and held it up Eo his father, rrwhaErs this for?" he asked cauEiously. Then the Iights went on all over the place and the father jumped from thb ladder, scooped up his son with a hug and said. rrCan I show vou? t' tlell, he did i:ven better than Chat. He 1eE his son climb the ladder and together they drilled Ehe pilor holes wiEh the long, skinny pilot hole bit that the faEher had foreotEen abouE until his son picked iE uo for one more question,.. yea].

Debbie Healv (CA) wroEe IasC i

...Andy (5) has aLso Eaught himself Eo vrrite, which he does in all capiEals aE this point. But we know how all EhaE came abouE: he loves football. So, what does he spend his spare time doing - he studies fooEbalL in books, magazines, on TV, and live. One day Andy and I got a big oLd box and we made a miniature football sEadium. We puE in alI the details: the crowd, Ioci<er room, scoreboard, press box, yard 1ines, goal posts, etc... Andy has about a dozen little football pLavers which he can pose, so he likes Eo set them up on Ehe field. WelL, he wrote in all the numbers on the yard lines by himself, Then one day h! asked me how Eo spell rrRaiders,rr LaEer when I looked at the stadium, he had \rritten "Raiders" in one zone and "Rams" in the other. I asked him how he knew how to spell trRamsil and he said he looked iE up in his program from the Rams game we took him to. ThaE was just Ehe beginning. (AcEually it was Ehe end of the stadium - Andy decided to I'wash'r iE with Glass Plus when I had my back turned EhaE day! ) Since then he has probably made no less than one hundred football fields on all different sizes of paper using crayons, markers, chalk, paint and anything else we can think of. He even purchased a smaLl patch of Astroturf and whiEe spray paint with his own money to make a more realistic field, On each field he puts yard Lines and marks Ehem all with Ehe correcr numbers. Since his loyalties change often, so do the team names he decides to puf in the endzones. Some days he does noEhing but make sheecs filled with cheering f ans which he hangs on the r^ralls while he plays arrrealtrfootball game vriEh his dad (hers getCing too tough for me Eo handle!)...

From Wendy Reininger (ID): ..

.This was Erica I s rrkinder-

garten year,rr buE I suspect we did much more than the average kindergarten class - all very naturally.

Erica has a deep interesE in science, so many of our activiEies were in this area. Her other big interest this year has been learni.ng Eo nrite and read. Her incerest in learning is

so bright and shining - het enthusiis a Joy Eo watch. Of course, if

asm

itts something she's not incerested in that I've decided t6-trv wich her.

noEhing happens. As I've riad so many Eimes in GWS, Ehe child can be trusE-

ed to lead. At leasE, I see this over and over again in Erica.

Some specific examples o.f our activiEies include: getEing a mouse and caring for iE through a bouE of mites, setting up a small aquarium nith Ehree goldfish and a snail, catching caterpillars ChaC are now in chrysalis form, looking aE aquarium rdater under Che microscope, invesEigating Ehe conCents of a troutls sEomach, Iong invoLved discussions abouE germs and the bodyrs defense system, discussions about surgery (our cat had a broken leg), a fossilfinding expedition in a nearby canyon (we found lots of small bones probably recenE - buE she loved ic), and looking aE many, many books abouE stars, planets, the earEhr s crust, voLcanoes, animal life - her interest in Ehese matters seems unlimited, She understands and asks quesEions about Ehings that I doubE ttie schools would get around to for years, if ever. In rL^F i ^ ^^i^-^^ In mathemaEics Ehere's been practically no interesE. Not thaE I havenrc Eried - my besE school subject was math, and I've approached Ehe subjecE in differenE ways wiEh her. The only Ewo things that seemed Co spark an interesE were working \riEh geometrical shapes (we made interesting patterns wich smaLl Eriangles, squares, and oEher shapes, which she'll go back to and do occasionally) and playing dominoes (alEhough we often end up making long lines of dominoes balanced on end just to watch them fall down when we push Ehe first one over), When she was 4L, we starEed using che Montessori sandpaper leEters, and she quickly learned Ehe sounds and shapes of the LeEters.

Following a Montessori sequence, she started forming simple phonetic words wiEh cardboard cut-ouE letters. then reading them, then forming and reading longer phonetic words. Now werre working on phonograms. One of our best acEiviries is using a small chalkboard seE up in Ehe kiEchen, nhere I draw a LiEtle oicture and Ehen prinE che descriptive word beside iE. I usually try to make my picture pretty vague so she acEually will sound out Che word, and she enjoys my silly picEures. Then she draws a picture and prinEs a vJord.

She chooses hard words - although I never indicate thaE I Ehink Ehey're hard ones. She spells them phoni:ticaLly, and often asks how to make a sound like ttchtt or Itoot' that she doesn'E know. We make these piccures and words for each other off and on during the day. She Eakes greaE pleasure in coming in from play and discovering a new word on Ehe board.

Now werre starting to do phrases like "the pink pi-glets,rrand we'll bulld up to sentences. Irm making some liEtle reading bookleEs for her now, and Irm expectlng she'11 nanE Eo make some of her own, too. Thls has been a fun and easy process for boEh of us very unhurried afld flexible over the past year and a half.

Something we Eried Ehat did noE work was the printlng klt describE?lin GWS #36. I ordered the extra large print, since Erica lras 4t aE Ehe tifie. She found the kic interesting, buE suddenly she developed a great confusion over how letters and words CONTINUED ON PAGE 19 GROIIING I{ITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

JOHN HOLT'S BOOK AND MUSIC STORE HOMESCHOOLING MATERIALS HOW THE WEST WAS REALLY WON WOMEN OF TIIE WEST, by Cathy Lucheui ($17.00 + postage). This is one of the most unusual, beautiful, informative, and thought provoking books about hisory ftat I have ever seen, a Jx bmk about what I call History, as opposed o textbook hisory that I , and I suppose most children, studied and still study in schml. A Britistt historian once said, very aptly, "History is the p'ropaganda of the victors." We could as well say ftat il is the study of What The Big Shos Did. Reading it, one would hardly think there had ever lived anyone except kings, generals, and an occasional religious leader or two. What ordinary people did, how they worked, above all how they felt about their lives, is something we

True 0re t

IvIATHEMAfiCS: A HTIMAN ENDEAVOR, 2nd Ed" by Harold Jacobs. ($16.50 + postage). I wrote about this book in GWS #7, but since it was expensive, and since I thought it might smn come out in paperback, I didn't add it to our list But it has been such a success Snt the publishers have kept it in hardcover, and indeed print€d this second edition. Meanwhile, many people have written us about how much they liked ir So I've decided o add it o our lisl Families who find it oo expensive could perhaps find a way to share the cost of the book with other families, sharing time with it as they might share time on a comput€r.

In GWS #7,I wrote: '...[This] is ibout the best book on mathematics, for beginnen, tlnt I have ever seen. What Jacobs ries o do, and does very well, is give the beginner, or even the math:hater, an idea of what mathematical thinking is about, why human beings have found it so interesting, and how (to some extent) it has grown over the cennries.

It is a delightful bmk, for people of almost any age. People who (like me) have done schml math (and even got good grades) without ever having the slightes idea of what math is really all abut, may find it interesting and exciting. People who have always feared and hated math may find there is no reaSon to fear and hate iL And I can't think of any book on math that would be more fun to read aloudo and wo.rk on with quite young children. I believe that it was wriuen for high-schml or even college students, but I would guess that quite young children would like it if they could work on it with an adutt, perhaps to help them with some of the long words.

The book is laid out somewhat like a conventional text, in chapten, with queltions and problems. But, unlike most texts, it begins by lmking at the path of billiard balls on a table, and the ways in which we might thirik about thar From there it goes on o many other fascinating and unfamiliar toipics. The mathematical illustrations are clear and well+hosen, and the book is sprinkled wittt pertinent and very funny cartoons ftom "Peanuts," "B.C.n and other souces. I can't r€commend it too highly...'

-John Holt in GROUING WTIHOL]T SCHOOLING #31 (For more Malh books see inside.)

almostneverfindouL ffii'

This is as true of the history of our own West as of the kingdoms and empires of Europe. The textbook hisory of our West is almost entirely the hisory of men engaged in romantic and dangerous occupations and explois - explorers, soldiers, gold-seeker gunfighten, sheriffs, cowboys, miners. This, though Eue enough, is only a snall part of the truth. Most of the rue history of the West is a history of work, cruelly hard work done in a bitter and hostile environment, and much of this work was done by women. In this bmk, after a very interesting general description of the lives of pioneer women, we meet eleven of those women, and ttrough their diaries, journals, and letters, hear the story of their own lives - the sory of the Little House books as they might have been if Iaura Ingalls Wilder's mother, the gentle and shadowy Caroline, had written

tlpm.

Along with the text, in iaelf fascinating, are reproductions of about a hundred phoographs taken at the time. With a few wonderful exceptions - two women galloping on horseback at top qpeed, nrc little girls whispering and giggling o each other at schml - the phoographs are mostly stiff and formal protraits of women or their

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families, usually in front of the tiny sod or dugout houses or log cabins they lived in. Somehow these photos, in the many shades of black and grey, and ttreir absence of motion, convey more of the harshness of the landscape and hardness of the life than modem color photos could do.

Text and photos are beautifully laid out and printed in a book which, just as a book, is a work of the printer's art... This beautiful book is one that should be widely lnown and read, and kept alive for future generations of children to read.

-John Holt in GROLNG WTIIIOUT SCHOOLING #32

Boston MA 02116

GEOGRAPHIC JIGSAW PUZZLES

BIOGRAPHY ANNE FRANK: The Diary of a Young Girl, #20. Famous joumal of a girl hiding with her family from the Nazis in World War II, revealing the strengttr and patience she developed in the midst of dangen. $4.50.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,IngTi & Edgar d'Aulaire. #45. The pictures glow with color as you follow Franklin's career against a background of colonial and Revolutionary America. A series of Poor Richards sayings add spice to each page. Ilardcover. $11.95.

BLACK FOREMOTHERS, Dorothy Sterling. #36. Brings alive tlree heroic ',:,fr!nen whose stories, in the words of Maryaret Walker, "every woman, man, and child should know." $8.95.

DIARY OF AN EARLY AMERICAN BOY, Eric Sloane. #13. True story of a year in the life of a boy on a small farm in the early 1800's. lvlany beautiful pen and ink drawings. Good companion to the Wilder bools. $5.95.

These well-made and accurately-cut woden puzdes are a pleasure to use. A good way to learn the relative positions of the continents, countries, and states. Pieces assemble into their own frirme. Each map puzAe has a finger hole or holes to push the pieces out. The Political World is in full color and is very detailed. The Physical World is more suitable for young children since it features the major land formations rather than political boundaries.

Shipped by IIPS only.

Description Size Number of United States 14x19

and blind, and the teacher who gave her words to learn about the

Europe 9xI2 Asia 9 x 12 Africa 9 xIZ

world. For young readers. $2.25.

N.

HELEN KELLER, the Graffs. #15. Story of a woman born deaf

THE MAN WHO PLANTED HOPE AND GREW HAPPINESS, Jean Giomo. #30. A single shepherd, planting rees by hand, changes tlre ecology of an entire region and enriches the lives ofhundreds ofpeople. $2.50.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, Ed Clayon. #18. The life of a great and history-making American, simply and directly told for young readers. With many pencil illustrations. $2.25.

MY CHILDHOOD, Carl Nielsen. #34.Imported from Denmark, this is a beautiful memoir of the great Danish composer. $5.95.

SELF-PORTRAIT: TRINA SCHART HYMAN' T.S. Hyman. #30. An artist's story of her life, illustrated with her own lively paintings. $12.95.

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY LJP THE G[JN, Noel Penin. #31. The astonishing how the Japanese, having developed firearms by the year of story 1600, then gave them up for almost 300 yean. $6.95.

GIVING

GOODE S WORLD ATLAS, Rand-McNally. #22. Over 2N pages of beautiftrlly colored maps showing towtls, toads, mountains, climates, populatiur, etc. Wonderful to browse though. $19'95.

HIROSHIMA, John Hersey. #18. lvlauer-of-fact report of the devastation and honor following ttre bombing of Hiroshima, and the

America 9 x12 S.America 9x12

Pieces

51

26 26 36

l4 T3

of 5 continents abve 15 Political World 8.5 x 11 World 13.5 x 6.5 Oval 11 Set

Price $28.00 $18.00 $18.00 $18.00 $18.00 $18.00

$8s.00 $1s.00 $1s.00

SOUTHWEST, Duuon & Olin. #38.lvlany fascinating stories and plenty of Indian art for children to color in. $2.95.

OLJR YAMSHING LANDSCAPE, Eric Sloane' #27.T\e author of DIARY OF AN EARLY AMERICAN BOY and REVERENCE FOR WOOD takes a loving look at the buildings, tools, and land of earlier days. $6.95.

PENGUIN ATLAS OF MEDIEVAL HISTORY, COIiN McEvedy. #n.38 maps show shifs in power, trade, and religion from 372 !o 1478 A.D. Unusual portrayal of the "Dark Ages." $6.95.

REVERENCE FOR WOOD, Eric Sloane. #18. The importance of wood and Eees in American history back to the early settlers.

Tools, techniques, uses of different kinds of wood. Many detailed

and

labeled illusrations. $5.95.

A SAMPLER OF LIFESTYLES, lvlary Bakke. #40. A record of women and men in pre-1800 New Englan4 collected from diaries, documents, newspapers, etc., that bring o light some interesting and surprising things. $7.95.

THIS IS THE WAY IT USED TO BE IN THE EARLY 1900's, Marjorie Iawrence. #43. A delightful example of a kind of

survivors' courage. This important book makes you grasp the real tragedy of nuclear warfare. $2.50.

history we like: how ordinary people lived their daily lives. The auttroi writes as if telling her memqies to children - ideal for rcading

MYTHS & LEGENDS OF THE INDIANS OF THE

aloud. $4.50.

John Holt's Book and Muslc Store

729 Boylston St.

MATH

Boslon MA 02116

NEW EDITION

AHA! INSIGHT, lvlartin Gardner. #19.

'THE FIRST HOME.SCHOOL CATALOG, 2nd, Edition, Donn Reed. A huge list of books, materials,

Dozens of brain-teasers with the answers

clearly discussed. Gives you frst-hand experience at creative math thinking. $9.95.

ARITHMETIC MADE SIMPLE, Sperling & Irvison. #15. The traditional arithmetic cuniculum for Grade,s 1-8 all in a single book, with exercises and answers.

Why pay more? $4.95. ttoalCJntoq taoct

ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA, Ilarold Jacobs. #44. Reader-friendly, this textbook defuses algebra terror. You can browse,

DOrt RrrD

t*rrr 'ALt

looking for ttrings that interest you, instead of feeling you must plow grimly along in a straight line, "understanding" everything perfectly. $17,95.

6S%

ilql

IIIFTY CARD GAMES FOR CHILDREN, Vernon Quinn. tf45. Classic collection of games, sottaire, and magic tricts. l,earn about numbers while having fun as a family! $2.00.

HOW TO LIE WITH STATISTTCS, Danel Huff. #16. We are sunounded by misleading figures and graphs; this book shows you how to qpot them. Entertaining, easy to read - and vially imporant $1.95.

THE I HATE MATHEMATICS! BOOK, lvlarilyn Bums. #13. Iots of ideas relating real math to the real world.

Cartoons, jokes, activities. Informal and fun, for children AND adults. $7.95.

THE LADY OR THE TIGER? AND OTHER LOGIC PUZZLES, Raymond Smullyan. #35. An entertaining series of related to important concepts mathematical theory. $ 13.95.

MATHEMATICIAN'S DELIGHT, W.M. Sawyer. #19. Readable, sensible introduction to the true spirit of

kinds of legal and financial dcuments, how numben are acnrally used in daily life. It makes arithmetic much more real and

mathematics, as opposed to schml drudgery.

Includes explanations of such topics as calculus and rig. Many diagrams. $4.25.

helpful. $8.95.

MATHEMATICS: A HI.JMAN ENDEAVOR, 2nd Ed., Harcld

Jacobs.

#31. Our favorite book about notjust the techniques but the spirit and bauty of math, for childten or non-expert aduls. More than

just a superb texthk. $18.95.

MATHPLOTS 2, K. Kerman. #38.

Written out of her home-schooling experiences, this book is packed with interesting and practical ideas and rare common sense. $3.50.

SURVIVAL MATHEMATICS, Williams & Cohen. #42. A math book that

paradoxes, brain trvisters and more - all

of

and resouces put together and reviewed by Donn and his homeschooling family. They call themselves Brook Farm Books and they layout, bind and illustate their books in their home.This new edition is aranged by subject and covers 3reas like Adolescence, Art, College, C orrespondence Sclaols, Resources andTeaching Aids, to rurme a few. It covers more than 2,0N items. $10.00 + postage

shows you, by photographs of differcnt

SPECIAL DOCUMENTS (Postage included in prices below except for Mother Earth News)

THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF HOME SCHOOLING' By John Holt Statement on parents'right o conrol ttreir children's education. These legal arguments can be useful when dealing with courts and officials. $2.00

GWS INDEXES. All entries give issue, page, and column for locating information quickly. INDEX TO GWS l-30, $2.5q INDEX TO GWS 31.40, $1.00; GWS 4150, $1.50. SPECIAL: all 3 indexes, $4.00

HOME SCHOOLING RESOURCE

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OVERSEAS SLTRFACE MAIL: l,2,ot 3 items, $2.00;4 or mqe, $l.00per item. Please send money in US FUNDS or checks drawn on aUS bank. Outsi-de 0re US, UPS only delivers to Ontario and will not deliver to a PO box.

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QUADRO CONSTRUCTION SETS.

#44.Erchset conains different lengrhs of plastic pipes and a large variety of csner pieces, plus square panels that can be inserted to create walls, floors, slides, seats,'etc. The finished models will support up to 2.?.0 pounds. The sets come with ins8uctions for buildings all sorts of structures: houses, slides, parallel ban, tunnels, shelves, ables and chafus, beds; all kinds of climbing structures and frames. A color Qtudro brochure and pars list for each kit will be sent upon rcquesL QUADRO STARTER SET.74

pieces.

Kits available in Red & Black pieces: In color: red, green, blue, and yellow piecas:

$130.m

JUMOR SET. 110 pieces. Red & Black:

$195.m $215.m

$1so.m

Color:

LJNMRSAL SET.

133 pieces. Red

& Black:

$255.00 $275.00

Color:

WHEEL SET. An axel,2 wheels & hardware: $60.00 PANEL KIT. Set of four panels with 16 connecting plugs for use as an exEa seat, step, cover, etc.

& Black or Color: ROLLER KIT. Set of four Red

castâ&#x201A;Źrs with

locls.

$31.00 $30.00

QUADRO SWIMMER.80 tube inserts to make Quadro,nrbes float. Use with Cover Set below floating

structures.

o

make boats, rafts and other

$50.m

QUADRO FLOATING COVER Will float up to 600lbs. when

inflated.

$50.00

QUADRO MIM 3-D KIT. 660 pieces packed in a handy reusable plastic storage case. Use for modeling, not climbing. Create hundreds of stnrctures with these scaled down Qua&o pieces; much bigger than lrgo and easier to handle for little hands. $110.00

GWS T.SHIRTS Check ttris chart and list the codes for desired design, color, fabric, and size. For example,ClBl50R4-36 would be the Child/Sun shirt in blue, with 50-50 fabric, size3436. One code for each choice.The price for any shirt is $6 plus Dostase.

Specify To G C B

gefi GWS DESIGN Child/Sun Blue COLOR Yellow FABRIC lNVo Cotton Adult

SPECIAL DOCUMENTS (CoNTTNUED FROM P.3)

LIST. Up to date address list of correspondence schools and materials, private schools enrolling home suldy students, and national and local home schooling organizations. $l.m

KAHN FAMILY HOME SCHOOL PROPOSAL. An excellent, and successful, homeschool proposal to a school districl Another useful model for all parents. $4.00

LEARNING MATERIALS LIST. Addresse.s of over 150 sources for bools, games, magazines, products, organizations,

etc. Most were recommended in GWS. Includes supplies for art, computers, languages, malh, musc, science, uniting.

$2.m

LETTER TO SCHOOLS. A family's successful home schooling proposal. Quoted in issue #r2 of GROWING WTII{OUT SCHOOLING #12 u a good model. Includes legal references. $1.m

MASS. MEMO. Written by the legal counsel for the lvlassachusetts Depr

of

Education for school officials. Discusses wtr,at proceduras and sandards mustbe used in considering home education. $1.m

MOTHER EARTH NEWS,Issue 64,

Y 100

34-36;38-40; 42-M &46

YouWantTo Home School" andexcerpB from Nancy Wallaces BETTER THAN SCHOOL. The complete issue. $3.00

PERCHEMLIDES v. FRIZZLE. A copy of Judge Greaney's decision in MA Superim court favoring home education.

Called "0te most thorough and well-reasoned decision on this issue to date in MA o any other sta$e." $2.00 STATEIVTEXYT

TO THE

MINNESOTA LEGISLATIJRE. John

1980. The complete issue containing "Teach Your Own Children... At Home,n asix page interview with John Holr Color photos.

The 185-page mngazine also includes many articles on raising food, building shelters, etc. $3.m

Holt's testlmony before tlrc legislative committee considering changing the home education laws. $2.00

MOTHER EARTH NEWS,Issle 85, lg8/,.#N. Conains John Holt's 6rticle, "So

Uy*r@

'\ile LOVE our Qua&o set The best investment for city dwellers with no ree o climb! Our bovs are 3, 4, and 5. Thanks fa your wonderfii items."- Pam Roseui (lvtA)

l9 CONTINUED FROM PAGE

l+

are Iormed. [?fr-to confuse "d" and "b," rrp, and "q," and to write many leEcers and words in their

mirror image. This was afEer only two times of using Ehe prinEing kit. I put Ehe kiE away, buL it Eook monEhs for her Eo sEraighten herself out on IeEters again. Every once in a whiLe sherll stiLl have a LittLe Erouble, where before using the prinEing kiE she had no trouble at all. Irm savinq the kiE, as I'm sure once she's oldei and very cLear again on her Letters, she'11 use iE without the confusion.

IC was Eoo early to introduce it. lrm taking a correspondence

course through Che MONTESSORI WORLD EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE(Box 3808, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403) on primary

education (ages

2>2

- 7). I find the

course to be exceLlenE, IE's given a deep insight inEo Maria Mon:

me

Eessori's ideas and discoveries abouE the young chiLd's learning. Much of what John Holt has to sav fits verv vreIL wiCh MonEessori. i E'seems to me.

I've found the course to be vaLuable in setting up my own homeschooling program - boEh in terms of philosophy, curricuLum, etc. and in terms of my credibility with the public schooL sysEem. I visiEed the man who oversees homeschooling for Ehe sEate of Idaho - their curriculum superintendenE. He was very cordial and supportive. My MonEessori training promp!ed him to suggest Ehat I seek staEe accreditation for my school, even though I have only one student. ThaE way, he said, I could avoid having to seek Ehe approval of my local school district of our curricuLum and not have Eo be involved in testinA, I hope to finish the course sooi so I can do thaE. Then I mieht Eake the elementary Ievel Monteisori course.

In the meantime, I am writing my homeschool plan for chis faLl, when Erica will be sEarting I'First Grade."

As I get Ehings down on paper, I,m amazed at how good iE aLl sounds, even though we're planning quite mundane kinds of activities.

When I get it wriEten, Irll send you a copy.

Even Ehough in Idaho we are noE legally required Eo send Erica to school until she is 7. I want to lav the foundacion for future vears bv notifying our school district of our plans for this year. That way we can set up our relationship with them before Chev have anv lesal riphf to look over our shoulders, We hope to show them a strong, positive home program over Ehe coming year so they'Il feel" comforEable with us and our basicalLy unstruccured, unEesting approach to Eeaching...

CNLYAFEIA/TOYS

From Sian Mclean (NS):

...l,le know of onlv one oEher family who feels as we-do abouE toys.

I have read very liEtle in GWS abouc this and wonder what's going on ouE t here ?

Our daughter (almosc 2) has very - toys. few They fiE in a box EhaE Eucks under a scool. All are hand-medowns or gifEs, and frankly I feel she sElll has too many and am about Eo do someEhing about. that. Now Ehat the hreather is good she licerally does noc play wiEh any except a few handmade ltuifed anffii'ls, wL once read an interview in the firsc issue of In Context of a French fellow who EraveLled and observed. He said a child needs only one toy, any more GROW]NG WITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

are confusing. He also talked about the Lappland children using very sharp knives at 18 months - 2 years Our house if fuLI of interesting things ro childrenlT6al things.

Things that perform tasks, things that adults use. How many times have we heard how children will plav with boxes or bIankeEs, or whatever, for hours on end even though they have a room fulL of toys.

I hate plasfic of any kind, especially plastic Eoysl I hate useless items. I see lovs akin to T.V.. providing the completed fantasy. At least toys do give the child a bit of power. I am not denouncing Ehe fact Ehat children get enjoynent from their toys. What bothers me is Ehat they are not playing with reaL things, and often children who pLay triEh Eoys a IoE don't know how to do reaL things, like make a sandwich or sweep Ehe house or rake Ehe garden Deo, The other thing thaE incenses me about toys is the blaEant consumerism Ehey represent, and thaE is learned by our children. Aside from knowing that our daughter wiLl have a fuLLer, balanced and more rewardins education at home, my prime objectioi to school is that it's full of little consumers who wanE bizarre Ehings, I see Ehis in every child I know who attends school and iE certainly rubs off on those who don'E. We canrt put bl inders on our child, but we can certainly reduce her exposure. I have Eo fight a1l the Elme with my own crazy deiire to buy things and iuEFTly sali -4., i F ,,: FL rr lSry wlfn mlnrmal grocerles, -i-i-^1 tools, and materials.

There are so many things that our young children can use and play with in i household. tn facEl-tirere is very little Ehat eventually Chey can't use, i . e, . dangerous . There are some exceLlent children's tools available from Green River Tools in Brattleboro, Vermont, And any invenEjve adulE can see ways Eo include even the youngest chiid in what they are doing. It may, and ofEen does, Eake longer, even to the poinr of being left undone (therein lies my frustration). I musc admit I ofrei-Long for the days when WilLow was contenE in the backpack watching!

Our smaII collecti on of toys does geE used when other children come over. I think I shall put them away entirely and see what happens when we have young visitors, When we visit other households wiEh varying amounEs of toys (usualLy strewn all over the house) tJillow immediaCeLy goes for che dolls and seems at a loss lrith everything eLse, excepE miniaEure dishes and cuElery.

One of the mosE absurd toys I have seen is a Fisher Price (most of Ehese I find outlandishl ) musical instrumenE kit with biEs and pieces that Ery Eo imitate real instrumenCs. AII the sounds iE makes are awfull For the same price I'm sure a parent could purchase two or Ehree real insErumenEs: a harmonica, pennywhistle, recorder, eEc., and get pleasant sounds and pracEical enjoyment.

My Eirade could go on and on. Am I alone ouE here in mall-studded !

NorEh America?. . .

[DR: ] I remember John makins the potnE - I think Eo someone askin!

abouE wheEher one should

force

a

small child to share toys - thaE it is was probably-g-o-6il for little children Eo have some property over which they had tocaI conErol, someEhing thaE was really theirs which they

could Ereat as they liked. Toys would be the most

common

such possessions,

but perhaps other kinds - tools, books - would have Ehe same effecc?

JOINING IN FANTASY PLAY

From a letter

by Marie Baker:

I think John once wrote in G[ls Ehat no time are children invoLved in more serious work Ehan when Ehey're playing. Sarah (7) and Becky (2) have an intense need for preEending - with me very much a part ...

The problem is that I really don't enjoy pretending. In facc sometimes I hate iE. BUE we usualLy do one or two hours of iE a day anyway since I do have some idea of its rmporrance.

...0[Len they each wanE to pretend something diFFerent. I try to do boEh at the same Eime - a reaL balancing acE. Ofher times they manage to agree on characters and actions fnr

Eell

ar

loacr

n.ri

nf

tho

rima

Tharr

the characters are and what their acEions are, then I make most of the sounds. Becky and Sarah are each a major characEer and the fashion dolls and Large plastic horses round out the cast. . . . We 've moved a IoE and Saraht s . r .ho dnacnrr L nl -^ vvLoil ^66F Pro)crr \rith oEher kids too much. But nexE year we plan Eo move to Ehe country with the land co-op of homescholers we're helping fo sEart. IrlL be inEerested Eo see how much they'Ll need me for precend after they get used to a stable environment wiEh oEher kids nearby that they know welL. Even now, when Sarah does get with friends, Ehey tend to disappear Co a private sDot and become verv absorbed wiEh make believe.,. Becl<y follows them everywhere, wanting Eo be included completely, so they usually incorporate her into the acEion in one way or another... me who

replied: . . . You say you "real ly don't enjoy preEending." I feel as if I'd have to hear some examoles of exactlv what sorcs of situaEjons make you uncomforEabLe before I could reaLlv Ehink about this. RighE away, Choulh, T r.raats r^ i F -^" f -al --V rcE "^" Jvu forEabLe with alL Levels of oarticioaEion in their gam-es, or only'wiEh the Cotal level of involvement Chat they may be asking of you. Sometimes you can get sEuck thinking that you have to be as immersed in it as they are or itrs no good.

Now, I'm fairly cerEain that if at a given monent you realIy donrE want to play they're going to notice Ehis and feel the difference - same with any acEivity. hlhen Ehree very good friends of mine, children I0, 8, and 5, ask me to play Ehis way vrith them, I will teLl Ehem if I donrt feel like it righE then, and I'II say something like "You know that kind of game is no good unLess everyone really wants to be doing iE." They undersEand even if they wish I did feel like iE aE Eha! Cime.

BuE, too, you may find yourseLf saying "I don't feel like it" rnore than you need to. You may really mean something more Like "I know I can't play thole games as fully or as genuinely as you can, and I'm uncomfortable doing anything less." I know I find some tensions inherent in trying to imiEate or recapCure the kind of Susannah Sheffer

20

involvement thaE I remember having wiEh such games a5-F-El[dl-Th-e-76rs a part of me chat remembers so vividly what that felt like, thau anything else seems somehow inauEhentic.

On the ocher hand * and Ehis is what I'm hoping co suggest Eo You there is a way in which you can ParEicipate which is satisfYing Eo the chiLdren and which may make you feel more comfortable. If You Ehink of yourself as being able Eo bring some of your adult knowledge and exPeri-

read through by themselves periodi-

cally.

For older children who would be left unatCended aE home, an excellent book is THE OFFICIAL KIDS SURVML KIT: HOW TO DO THINGS ON YOUR OWN, by Elaine Chaback and Pat FortunaEo (Little, Brown). This is a perfect reference book thaE should be Left available Eo children aE home alone.

There's info on everything from accident prevention to babysiEting Eips; from power failures to completing household chores; from etiquetEe to medical emergencies. An easy co read index helos children find the needed informatibn quickly. IE is wriEten in understandable language. The auEhors encourage adult parEicipacion in readas ing chrough this book initially, well as providing spaces throughout the book for parenEal notes...

cess of getting a cosmecic hand which seems to also be more functional. I'm hoping Ehe new prosEhesis will be more desirable to her. I was jusE wondering if you miBht have any t.houghts

on Ehis subject..,

[DR: ] I passed chis letEer on Eo our friend Karen Franklin (26 Noyes St, Needham MA 02192), who lisEed herself in ourttResource" section as willing to correspond on physical handicaps. Karen gave us a copy of ence to Ehe situation, rather Ehan her reply: trying to leave it outside, You'll begin Eo see what I mean' Irve found . . . I have some underscanding for chat if we're pretending to be on a your concerns, fears, worries that train, for example, and I inject some you have for your daughter. I have a of my knowledge of what trains are 6-vear-oId daughEer with Cerebral like into Ehe siEuaEion by saYing Paisey, It manifesEs itself mainly as someEhing like, "Let's waiE for the poor mocor control of her legs. Sheconductoi Eo take our EickeEs," Ehen wears braces, sometimes uses a wheelchat gives the child who is directing chair, and sometimes waLks with Ehe flow of che play an idea she crucches. In most other ways she is a [DR: I The June r86 issue of MS. noE have thoughE of. might - Of course, it's important Co do r.garine has a four-page excerpc f-rom typical 6-year-old.

My father was wounded in WWII ON MY OWN: THE KIDS' SELF-CARE BOOK, this with care. It would, as I think plus a list of 18 more books on being and his arm is amPutated above the vou know. make a mess of Ehe whole elbow. Unril he was 20, he was rightalone and safe. If chis issue is not Lhi.rg to geE in Ehere and realLY handed, buE after he lost his arm, he in your library, wriEe MS., ll9 W .t"tE di.E"ring whaE wenE 6-n-l- %u learned to do everyEhing with his 40ch sE, NY NY 10017. ON MY OWN is sound as if you have a good sense of Left side. only having one arm has aimed aE "laEchkey" children and has how important Ehis sorE of play is to never slowed him down'. ' The strength to do if slant whac mean Eo it may a scrong school what and children vour and coordinaEion he has is amazing. them as a way of assimilating and mak- you miss the schoolbus, ecc.

As a maEter of fact, I didnrt realize ing sense of things. It's !!s1I way; until I was an adult thaE he was "hanit may noC be yours. dicapped." I mean, I knew he only had Whac wouLd haPPen if You Eurned \A^)RRIESABOUTSAFEW one arm, but iE never occured co me that fact into someEhing PosiEive?

EhaE others might see him as disFrom Carol PeEersen of Pa.: I'm thinking that you mighE somecimes abled. Of course he geEs frustraEed vrant Eo say something like "That's ...I was appalLed ac Ehe moEher sometimes by whaE he can'E do (usualvour work, you do thit beEter Ehan ly some handyman carPentry Proj99-E who left a 7- and a 3-year-old alone fi;l of .orrs.. vou would have to it's hard to start a nail) buE 99% of for 3-5 hours a day (GWS #47). She mean, and sound is if You meanc, thaE Ehe time he has adapted ro his Life needs to realLze tha! she was very, Ehat activity, being theirs' was as very lucky EhaE noEhing happened Eo and is comforEable wiEh it. real , val id, i mPorEant Eo Ehem, etc. , My father has a cosmetic' nonchildren. Every year in our as your work was to You. I can see an thosehundreds functional prosEhesis. He wears it to of children die or are area advancage in Ietting Ehem know Ehac work, Eo town, eEc. When he geEs crippled in accidents, falls, and you respect not only how important lE home, he Eakes it off the moment he fires. lefc unattended. The fires is co them, buE the simPIe facc Ehat walks in the door. He finds it heavY, occur not necessarily because of they do it so weLI; this may helP hot, uncomforEable, cumbersome, and children breaking the rules they've chem accept your suggesEion EhaE Prebeen taught, buE also from faulty wir- inhibitive of his movemenE. We all tend play works besE \riEh oEher kids chink of Dad as wearing his arm when ing, furnace sparks, gas leaks, etc. ( ic usually does). be a diligenE he gets dressed up - sorc of like I remember when I was at the age In oEher words, you can weaiing a Eie or dress shoes. It's Darent wiEh obedienE children and when pretend play was a big Parc of noE really a ParE of him' jusc a Part itill lose chem to an accident Ehey my life; I remember mY father, a of his ouEfit. l4y Z-year-old once are not physically, mentally or emostage director, asking me very seritold Grandaddy, "Take off your arm tionally mature enough to respond Eo ously about it because he feIE Ehat iEts too hard and there isn't enough the acEors wiEh whom he worked needed ProPerry. room to sit in Ehe chair with You't' ...One fire I recall so vividly to recall and draw on thaC wholeheartThe Boston Globe SundaY Magareading about told of several childed immersion in fanEasy - makezi,ne, 3 | 2 / 86, had-a-n--excellenE sEory ren who responded correctly to the believe being a very genuine form of about a young man who has been resmoke and heac coming from Ehe baseacting - and I remember disEinctLY cruiEed by a number of colleges, as ment, escaping to the ouEdoorsl only the feeling that he was asking me well as by Ehe Pros' as a starting to have Ehe eldest, age 8, recurn Eo get Ehe these questions ("How do you baseball piccher. He also has phocoidea for your character?" ttHow do you get Ehe family cat (a decision based melia, he is now about L8 or so, says and your friend decide whaE will haP- on the emoEions of a normal 8-yearhe threw away his Prosthesis when he he genuinely old). He never came back ouE. I trempen -felEnexE?" etc.) because was 4, and has a fastball Ehat's hard ble Eo think of a 7-year-old, not he had someching to learn from jusE responsible for themselves, but to believe... I will try Eo locate me. He wasn'E asking so as Eo better the article and send it Eo you' also for a IiEtle 3-year-oLd... understand chiLd psychoLogy, or even I think John would have toLd You the psychology of his Particular co trusE your ohtn insEincts, and not chilii - rather, he Eruly thought rhaE let orchopedists or therapists Preswe were good aE something which his PR THESIS IS PERSOT{AL CIJOICE sure you into something You don'E actors could benefiE from Iearning A reader wrote: feel righE about. They may be exPerts more about. I'IL never forget how in Eheir field, but you are the thaE feLt, Eo be taken so seriously... ...A question I had hoped to ask expert on your chiLd. They have a job John Holt was this: would you make to-do, buE'so do you, and You are the wearing a prosEhesis a requirement, most qualified Eo make imporEant qe'CNYCUROAit\t'mKS cisions about your children. Is there or would you LeE the child choose whether or noE he/she wished to wear really a need for her to hrear Ehe In GWS #49. a reader asked for prosthesis? Will NOT wearing it have recommendaEions for good books on Pre- it? Our daughter was born with phocomeLia - a severely deformed and shortsome sort of long-Eerm degeneraEing paring children co be by Ehemselves. effect? Will it cause her Eo lose ened lefE arm and hand. tle require Laura Pritchard (OR) resPonds: strength, mobility, or dexteritY?. her Eo wear her prosthesis six hours tiould-she be able Eo do more if she a day, She cakes occupational therapy ...A good book for Young childwears it and uses it? If the answers for one hour every oEher week. She ren on firsE aid emergencies is are Yes, then she has co wear it, and it mostly out of disEitled FIRST THINGS FIRST. Copies may resists wearing your job is to try to helP her underbe obtained from: UPjohn, 3rd Flr, 99 comfort, but partly for iEs being stand, and Eo make her adjustmenE as more tedious to operate than her own Park Av., NY NY 10016. This book is small limb, and partly for iEs appear- positive as possible. If the answer excellenE for a Parent Eo read Eo 1s No, then my inclinaEion would be ance (this last is only an issue in Dre-reading children, as welI as to back off. If she is hapPier rdiEhbeing a go6d handbook for children to public). We ale currenEly in Ehe proGROI.IIIIG I.IITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

21

out it, if she feels she can do more if it frustrates her, if it is uncomfortable, if forcing her Eo wear it is caking its toll on the rest of the family as well as on her, then why put yourselves through it?

The disability iEseLf causes enough fear, guilt, sorrosr, worry about Ehe fuEure, pain, anxiety - why add to the emotional baggage everyone must already catry?

As your daughter geEs older, she may decide EhaE she wants to wear a DrosEhesis - either for its funcEionil or cosmeEic value. Ac that point she will be self-motivaEed, and you won'E have a problem. My daughter was perfectly happy Eo crawL for the first 6 years of her life. It was fast, eff.ecEive, required no equipment and had no negative social impLications in our family. AbouE two weeks before her 6th birEhday, she decided she wanted to walk. We went to fhe orEhopedist, got crutches, and spenE some extra cime with Ehe physical Eherapist (mostly because she was Eeaching me how to help Jessica), In less than a week she had preEEy well mastered it... We could have spent five frustrating years on gait Eraining - instead we spent one exciEing week, As John has ofEen said. when a Derson needs to know. for their own ieasons, how to do something, Ehey wiLl learn quickly and weLl. ..,I think it is imDortanE EhaE your daughter wears the prosthesis or not for her own reasons, and not because of s6frE oucside pressure. I worry about the unspoken messages we all send co handicapped people. I think that in requiring people to do things to make them appear more normal (prosthesis, sunglasses for Ehe bIind, etc.), we are sending Ehe message, "You are differenE, inferior, and unaccepEable. You have to do Ehese things Eo look and be like everyone else, because Eo be like you really are would make Ehe resE of us feel uncomfortable and guilEy, and iE's vour dutv to not remind us of our own anxieties and fears.tt Itm sure that at her young age, your daughter is safe in the securiEy and love of her own famiLy and probably hasn't had much experience with the harsh and cruel world. Probably it has never occured to her that oLhers may feel uncomfortabLe because of her appearance. I don'E Ehink iE shouLd be the responsibiLity of the handicapped person Eo make oEhers comfortable. However, if she feels secure and comfortable with her own body, wiEh or withouE Ehe prosthesis, oEhers will feel comfortable with her, If she never comes to Ehe poinE where she feels Ehe need of the prosEhesis.

Ehen she doesn't HAVE a nead..,

wiEhout it,

on the beach and she sent pictures of her kids on the rafts they built. Writi-ng and pictures might be all right if you are in school or prison, but we aren't, so we took,a truck trip Eo Akron, OH and spent la days wiEh the

I regret watching a counEry which claims to be so strong and free become a nation of fearful, unfree, inward-Looking people. . , Today, peo-

ple are having fewer primary experiences to counteract Ehe negative secondary experiences they receive Barkers. John and Dan (11) got along especially well, so Ehey invited John Ehrough the media. If Ehe Pilgrims could have checked the evening news back for Ehe first week of their sumas to what mighc have been in sEore mer program, for Ehem, they would never have LefE How to get John 750 miles to Ehe ship... We can find ways Ehat are Barkers at 9 AM Monday and pick him cheap and safe to provide our older up Friday? Before I could call the kids with first-hand exoerience trucking company, Ehey called and and confidence so Ehey irill Iook forasked if I would pick up one thaE ward to exploring life aLone or with broke down in PA. I told them I'd geE a few friends. Anyone for a Boundary Ehe truck if Ehey'd geE a load headWaters canoe trip? ing back this way so I could pick up We were gone seven days on each John on Friday - Ehey agreed.

Ohio Erip. During that Eime KirsEin To ride out with another company (9) and Glenn (fl) did all of the truck would have been Eoo dullr so we milking, cleaning of the barn and hitch-hiked. I've learned more about equipmenE, and caring for L5 small people from hitch-hiking than I ever calves, The 35 HolsEeins averaged did siEting in school, but at 54 I over 2000 lbs. of milk a dav aE seldom find reasons or excuses to get out on the road. On a SaEurday afEer$12.75 cwt., if you want co'figure Ehat out. noon, with packs and sLeeping bags, I On Che way home with Ehe didnrE Ehink John and I looked very repaired truck, we Eook Vanessa Keith threatening, but we stood L? hours ( L7 ) , r,iho is EoEally homeschooled before a Hmong refugee, only six lives in New Hampshire where she has years in this counEry, had Ehe courdone a loE of apple picking and prunage or whaEever to pick us up. Then ing and has also lived with an aunE came a friendly visi! with a Local in France for five monEhs - from the coD. two more rides of 150 miles Barkers, where she had been an eaih, and we unrolled our sleeping inEern, Co Ft. Wayne, IN Co visiE a bags souch of Chicago. hil,i-^ iMrr rinlzot â&#x201A;Ź^r hi+^L friend. rJ dLry Lru^L! ^rilE ,.,In OcEober, when coming from jack knife for cuEEing pieces of cardsomewhere out east, we'lI pick up a magic marker, For this board and I'OHTOrr rrin. cof ils to the toLL roads most of Che Barkers, minus BritE (18) who will be traveling alone in Europe which are easy Ehumbing. From Rockafter spending Ewo weeks studying ford, IL to Philly or NYC you can oick vour rides from one service area wolves in Northern Italy, and for over L5 rumbling hours Eheyrll be to thl next, any time of day or nighc, I watch Ehe License plates and truckers, listening to Ehe CB and bird dog (radar deEecEor) as we cover ask only those who are aLone. Sunday, on the Indiana Tollroad, I EoLd a dig- the fIaE sEaEes, roar through Chicago, head north into rolling Wisconsin nitied gentleman that my son and I and finally cross Ehe Mississippi were hiEch-hiking from MN Eo 0H and River aE LaCrosse and head norEh into did he have any room. He said, "Sure, ihe clear, cool air of Minnesota. 0n jump in." He was driving a polished r5l Pontiac with white side walls... the farm they'll be milking Ehe cows with my kids, canoeing on the river As we cruised smoothly aLong, this and lake, and enjoying Ehe good feelman told how his love affair with ing of being wiEh others who are free anrique cars began when, as a young boy, his family would visit the SEude- to work and play hard during Ehe faII, when che resc of Ehe world is bakers and he would sneak off to in school. their garage. He toLd of a lo-year,..Just goc a call from .iust Linda old neighbor boy who is watching and Salwen of New York. She had helping him resEore cars... As he told of Ehe L7 years he spent resEor- heard of Ehe cWS Travel Dire-tory.

Her homeschooled l4-year-old son ing Ehree I908 I'Something-or-other found che money, which included $500 Underslungs" that were now worEh from Ehe local paper, to fly with his $250,000 apiece, I was thinking what bike to CA where he has starEed bika perfect example of one inEerest ing alone back Eo NY to raise money which covers nearly every academic for eiEher peace or world hunger. area and if done nell. can orovide a Linda wanEed names of Ehose along Ehe t ivel ihood way he mighE stay with - she rras NoEiced a Erucker smiling at us esoeciallv concerned abouE someone in checking our map at a servlce area on the Ohio Pike - asked him if he could thl desert area beEween Reno and SalE Lake. NexE year he is planning on bikgeE us down Eo where I-7L intersecEs ing ln Russia, which is something I Che Pike, and qre etere off with anoChplan to do, buE I musE wait a couple er inEeresEing person, OUC on the HITCHING, TRUCKING, BIKING of years unEil my kids are older... inEerstaEe for a couole minuEes with Not one local kid showed anv inEerest "WOOSTER" and a woman from Ehere from DlcK Garrlen or cne Gws TRAVEL NETWORK (RE 2, Winona MN delivered us to a restauranE where we in going wiEh him, but even-more significant, Ehey all were negative pretended we were arisfocrats and 55987; s07-454-3L26\: figuring he would be murdered, etc. then wenc to a motel and Eurned on The gap between EradiEional kids and . . . I scan GWS in search of inEer- the Eube, since we don't have one aE some of ours is growing - as Linda esting people \rith aEEitudes and val- home. said and I have always felE, they are ues similar Eo mine... Penny Barkerrs Our "MILLERSBURG" got us a quick (0H) !,rriEing revealed enough, Her Iike toEally different species... ride Monday morning.., From Ehere, a kids were Ehe age of mine; she and van of Amish were very inEerested in Richard had toEalLy supporEed themour non-schooling and lived jusE over selves for 10 years by providing a che hill from Che Barkers and were IDR: J Dick is anxious to have as councry experience for 6- to 12-year- gathering Eo prepare for a wedding olds on Eheir 4-acre homestead, and and wondered if we had ever seen one.

CO-(-ReATTNG Are yov ,r1t'6-t'SfeE,),n she menEioned having no more interesE I'm sure they would have inviEed us, CoMrr'lv^t i{ \l r.rh OfsgarHoMESc{ooLER5? in institutionalized religion than buE we took a quick trip up over Ehe ' iatca+ o - o t cc-.q oa, +, - cr+ | Itrbsr\an insEiEutionalized education. hill and came in the back wav iust as "c.tfbc 4oo,/ - ho a ?'rar<i I ^.j .,"i]f -I.? yi \\a 3ee I wrote - she answered - I sent the more tradiEional camoers-wEre "F.\Al4rFrG 4oNTAc{'-A picEures of son John (13) swimming at being welcomed by Penny it the front NA{ roirAL 'ari^lo.ra6a5AgE :5.r$ L. BcrtvJc Teo9o6 A'L ^/ETwoRvr 65'rt6 Galveston, TX with the Eractor parked driveway. .

GROWING I.lITHOUT SCHOOLII,IG #52

22

the GWS Travel Directory and to list themselves as hosts; when he took over the lisE this spring' he found thaE fev/er than L00 families had ever seen it. To receive a coPy, send him $2 plus a long SASE wiEh Etto stamps. If you're willing be a hosE, send him your name, address, childrenrs names and birchdates, phone, and selfdescription ( inEeresEs, occupaCions, preferences, etc. ).

many people as Possible see

about homeschoollng have never batted an eye as long as Ehey know that EheY

are "enrolledt' in a correspondence school. The "diploma" is like a ticket to heaven here - overwhelminglY imDorEanE.. ' LaEely, Lee has been Lranslating Ehings he says. For example' he-was looking for his sliPPers the other day and he said to me, "I can'E find thLm. No Duedo enconErarlos' I can't find Ehem.r' He likes the sound of the Spanish but usual-ly he says. Ehe Eirelish too - someEimes wifh Richard he-only says Ehe Spanish but with me LIVING IN SPAIN ic is usually both' And, I learned the htord From Suzanne Alejandre (SPain): rrensaimada." Many people learn vocabulary words by memorizing Iists or Jan. 27 ...When PeoPle ask me dialogues or whatever. Since I live how m[dF-SF6nish I have learned since here i donrE have Eime for suchI have moved to Spain I alwaYs have difficulEy in anwering'.' How can you things and I insisE on learning by _experience and necessiEy. An ensaimada say how much of a language You can is a kind of pascrY EreaE - as far as speak? Because when you are learning I know Ehere is noEhing comparable-in a- foreign language Ehere is so much Ehe SEates. For rhe Year and a halt ro reari. I Ehinl it is easiE? ro that we have lived here I have always anshrer Ehe quesEion - How often is resorLed to Pointing af the bakerY, your communication wiEh someone buE suddenLy I got tired of doing successful? That question I can that (they ilways saY Ehe name of answer easily because I can see what I am asking for but for some reaimDrovemenE since we first arrived in in mY Spiin. When we firsE came I wouLd com- son I can'E make Ehe name stick Niko memory) ' Anyway' every SaEurday municate with one word senEences. I (he joined sPorEs a has a soccer game remember being down in the subwaY and I go station, Losc, buc I went to a EickeE club and loves it) and Lee and buY stoP Eo watch, but we a,lwaYs booth and said one word ("La some buns on the iJav. (We watch Ehe Bonanova" - which was mY intended eame eaEinq ensaimahas and drinking destination). IE workedl The woman English telt - fun, fun.) So, since poinEed me in the right direction. thls was becoming a tradicion I figSince rhen I have gone through varyured ic was Eime to learn Ehe name of ing degrees of lengEhening my sen-_ Ehose silLy buns. On a FridaY' I had teice. but the informaEion received class with a young woman who is nort has remained the same... more of a friend Ehan a sEudent and I Manv of mv studencs ask me, asked her what Ehe buns were called "When wiil I bb able to really speak in Soanish - I had her wriEe Ehe name English?i' When theY ask that quesand i memorized iE. BuE it wasn'E ci6n, I know thaE chey are on Ehe really fixed in my memory ultil the wrong Erack and I trY Eo make Ehem folloi^'ing day when I asked for them see EhaE they should use learning by name in the bakery' It jusE so r.taPEnglish as a- communicacive Eool and pened there were none to PoinE aE in noE for quanEifying and marETi[ down the glass case EhaE daY - EheY were how much-Ehey know. The PeoPle who hidden behind the counter and I conscore Ehe highes! on the silly Eests fidentlv asked for Eheml IE was such Ehey give heie are the people who 9eI fun and- such a feeling of success the least.

I'11 never forget Ehat word, ..,Ages ago, whlle we were sEill eiEherl. '.

Living in-Germany, I wrote and Eold Another word that I recenEIY of having made a cross stiEch projecE learned was "escaparaEe.'r This word I for Niko. I Ehink he was 6 aE the it time. After I finished making Ehe de- have not actualLy used Yet but keeos coming uP at BerIiEz. In Ehe sign for him, he didnrt work on iE, oicture boo[. chat we use Ehere is a buE a few monEhs laEer I showed him how and he did some. . . When we unpack- bictut. of a woman looking in a shoP irindow and as long as I remember, ed here he put it uP on his shelf and Spanish students have always sEumbled may have worked on it once or twice. at this point. I had often wondered Oni: of these Eimes Lee asked to have on me a pro iect and I designed a canvas for whv. SuddenLv. it dawned th6ir word firr window is not Ehe same hiin also. weIL, I boughE a sEanduP as shop window - so that when I tell hooo (iE even has a litEle case Eo Ehem "window" Ehey have a harder time holb the extra thread and scissors) accepEing iE because Ehey differenand Niko has been working sEeadily on tiate Eh;t from a shoP window. And his projecE' Lee now has the hooP. once I realized thaE, I realized whY that Niko had' but I am going to buy shoo cLerks always looked aE me anolher sEanduP hooP this week so stringety when I- talked about someEhaE he can have one too - EheY make thing-I had seen in their "ventana"' Ehe work so much easier since boEh For ie a ventana l^/as any old kind of hands are free Eo work. I will let window, buE Ehe correct word is you know any further developmenEs... "escaDaraEe" - I still have to Eest it oul, though - we shall see if I acMarch 13 ...No official seems Eo tuallv remember iEl care ilEa-t-Tiare doing in SPain! I Niko has sEarEed reading in Ehink the reason is thac Privace Spanish - with thaE amazing exPresschooLs are still flourishing here' sion on his face - absolutelY sParin fact. Drivace schools are iE for kline. A neiqhbor boY comes to PlaY Ehose who'wanE a "good" job. So' here*regularly (we si:hedule him in! there is no check of who is enrolled EhaE he can come it is the only in Che oublic school and who in the -iswaY so busY wiEh oEher to play - he Drivate school' The bureaucratic acEiviEies) and someEimes Ehe boys go Sysrem is such a mess in.SPain uo Eo olav in his aPartmenE' and (iompletely disorganized) EhaE' -by ti*2, they do, Ehey bring..back the time they goc around to sending "irety somethins chey have "borrowed." Two vou a ndtifiCaiion of matriculaEion, davs aso-it. wis a book (in SPanish, vour child would already have chilof-couise). And Eoday, Niko sEarEed bren ! The people EhaE l^te have Eold

reading parts to Leel He has read onlv Er,Jo word combinations so far.

"Mire, jefer'r etc., but he is enjoYine himself.

I overheard Niko and Lee Ealkine, che oEher day. Niko was exPlain-

in! the differeni:e between AM ind PM Eo Lee. I had no idea EhaE Niko knew the difference, but at some time he picked it up...

Aoril 3 ...GWS #49 must have commenEs by me in some fiEEGting it! We probably won't receive it for another month or two, but we have received a loE of letcers from oEher Gt.iS readers laEeLy... One woman who wroEe iusE wanted information and cips for Living and working in Germany. She and her family are considering such a shorE Eerm sEaY (J months) that I don't Ehink anything Ehat I wroEe Co her will reallY be of any help. Three monEhs is noE long en6ugh to Live in a foreign counEry. From our exDerience and from other exEalked Eo' -Datriots who we havethe minimum. The chree ygq - is -abouE. first IEZT1s for orienEing oneself, the second year is for some exPerimentaEion, and the Ehird year is for relaxing and appreciaEing everything (or hating it and trying Eo Plan how Eo movel). .

'.Niko and Lee are wriEing IeE-

Eers right now, also. Niko recenElY celebrated his 9ch birEhday and he has some Ehank-you noEes to work on.

About a monEh ago he wroEe one leEEer by carefully coPying whaE I had orinced from his dictaEion. IE cook him cwo days but he was verY Pleased

with the resulEs. FirsE, he copied iE in oencil and Ehen he wenE over ic all- in black pen. Niko hasn'E thoughE veE Ehat he can sPeLI, even though he Lan read everythiirg that I wrote down for him. His reading has continued Eo progress (he is reading some in bpattistr now, also) buE he has shown nb interesE in writing or trying to write by sounding things out. Knohting him as I do, writing anY less Ehan an adult iusE wouLdn't do. So, I had to think of a way EhaE he could write and iE would satisfY him - the coPYing routine does.

So, the firsE leEter he wroce easily. He dicEated a second letter' however, and iE has been sitting on his desk for about Ehree weeks. Tonight I told him Eo do it. RarelY do.

I fnsisC on any type of academic work but, for me, writing thank-You notes is DarE of sood manners. And if he doein'c wriEe the thank-You noEe I have Eo and why should l, since it was his gift. So, one of those instances where more than jusE Niko is involved arrived and I cold him - go!

And work on your letter while I do mine, I told him Eo vrrite at least one line - I have a feeling he will finish, though. This time he has skipped the Pencil stage and he is staiting right off wiEh Pen. He has been in here three Eimes already tor me to help fix up the mistakes - I goE four kisses - one for fixing each mistake and one exEra for the nexE mistake Lee, meanwhile, is also writing a leEEer. He is copying Ehe same letter thaE Niko is - Ehanking grandma for a present chaE Niko received! Lee is a nuE sometimes - so innocent and haDDv. " - For Ehe last Ewo daYS we have been plaving "school." I have had sorne ire6 clme in the early afternoon and for some reason I asked Ehe boys if they wanted Eo do thaE. All it means is Chat we r.rrite Problems or words or something on Eheir chalk!

GRO}IING }IITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

23

we chose Eo meec with the principal.

He was very cordial and not at all an-

board and Ehen they solve them or coDv or read or rthatever. one time

the ttgame" becould show them

tagonisEic about homeschooling as I wai expecting. He barely mentioned iE (and so all my preparations to answer

long ago hre started cause I told them I whac I'realrr school was Iike. I told them to siE aE their desks. I told

they couldnrt Ealk, couLdn't chew gum, eEc. - Ehey laughed and laughed because I did if all in my old "Eeacher'r voice. So. from time to Eime we have done it again, but by nov,, iE is more for praccicing things than for the boys to hear my old Eeacher voice.

Today we did addition, subtracEion (including borrowing) and the beginning of multi plicaEion plus a IittLe fractions, Lee waEched iE all, but his probLems incLuded one digit addition and subEraction. Yesterday, after doing addition and subtraccion, I asked Niko if he wanled to see something new - usually that is a tense time. When he sees something new and unfamiliar it makes him nervous. buE as he gets older he can handle it more and more (or maybe I have learned to be exEremely casual). So, I made a chart from 1 Eo 5 across and 1 to 5 down (mulEiplication chart) but I didn'c fill in any of the numbers, As soon as I sEarted writinS, Niko said, "Oh, I know that alreadyl" He was thinking of the addition chart, But I Dointed to the x and Ehen he saw that ic might be differenE. I asked him if he wanEed to filL it in or should I. He said EhaE he would. AfEer a few examples (which he thoughE were sEupid, buE helped him think of the answer - for example, there are 3 boys wiEh 2 legs each - I knew he knew chaE because about Ewo years ago he volunEarily made thaE observation to me while he was looking down aE some kids from aEop a jungle gym), he was abLe co fill in all the answers. After thaE I showed him a probLem with 2 digits Eimes 1 digit and Ehen we sEopped.

So, today I mixed in some 1 digit x 1 digit problems wiEh the same numbers buE addiEion (2 x 3 and also 2 + 3) and he hdd no problem.

Niko just cane in and used up chat fourEh kiss and claimed that writing Ehe leEter was easy and he is planning to jusE finish it so EhaE he can mail iE Eomorrow: Lee sEopped writing to play Legoland and I am going to scop typing Eo go and make dinner, ..

Ehem

HG'flIG

Al,l g(Ct{Al.lGE

SruDEM

From Toots Weier (WI):

...We aoolied co hosE an AFS sEu-

dent for the-upcoming school year.

We

readily accepEed as there are no other families in the interesEdA. We met and spoke area wiEh a couple of members of the. adult AFS chapter, who became very int.erested and impressed with our homeschooling - alEhough at first they were horrifiedl They gave us very good recommendaEions as a host family.

From there it wenE Eo Ehe school board - and that's where things sCarEed Co stirl The school board did not approve, and it was suggested t. be found to host. I anocher family was sure Ehe reason was because vJe are homeschooling, although I could not seem to find this out from anyone. Certainly, the AFS student would have to atcend the local public high school, but I did not see any reason we should be discriminated against, just because we homeschool After a couple of phone calls, EhoughE we would be

!

GROI.IING I{ITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

questions were unnecessary! ). He reiayed the concern of the school boird, which basically was "if we were not involved in the Public schools, how supportive would we be of our AFS student being invoLved in such things as extra-curricuLar acEivities.r' We assured him of our sincerity in wanEing to host an AFS student, as well as encouraging the studenc to be invoLved. Just because we r^rant to Eive our children home, does noE mean we would discourage our

AFSer from being involved in Ehe commy personal feelmuniEyl I expressed ings, such as, rrJusE because we homeschool does noE mean thaE we are oddballs, or thaE we can't or shouldn'E

fit into society.'l Once we expressed our sinceriEY Eo Ehe principal, he was satisfied and Ehe meeEing was very brief. (I was doing most of Ehe Ealking or eJe could have been in and ouE of there in about two minuEes!) As we Left his office, he was again verY cordial, spoke to our children very kindly and weLcomed us to Look around Ehe schooL, which we did. The next daY I received a caLl sfating Ehat Ehe school board had meE the night before, and accepEed che PrinciPal's recommendaE ion.

We have since heard from the naEional headquarters that we have been "accepted'r as a hosE family, and we are Looking forward to having a foreisn studenE in our home... fll: for info on hosEing an exchange sEudent, conEacE AFS INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, 3I3 E 43rd SE, NY NY 10017; Phone I-800AFS-INFO.

]

LAt IGLIAGE

ruTOR FOR YO-AIGSIERS

Jo-Anne Beirne of AusEralia sent us an article she wroEe for Ehe New SouEh Wales Homeschooling NewsleEtEr'

5786:-

...From the age of 18 months we have had our children taughE languages by a foreign naEive sPeak-

er,

I would highly

recommend

- special, warm, loving person

reLiEes weLl Eo children. MusE be native born speaker (still speaking

own language reguLarly) who speaks any of Ehese languages: ( list ) . Aim: To heLp children (list ages) Eo enjoy your Language through reading, sing-

ing, Ealking and playing in mY home, supervised by me." ...Ask questions such as 1) "Can you sing, and do you know lots of your childhood nursery rhymes?" (Kids seem to Love these in any language.)

2) "l,lhere were you born?" (Have a map handy.) 3) "TeLI me more abouE yourseLf." (University degree, number of chiLdren, etc.) 4) "These are the hours EhaE suit met can You come then? " Don'E be despondent aE firsE if they all seem awful, just keeP ErYing. Be prepared to accePt Your second oi third language choice (any Language is beEEer Ehan none). Don'E be Intimidated by che pushy ones, and if the firsE question they ask is "What is the remuneration?'r hang up' from experience they are hopeless.

Have ac least one interview wiEh each one and even a try-ouC with your kids, remembering Ehat the kids will take about six lessons Eo realLY seEtIe in. When deciding, go with vour heart every Eime.

How does a'lesson work? TheY should be hoarse when theY leave, from Ealking as ofEen as Possible (the teacher that is), noE just PoinEing things ouE buE just generalLy_talking about everyEhing conEinually and singing so Ehe child gecs an ear for Ehe sound of the Language. TheY shouldntt jusE say "nouns" e.9., caE, dos. but rather "It has black fur," "SEe the green eyes!" CoIorfuI, simpLe sEorybooks should be read to cheirr often,'same as you do yourself .

They say a chiLd hears "MummY" 500 timei beiore s/he ever says it.

So don't expect results too quickly.

However, I can speak from the verY Dersonal experience of the PasE four vears when i sav it has been a mosE memorable and eirjoyable experience.

It's sreat when Germans misEake your child-as coming from StutEgart (the birthpLace of their teacher) ' BeEter Ehan that, I am vagueLy understandable in boEh Languages myself.. '

iE to

anyone Ehinking of doing the same.

They have learned to read and sPeak German and Cantonese. Ideally I would have chosen Mandarin and Arabic because of Ehe compleEely different writing and speech skills involved.

Howevei, iE was more imporEant Ehat they Liked Ehe person who EaughE

them, so that the language learning not be a chore. It was also very important Chat Ehe teacher be my recommendations in respect to open wouLd

my children.

When Eo sEart? Any time you feel happy enough to leE someone else become good friends with your child.

to

(I often used to be quite jealous when I saw Eheir eyes lighE uP at Ehe arrival of AngeLika.) I found it reallv helos co show how interested yor are by sticking around and at least aEEempting the language your...Hon to starc? AdverEise in your locaL paper... All Ehe universities have work noEice boards' You can ring Ehem up, word your ad over the phone, and chey will place iE for you. I had 20 replies Eo my first such ad. (NoE aLl good') Even the

FREi{CF| |I\^4ERSKX,J

lN

SOI@-

From Maureen Parker (BC):

1985: Our schooL district offers a Fren-dfi-immersion program which I have heard is very good. t^le know a liEtle girl in the Program and-Irm very impressed wiEh her vocabulary and-accent. I believe the ability to speak another language would be an invaluabLe skilL, esPeciallY in a bilingual country Like Canada. I ...offering more for home schooling

'iVi!i,ti!;:'avsslffi

oAtf

supermarkeE noEice-board should be

considered. The ad could say:

who

ilFllffiiffi

'rWanEed

^TAGAZINE

24

worry Ehat by keeping Ehe girls ouEof si:hool I iray be deprivlng Ehem of an enjoyable experience. . .

1986: I asked Eeacher friends of mine w=EE'E they thought of French immersion. Both rePlied thaE theY

would noE pur their own children in such a program. One remarked Ehat French immersion was beneficial Eo onlv a verv few studenEs - those who

reclived a loE of enrichment at home' For the average 5-year-old in kindersarEen the nevt and sEressful experiEnce of school and Ehe frustraEion of suddenly having to learn a new language were too much. Discipline probleis are rampanE, according Eo these teachers. The chitdren vent their fruscrations on each other and the Eeacher. FurEhermore Ehe kids are beins. Eurned off French and most do not Epeak it at alL once EheY have lefc the classroom.One friend subsEituted in a French classroom and finalLv in desDeration asked the students c6 secrle'down, in English. The kids Eaunted her, chanting "You spoke English." Hardly a healthy situaEion toY learning Eo love and appreciaEe another langiage. I do know a little girl in Ehe French immersion Program wno seems Eo be doing well (her French is lovelv) buL Ehis is not withouE a price-. Her mother tells me she comes irome tired and irriEable mosE days.

She also sets teased a lot for bringine nucriEious food for her lunch. I haVe ruled out French immersion for my two grrls. . .

ever since. It was afEer watching her I began to realize the advanEages in eccess Eo language she had. And how she enjoys itl By age 2 her EinY hands were fingerspelling Ehe alphabeE as well as being able Eo sign most of her verbal vocabulary. By age 3 she could wrice on PaPer' read and

sign Ehe full alphabet, numbers I Eo 10, and spell smaLl words - cat' van, friendsr names ' etc. ' .

SESAME STREET SIGN LANGUAGE FUN was our daughter's favorite book from age 15 monEhs on. It includes lors of drawings of Sesame Street characters ' and photos of a real Person making the signs. . .

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF oublishes several colorful children's posters of the Manual Alphabet feaEuring animals and objecEs (whose name begins with the corresponding leEter) demonsEraEing each sign.

Wrlte for Eheir catalog of Posters, sign language books, and games: NAD, 814 Thayer Av, Silver SPring MD 209r0...

MICT,JONI MATH

CFIffTT I.SEFUL

In an arEicle abouE maEh that Susan Richman wroEe for Western PA Horneschoolers ' #16: ...At times we've used the I'Miquon Mathlab MaterialsU just as another resourcer one choice among many, Jesse (8) would diP inEo Ehem as he pleased, not worrYing abouE doine Lhe work "in order." This was fine-for a while' buE left him unable Eo undersEand some ideas thac had E SGN LAl.lGtlAGE rcR EVER/Ci over time. Sometimes been builE uD -specific I'd suggest Pages to him, From Alison Parra in Mexico: eicher because I EhoughE he'd find Ehem especially intriguing or because ..,stephanie JudY (BC) wrote in they covered something I felc he Gl^lS #48 abouL her use of American oughE to be learning abouE. sisn language wiEh her daughter... I At firsE ure didn'E nocice or use reallv 6leased to read her leta nice feature abouE Ehe books. "al ter. as i-c ichoes a stronglY held a charE on the back cover belief of mine thaE all of us as Par- There's listins all Ehe Pages in Ehe book bY ents should be doing Ehe same wich cacegoiies - multip!.icaEion, addiour children. tion; inequaliEies, fracEions' ...I reallY believe Ehe world mapping, ecc., with Iittle boxes for would be a lot better Place if hearealh pige number. I realized EhaE ing children automatically learned Jesse mishE work wiEh more concentrasote sign so Ehat EheY, as adults, Eion in Ehe books if he could mark in could aicept and discover their Deaf on the charE which pages herd comthe for worked Having neighbors... pleted.

It would be a waY for him to years inEerPreter an as DasE seven track of his own progress',give keep see I Deaf, for the educatoi lnd him-a graphic picture of where he'd clearly EhaE their biggest obsEacle been and was going, and what ro is the attiEude of Ehe majority ot ahead. exDect - Using hearing people towards them. the charts has been a reaL ...1 will never forget when, aE turn-around. Jesse loves seeing the Ewo weeks old, our daughEer first boxes get filled in, even began caughE sight of her father. signing to inventing little games about armies me.-She Iiterally cracked his hands advancing and conquering all the new vJith wide eyes, craning her neck as terriEories as his yellow crayon he walked around Ehe room siSning. filled in Ehe boxes for Pages comThis was my first babY, and I hqd..

We also began setting goals pleted. said that books the ail believed "By - I asked Jesse when he hoPed to have six weeks you can Put uP a mobile Ehen Eo fot taby to begin focus- one book completed, and over Ehe pages he'd need. "?ib intensity with which she figure out how many inq on," The Eo complete daily (noE counEing weekwaEched our signs from Ehe sEarE ends) to reach his goal. For Ehe oroved our hands to be as fascinaEing third book, Jesse set March 1st as iand much more portable) a focal his completion goal, found he'd need Doint, and thaE she was seeing much Eo do two pages a day for the next iarlier Ehan I'd been lead Eo bemonth and a tratt to finish uP - and lieve... I believe babies'desire Eo Ehen oroceeded Eo choose on his own know and intelligence are alreadY even on weekends E6-E-6eE-Te'd to fully functioning from birth; so why "oi-k us all by finishing uP. surprise noE make our language EhaE much more barlvl He sometimes decides to do accessible from the start? more- Ehan two pages if he geCs ParEic...My husband is deaf and I am ularly excited by sonething, but not. Our baby was also born hearing' doesn't use EhaE as a reason to not In our home she l^ras' naturallyt do maEh work the next day' although alwavs exposed Eo boEh Sign and he knows thaE would be 0K bY me. When Voicird-Iairguage. She signed her first Jesse conpleEed his book two weeks words a few weeks before she sPoke early he immediafely wanted Eo dive her first words' and words have been inEo the nexE, and is now zooming Eumbling off her fingers and IiPs

alons in the fourEh book (correcEion - as-I'm retyping this he's finished the fourth book, earlY, and has begun Ehe fifEh). He is still free ro choose whlch sectlons of Ehe books he works ln, alEhough he is now verY diligenE about being thorough and doing everything evenEuallY' He explains Ehat Ehese out of sequence blbcks on his charc are surPrise raids tnto enemy EerriEorY - we've been reading locs of books abouE Ehe Civil War Lately, so you'll have to excuse the battie imaleryl I do thlnk thac his "playing" wiEh Ehe chart shows that he's found a way' on his or^rn, Eo transform whaE miShE have been dull work info quit.e exciEing play - and his PIay makes the work his own.

Carol Wilson of Pictsburgh EelIs me her son, Luke, also enjoys Ehis goal setEing, chart-filling-wiEh Ehe Miquon books' They seem to like perhafs, having everything ouE in Ehe open, a clear agenda Ehey can unoerstand, and have a share in shaPing and pacing. I know, Eoo' iE helPs Jessb to know EhaE a number of our homeschooling friends also use these books. He likes hearing how oEher kids are doing wiEh them...

IoR: The Miquon workbooks are available from KEY CURRICULUM PRO-

JECT, PO Box 2304, Berkeley CA 94702.)

i\4ATHE[IAflChN Kltl@fâ&#x201A;Ź

SO{@-S

From "Learning Math BY Thinking"

by Fred M. Hechinger' the New York Times. 6/7O186:.

...Dr. Hassler Whitney' a distinguished mathematician aE the InsLicute for Advanced

SEudY

in

PrinceEon, says chat for several decades mathematics Eeaching has larselv faiLed' He predicEs EhaE the cltrient round of Eougher sEandards and longer hours threaEens to "Ehrow greaE numbers, alreadY wich 8reaE., math anxieEy, inEo severe crrs].s.'

Dr. WhitneY has sPent many Years in classrooms, boEh teaching maEhematics and observing how it is EaughEt and he calls for an end co what he

considers wrongheaded waYs. Long before school' he saysr-

very young children "learn in manlfold i^tays, aE a rate thaE will never be equaied in later life, and with no formdl Eeaching." For examPle, they learn to speak and communicate, and Eo deal vrith Eheir environment. YeE the same children find much simpler Ehinss far more difficult as soon as formally taught in school' Ehey-are Learning maEhemaEics, Dr. WhiEnev says, sh5uld mean "finding one's wav thloueh problems of new sorEs' rLsponsibiliEY for Ehe anl cakin[ resulLs. t' "This has been comPletelY forqoEEen'r in most schools, he finds. fiThe pressure is now Eo pass scandardized tests. This means simPIY Eo remember the rules for a certain number of standard exercises at the momenr of Ehe tesE and Ehus 'show achievement.' This is the lowesE form of learning, of no use in Ehe ouEside world. t' Dr. WhiEney, in a recenE rePort in che Journal of MaEhematical Behaviourr@in I9TT-bv L.P. Benezet, then suPerintendenE oi schools in ManchesEer, N.H' Mr. BenezeE was distressed over eiehth qraders' Poor command of en!lish-and Eheir inabiliEy Eo communicate ideas.

"In the fall of 1929,'t he wroEe in 1935, I'I made uP mY mind to try an GROI{ING }IITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

25

experiment of abandoning all formal insEructlon in Arithmetic below the seventh grade and concenCraEe insEead on teaching ghe children Eo read, to reason and reciEe" by reporting on books they had read and incidents they had seen. The children were no longer made Eo sEruggle wiEh long-

This morning I suggesEed doing a bit more. He goE the Eext and sat at the table with me. He hadnrt done one page before Ehe anger showed up.

"There's no sense in Ehis!tt I tried

to explain. "I can'c understand it!"

The book got put away.

He'd done fine when the only prompting was his own curiosity and desire Eo learn. As soon as I sEepped in co direct and help him he resented my inEerference and it became impos-

division, 'rFor some yearsrtt Mr. BenezeC wenE on, "I had noEiced that Ehe effecE of early introduccion of ariEhmetic had been Eo dull and aImosE chloroform Ehe childrs reasonsible Eo do any math. (Andrew has coning faculEies.'l tinued to work on his own and TE-uo Over the years numbers crept to page 73. ) into children's experience, Mr Matchew (6) has a good head for Benezet said. They learned Eo deal numbers and undersEands more Ehan I with "halves" and "doubLes," wiEh give him crediE for, The lasE time we esEimaEes of size, wiEh a natural played Yahtzee he added Ehe column of development of multiplicaEion tables two-digiE numbers one aC a Eime; and slowly, wiEh formal ariChmeCic. "22+25=47 , 47+15=62, 62+37=93, eEc.rl Mr. BenezeE concluded EhaE chiLd- It took awhile, buE he did iE. He ren who had noE been dragged into ended wiEh Cwo Ehree-disiE numbers'to early but only dimly undersEood add, 108+156. He sEarted to wriEe a 2 maEhematics evenEuallv ouEdiscanced in Ehe hundreds column. I jumped in, those who had. LiEeracy in English 'rNo. Add uhe ones first and carrv. and a capaciEy to Ehink independencly I ike Ehis don't understani. and to speak and wriEe clearly helped Isnrt the answer 264?" I apologized many Co do well in maEhemaEics, Eoo. for buEting in and kicked myself. ...In Ehe traditional school hlhen he had competenEly added che clirnate, Dr. Whitney wriEes, childEhro-digic numbers Ehis way, why had I ren's naEural Ehinking "becomes thoughE the three-digiEs would be Eoo graduaLly replaced by aEtempts aE much for him?, . . rote learning, with disasEer as a resulE," In high school, scudents increasingly say, rrJusc Ee11 me which CCI/PUTER CAIJSES ]ENISilChI formula co use,rr a way of saying Last year we boughE our children "Don'E ask me Eo think."

Because Eeachers musttrcover the ScoEE (16) and Mandy (10) a Commodore material," Dr. Whitney adds, there is CompuCer. They seE it up in Ehe Less time Eo Ehink. When sEudenEs are living room, and from that day forcalled on, Ehey musE answer instantward we never had another peaceful Iy. Wrong answers are not discussed. moment. ScoEt copied about'20 games rrSEudents and Eeachers are aLI from his friend's comouter. and their vicEims" as nacional commissions lives now revolved arbund comDuEer clamor for more maEhematics r.riEhouE games; they had no inEerest in prorealizing, Dr. tlhiEney warns, Ehat gramming. they may creaEe less knowledge and My children usually geE along more anxiety, He says it is crucial very well wiCh one anoEher; rareLy do Eo stop just learning Ehe rules... they geE into a heated argumenE. However, once Ehe computer arrived they argued constantlyJ They screamed aE one anoEher, called each oEhei TEACI-lll,lG THEII/SEL\RS [,lA]H names, and even began hiEting and Lillian Sly (BC), wriEes: kicking. IE was an appalling stale of affairs. ScotE would refuse Eo allow . . . I 've never worried about Mandy her Eurn. We had-tfiEnr- sign whecher my kids would read; books are agreemenEs staEing when and how long too much a parE of our Life... The Eheir Eurn would be. This was a misersubjecE Ehat has always given me able failure because they borrowed qualms is math. I'd never done well each oEher's Eime and Scotc even oaid in maEh myseLf and doubEed thac I Mandy for Ehe use of her time. ThAi-could lead my kids through iEs Chey would fighE over how much Eime Eangles. Basic skills we've worked on Ehey had borrowed or paid for! by playing and scoring Scrabble, Gin ldhenever ScotE was using the Rummy, Black-jack, YahEzee, and computer he was compleCely mesmerized Cribbage. This has worked fairly as he sat in fronE of it. He heard well, buC whenever I've tried to nothing that was said Eo him. His explain anything nen to Andrew (8), whole focus of exisEence was what was he wouLd get upset. I'That makes no happening on that monitor. NoEhing sense!" He'd refuse to liscen Eo else existed for him. further explanaEions, becoming more Life went on this wav for upseE, Eo Ehe poinE of tears if I several months. My Iife wls fiIled persisEed. I didn'E know if he was rriEh Eension and anxietv as I sDenE incompetent, or I nas. He does underevery waking momenE trying to aibisEand more Ehan he did a year ago, trate che increasingly angry disagreebuE I donrt Ehink I can take much ments. I got caught up in their crediE. He definitely is noE up Eo fighting ind fouia I i^ras yelling grade standard. righE along trith Ehem. Then one day I A few days ago he picked up one asked myself whaE had become of oul of our unused matE texcb and oolned peacefui home life and what did I to some problems on area and vblume. want Eo do abouE it? In a fit of anger I pulLed all Ehe plugs ouE of "How. do- you do Ehis stuff?" I kepE my mouch shuE expecEing his usual angry' Ehe wall, put the computer-back into " and disgusEed'reactlon. Imagine m!

Ehe carEons and put everyEhing under pleased surprise when he Eurned Eo my bed, out of my sight, the firsC page and started working.

I was noE prepared for Ehe was !p past eleven EhaE night and response I goc from the kids, I !e finished Ehe work on area and-volume Ehought they'd beg and cry and plead co have iE back. Thev never even - 29 pages! I had read of such thinss in John Holt's books, buE never missed iEl They each asked whaE I had ChoughE one of my chlldren would show done with ic and then forgoE abouE it, such iniEiaEive. I was ascounded and It was as if I had lifEed a burden very proud of Andrew. from them; chey seemed relieved Ehat GROt|lING I.IITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

it was gone.

I haven'E been able to puC this into perspective. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced this problem and any soLuEions Chey might suggest.--MARY MAHER CHARADES INSTEADOFTY.

Also by Jo-Anne Beirne:

...Having read several of Ivan IIlichr s books including DESCHOOLING SOCIETY, I have become more aware of the amounC of what he calls orocessed communicaEion in our Iives. bverything we see on Eelevision, hear-on Ehe radio or sEereo, or even read in a book has been processed for Ehe medium by others aparE from Ehe originaEor. Unprocessed communicaEion is personal conversation, a leEEer, making music Eogether, ecc. I Chought thaE my children indeed are surrounded by a good deal of processed communicaEion. They wacch Eelevision, lisEen to tapes, and read or are read So, as I had three children staving for a forEnighE besides my o"n, i thoughE I'd cry Ehese well-estabIished Eelevision addicEs on a game of Charades. This game, for Ehose of you who have forgoEEen or never knew, is a pantomime game where individuals acE ouE words, phrases, proverbs, or nursery rhymes and the audience guesses wfrac iE is. As thinking whaE Co do can be the hardest oarE of charades, I made abouE 50-.60 slips of paper wiCh proverts, etc., on Chbm and.the children picked them out of a DOWI. The children reaLly enjoyed iE and vranted to keep playing Long afEer I was sated with Ehe game. Something I noticed was the lack of ideas wtren Ehey firsc sEarted playing. One of Ehe children would do one acEion for his word over and over again, all the while shaking his head as we futilely Cried Co guess whaf he was doing. [^]her. he f ina 1L y had ro te I I us , he did so with triumph, and or:e of Ehe ocher kids said,rrlre are supposed Eo guess . " Anyway, despi te Ehis, iE was fun and Ehe television addicEs dâ&#x201A;Źcided to skip ilNeighbors" and I'Itrs a Knock-otrtrr tc play...

THINKINGABOTJTTESTS

People often call us abouE Ehe strbjecE of sEandardized EesEs. Sonretimes they are lcoking ahead Eo the

Eime when their children may be Uest-.

I or , more sa cl -l 1 , they may f ind Ef'emselves in the mi.<idle of a disoute

ed

wiEh their locel schc,cl officials-

abcuE Ehe maCter. Based on these con-

versalions;, I've joECed down a lisE

of quest:icns that any homesctooling f ar:'i1y should be oreoe,red Eo chink at,otrt ancl find an!weis cc.

LegaI requir(nrencs. What co the !+ Iaws aE regufETTo.rr., <'T )our statâ&#x201A;Ź say, it anyEhing, abouE Eescs required of homeschoolers? Get a copy of Ehe acEual law Eo read for vouiself, through a Library, che staEe governmenE, or homeschooling group.

AnyEhing Ehat is noE specifically required by law is open Eo negotiation beEween you and Ehe officials.

Preparin! for Ehe EesEs. What is about nature, ccoloty, advcnture, language, history, math, space, world problems & morc.

ALL

AGES

- ALL SITUATIONS

New, expanded catalog, Fami

25C

26

the brand name of Ehe cest thaE will be used? For what subjects? VJill Ehe schooL give you a samPle of the test beforehand, or whatever other PreParation materiaLs Ehat are available to cLassroom Eeachers? Can you geE samples or copies eLsewhere' such as through cest preparation books, EesE supply cataiogs, universiEy curricrtla ti biai-ies, homeschooling programs?

Test ing condi t ions : ExacE LY where and when is Ehe chrro co De tested? At home, at a schooL? In what room? Will s/he be tested individualIv or in a group? What distractions pt"."rEI tJho is Eo adminisEer the "i" test? lf not the Parent, musE it be a schooL employee' or can iE be an agreed-upon third party-(former ceachei. osvchoIogist, etc. )? Can the parent be'presett, and if so. under whaE resErictions? Who else is Eo be present? How long wiIl tesEing sessions last?

Results: When will Ehe test resuld6-5E-EvaiIable? Can parenEs see the actual scored tes! or wiLl they iust set a number? Is the score a PerientiTe or other measure? WhaE will be done with the resulEs? Will the school keep them on record? What is to be done'if the child scores Low? How is "low" defined, and what constitutes "progress'r? - DR

large tubes of PainE, raincoats' paper, ecc,, trying to limit the "on the paper" warnings' etc.' but iE nevei worked. They ran ouE of energy before I did, even Ehe muddle-puddle messes of finger PaintinS, and theY hated Ehe clean uP. orobablv ' Ehe

So'for nearly 12

monEhs

I didn'E

do anything, while feeling more and more iuiltv. They didn't draw much on their own iccord-and my encouragement seemed to resulE in backward steps'

so lrithout knowing iE I did a "John Holt" or just let Ehem go.

Then, on purchase of a new large set of DerwenE Pencils and finding a palette box of all color Posterbainfs. their inEerest raised of its bwn aciord. Becky (4) was extremely saEisfied wiEh Ehe PeoPIe she was able to draw. They had everything shq had noticed on people, and she picked up much confidence from drawing dozens of them which became mochers' faEhers, brothers and sisEers, depending on the size of che circle she drew for the head.

Gregory (6), on the other hand, onlv wanted to draw knights on horses: a EalI order for a novicel The frusEration he felt in noE gettine Ehe picture in his head on to Ehe paper was unable to be meE bY anY suqgestions from me; tears and anger his main reacEions. After a ".iE while though' with aLl the blank oaper and Ehe t6 choices of colors, SOENCECATALOG ire' iust found how much he enjoyed it' It Eook two minutes to PUC PaIVolunteer PeggY RoberLs (MA) ettes, water' brushes, and cloth on. worked on updating our I'Learning Ehe t;ble, and I was able co shuE Ehe Materjals List" ($2.00) and afEerdoor for an hour and go awaY leaving wards wrote: Ehe two to painE in Peace. It seems uo add to their independence' enjoy...I've never seen this list and naturalness. ment.'The before and found it interesting' results of these unsuperAlso. vou mjghE be inEeresEed in vised forays into art sEill delight suppliincluding on6 of my favoriEe(PO and amaze ire. Each child produces perBOX ETS. LEARNINC TIIINGS, ]NC' ten painEings each and seems to haps 617-646-.

02174; MA 436, erlington and add Eo his own rePerEoire reiine We bought enclosed. caEalog 0093) t'own Gregory went from crowns' Eime. each microinvenEionil their of one swords, armor (no bodY), to knights scoDes Iast Christmas. One model and now knighEs on horses jousting comes in kit form so h,e got Eo Put iE from manv aieles. Rebecca's people toseEher ourselves. I highly recomhave" cloEhes and eyebrows with ."id ch" scope, caLled a "Super Micro- now the bodv firsE drawn underneath' They scope." IEt s- lighE, well-balanced' set Ehemselves Easks, advancing from suited to small hands, easY to focus easy Eo hard and achieve satisfaction virtuallY - oLus. as theY saY, it'sEmma (10) uses from their own actions'.. inbestiuccible- so that iE as a toy - as a ProP in her detective and bink games, etc. Cheap'^too b6ught was about $201 llO/VTO I'/AKE Bmâ&#x201A;Ź - the kit wejust like to browse in I also paperIDR: ] nndrea KeIIY-Rosenberg and Ehe cataLog: Photography (ME) isked, "Do you have any informamaking supptibs' book-making kiEs, how co make nice sewn alL manner of lenses and prisms' mag- Eion about at homel something a step above nets, a wonderful folding sEereoscope books sEapled variety? I remember seethatis our favorite birthday gift for the ine a bbok Years ago abouE how Eo do friends of atl ages. The catalog it very nicbly, buE I can'E find anYreminds me of a museum shoP. Ehins about it now, and I know both Another bonus is Ehat it's a Noah-and Laura would enjoY having small, familY-owned business' The bound.'' president is, I believe' the inventor Eheir htords and picEures I sent her quesuion to the KenE tf tfte microscoPe. I talked Eo his familv (TX) who have been Printing wife about my order Last year ancl she and miking books for some years now' toLd me they t.ook over the facEory.

Kent rePlied: Carol deaEh sudden the after businesi and of the original owner in order to ...The best book we have found save her husband's Patent. . ' is bv Harvev Weiss, HOI'I TO MAKE YOUR ot,JN booKs (browell: New York, 1974; which is a juvenile 71pp illus.), UNSUPERVISEDART Uobi< freta by most public libraries' Aside from a small book Press' we Still more from Jo-Anne Beirner don'c use any equiPment Ehat You wouldn't finil aiound the house or in . . . I alwaYs wanted mY kids to be a crafts store. I wrote out a descripIt alwaYs and able to draw PainE. Eion of some simPle books for You, seemed Eo me to be a mosE enjoYable which we use a lot. You can either wav to relieve stress and Eension and make books for children Eo wriEe in' oneself. It's hard Eo pick or make a stack of folded PaPers Eo "*-ot""r thls skilL uP as an adult, and it was put together after the child is finbecomiirg hard for them to pick iE up . as kids-with me around. I used, reluc- i shed Harvey Weiss shows simPle sewtanEly Ehough dutifully' to get out

ing. Putting togeEher books wiEh sewn signaEures is pretty complicated and time-consuming. The quickest book you can imagine and a delight for tiny children is to take a piece of cloth or colored paper, sEack a few sheets of paper on top of it, sew it down the middle with a longstitch on the sewing maching and fold iE in half...

Two more simple books: (1) Fold a strip of paper Like an accordian. Wrap a heavier piece of paper around iE, and pasce the flaPs so Ehe cover won'E slip off.

1N

/r t[\\\ /l

na9

cut

@ac

a book wiEh more Page s , same fold them in half:

(2) For many

size and

sheets of paper the

ililt ilVt\l\

\

Hold Ehe stack Eogecher with rubber bands and squeeze it between a couple

of bricks with the folds

uP:

{roLDs

",8F5.

Pour Elmer's glue thicklY over

Ehe

folds, so that all the folded edges will be glued togeEher. Make a jacket of heavy paper, or cut chree Pieces of light cardboard or index cards the right size to cover the book:

ffi*

\--r'

Glue Ehe boards on a piece of colored paper wiEh about 1/8" beEween them:

Cut down the colored PaPer' trim che

corners, and glue the edges over the cardboard:

m *ffi'

Fold the cover around the book and Daste it to the firsE and last Page.

DICTATINGSTORIES

From Susan StickneY:

,..I cantt say enough in favor of writing dol4tn sEories John (6) dictates to me. lJe have been doing this for a couple of years now and his creaEivity is truly amazingl I do not correct his gramrnar when he dictates ro me. Sometimes when he tel-ls me a senEence or two Ehe idea will be just forming in his GROI{ING IIITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

27

mind, and che sentence will not

be

very clear or grammaEically correcE. I have found if I r^rrite and say aloud what he has said, and then pause aE the spot which could be clearer, he will volunEeer a beEter way of saying what he has in mind. It is amazing Eo me how Ehis works. He knows it takes me a liEEIe while to write what he is telling me, and he can get ahead of me wiEh his senEences, and as far as he is co4cerned I am pausing because I can'E remember exacEly whaE he has said. So there is never negaEive feedback when his ideas are fLowing, It is so rewarding to resist with all your might the EempEaEion Eo suggesE ideas or directions for the sEory. The reward is seeing how 6-year-oLds look at Ehings, Ehink about Ehings, and puE them togeEher, in their own (or as my son says, "verv own samett) wav. . .

ISS:

] This reminds

me

of

Ehe

Eine I spenE two years ago wiEh a four-and-a-half year old boy, L., a ver\/ sErong-wilLed and angry littLe trdifficulE"

boy generally considered

by Ehe people around him. He loved co Eel,l stories about his stuffed bear, Pandy, and would teLL Ehem Eo anyone who wouid lisEen. (Most peopLe worrldn'E.

)

One day when

his moEher was busy

packing boxes for their upcoming move and he was being parEicularly irritaEing, I said, "Come upsEairs with me," "What for?" he asked. "Come wiEh me and see," I suggesEed. As soon as

upstairs I took out a piece of paper and said Eo him, "Ok, Eell me a Pandy sEory and I'll wriEe it down," A strange look of fascination canre over his face. Did I realLy mean I would wriEe down rrhatever he said?

I did. He proceeded Eo EelL me a long, deEaiLed story, spilling out words fasEer than I could cef rhem down. When I had Eo i;J'rt8o-nir'""a say, "tdai E, wri E i ng takes lbnger Ehan talking." He'd be respectfuLly silent until I said ready. He tested me by saying "dirty" words and I put them in the story like any other, I was deEermined Eo show him EhaE I'd wriEe down whaEever he said.

WEe-rrEE-was finished I said.

"Should we Eype it now?" and pointed to the Eypewriter in Ehe corner. I Learned laEer that he'd never seen a EypewriEer before, buE he agreed immediaEely. I let him turn it on, roll Ehe paper in, seL Ehe margin.

Then I said, rrOk, do you want Eo type che story or should I?r' Again che Iook of amazement. I could almost see hinr realize thaE somehow, in some wav he could only jusE barely glimpse, w6 were going to puE his words onto that h)e were

paper Dy Dresslns Ehose buEcons, He SETdl "Me. So I held the sheeE with the

handwriEEen sEory in fronE of us, and poinEed Eo Ehe firsE letCer, ',T.', He pushed iC. I poinEed Eo Ehe nexE, "H.rr He pushed iE. And so we con-

Einued for a fulL paragraph. Each Eime I asked him i? he-wai growing

bored or wanEed me co do it he shook his head, no. I was amazed - would I have. Ehe paEience to do something which was for me so Eedious? L. aid not, at thaE time, know Ehe names of the letEers or even, I don'E Ehink, thaE. they sEand for sounds ( though he may have inferred this from our work.

Irll never know) so Ehere was reallv no nay for him. Eo gain cyping speed-he was Ehoroughly dependenL on me Eo tell him which leEter Eo Dush nexE. And yeE he kept at iE, ani pushed each key ever so genEly, with such GROI.IING }IITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

respecE, even grace. I noticed that afEer a whiLe he began to be aware of pushing the same key repeatedly - Eo

nocice the more frequent letters. He said, "Why are we pushing these so

I told him, "Because your story uses those letEers a loE." I wanted co keep him aware of the relacionship between his story and what we were doing. tJhen he finally did grow tired asked me to type a bit, I said aloud what I was typing, also to keep Ehis relationship in our minds. At one point he said, "How come I can'E do iE Ehaf fasc?" and I replied, "lrJell, you haven't worked with these Letters as long as I have." There was no way to disguise how much faster I was abl-e to Eype and no way to pretend I wasn'E the one wiEh the mysEerious knowledge of which letter to push, but I Eried to make it seem Iike Ehis was a simple Ehing he too could learn, From chen on he asked me if we could go Cype every time he saw me, Lf I said I didnrt feel like it then but r^'ould do i E at a part i cular laEer time he'd remember Eo ask me aE exacEly thaE time.

Once we wenE for a walk and when he grew tired of walking, I said we could look aE all the things around us and maybe get an idea for someching to wriEe abouE. He didn'E say .anyEhing for a while but then said, "I know what my next sEoryrrAwill be about;" 'rWhat?" I asked, duck and a baby duck." I said, "Oh, how did you think of EhaE?" He answered, "Because I saw a duck once and I Ehought thaE I would wriEe abouE it.rr much?" and

INTERESTED IN CURSIVE

From cAnci

Gloria Harrison (Spain):

r.!^LLvrurr,6 ^^^^'Ainli ' rrp npri ad '' r'_

F^ Far

M^nr6cc^r'i I oarni no _lg_'_'o

fha !r L,,e hend'---

write aE around age 4r2 or 5, I provided her with Ehe DrNealian workbooks from ScoEt, Foresman IGWS #23].

She Loved them. She whi,zzed Ehrough the Kindergarten and lst grade books in order to starE on the 2nd grade workbook, where cursive proper sEarEs. WhaE she and I liked so much abouE the D'Nealian books is thaE they sCart out by teaching a form of printing which makes Ehe EransiEion Eo cursive efforEless. AIl Ehe lines are smooth, easy curves. No ttcircles and sticks," The cursive is simpLe and pleasant Eo the eye. AnEonib is now 8, and loves to write, because, aE Che appropriaEe moment, when SHE requesEed iE, she was given a tool handwriLing - which enabled her to put her Ehoughts down on paper.., Incidentally, my almosE-2-yearold twins love Eo scribble. But they prefer co scribble on paper EhaC already has writing on it rather than blank paper, almost as if Chey nanE Eo copy the rrriEing (is that perhaps why Eoddlers love to scribble in library books?) So I give them used exercise books thaE have been discarded by my older daughters. I atEribuEe Chis interest in the nritLen word so earlv in life ro rhF fact that all morning long, they see Eheir older sisters writing and reading...

REAm- WHENTIOSTRESS From a Florida reader:

...A year and a half ago when we

spent two monEhs in England, we Lived wiEh my moEher and iE just seemed thaE Life was Coo interesEing to spend severaL hours a day doing Calvert and Ehe stress on us became Eoo greaE, so we shelved itl That was

Daniel's (8) reading really Eook One morning he wouldn'E budge from a Secret Seven book by Enid BLyEon (simiLar to Hardy Boys, I think, but perhaps a little younger in style), we called and called him but he was so immersed in his reading Ehat he couldn'c even stoD for breakfast or anything: I felc it was a true breakthrough and it was brought on by a lack of sEress in any form... when

off.

writing occurs around ages 4\ to 5e2.

At the lime, the child will WANT Eo learn to write, because he sees adults around him doing so. And if the aduLts around him are writing in cursive, thaE is whaE he will want to learn. I wouLd like Eo illustraEe this with my own personaL experience: tJhen my first daughEer, Elizabeth, was 4L2, we were in England at Ehe time, and she was attending THE STAGES OF READII{G infant school (kindergarten).., The schooL was starcing Eo teach the IDR: ] RecenEly in a conversation wiEh KiE Finn (VA), I said thac children Eo prinE. Elizabeth was some parents feel their chiLd "can't uninEerested, but demanded of me that read" even when the child can read I teach her to wriEe cursive, I someEhing. Kit IaEer sent her bIiEheLy obliged, and she enthusiasthoughts about Ehe stages of learning tically started writing shorE notes to read: in cursive to me and evervbodv. Two weeks IaEer, I received a- shoic, ...FirsC the child has to know terse noEe from her teacher, informing me almosE rudely that cursive was whaE reading is all about. The schools donrt pay any attention to NOT Eo be taught before 3rd grade, this generally. But if the skill is and would I olease refrain from conto have any meaning aE all, Ehis has fusing my ch-iLd, In those days, I thoughE that "Eeacher knows best," so Eo come. And obviouslv it will come I explained to ElizabeEh that she had first if Ehe Iearning- is seLfdrrecEed. better abandon cursive for a while Then Ehere comes a Doint where and Learn to wriEe the way her EeachEhe child knows most or all of the er wanted. From EhaE day onwards, alphabet and can recognize some words ElizabeEh gradually losE interesE in writing. Her handwriting became messy - names, signs, LabeLs. This produces and careless, and laEer, when we a lot of excitemdnt from the parent moved to Che States and she Learned if Ehe kid is young. As you siid, the child is/?# readins. This is where cursive in 3rd grade, if was pracEiCorrie (4) is now. The child is aLso caLly illegibLe, Even now, alEhough much improved afEer 3 years of homelikely Eo be very excited and sure schooling, iE is sEill erratic. HowEhey can read. NoEhing on the page ever, I have told her Ehat as long as looks unfamiliar and mysterious any more. iE is legible and reasonably neaE, I Horrever, it is also indublEably don't mind how she shaoes her lecEers. true thEE-EEE child hasn't veE brokeh With my second daughter, AntonEhe code. IE's all memorv work. So other parents wiIL reacE wiEh a more ia, things Eurned out differenEly. When Antonia also showed a desire to cautious announcement ChaE the child

28

is learning to read. And if the child prinEed book released people from a is older, his accomplishment may very greaEer impression Ehan actual well be toEalIy discounEed with an events... To exist was to exisE in "all he can do is..." prinE: the rest of the world tended A Later sEage is when the child gradually to become more shadowy, can read Ehe very easy books. At Ehis Learning became book-Iearning. , , " ooint Ehe child has broken the code IPosEman continues: I ..,Since ind will be admitted Eo be reading by the school curriculum r^ras entirely everyone except possibly himself. designed Eo accomodate the demands of Bridget (6) still categorizes herself literacy, it is astonishing that eduas Iearning to read and will point caElonists heve noE widely commenced out firmlv thaE she sEill canrt read on Ehe relationshio becween the a lot of the stuff she'd like Eo. And "naEure of childhobdil and Ehe biases again Ehe adulE reaction will range of prinE. all Ehe way from exciEemenE and pride IE is sometimes overlooked Ehat Eo an admission thac he reads very booklearning is "unnaEural" in Ehe badly, all depending on the age of sense Ehat iE requires of Ehe young the chiLd and the expectaEions of Ehe so high a degree of concentraEion and adult. sedateness EhaE runs counEer to their The last sEage is fluency. AE inclinations. In a world wiEhout Ehis point everyone vrill agree Ehe books and schools, youthful exuberchild has done it. ance was given the widest possiChildren can scalL on any stage ble field in which to exDress itself. for a Long time. This can resuLt in a BuE in a world of booklearning such number of excited announcemenEs. As exuberance needed to be sharply modiEhe child hits each new level of fied. QuieEness, immobility, contemskill, everyone gefs exciEed but then plation, precise regulation of bodily laEer it doesn'c look so imDressive functions, became highly valued... any more and the emphasis gilts puc on The natural inclinations of children yet. whaE he can't do began co be perceived not only as an The late reader can be seen to impedimenE Eo booklearning but as an be in a good deal of danger. Even if expression of an evil character.,. his parents manage to avoid puEEing on a lot of pressure and I4rait, they can give away the whole show by reactGreEchen McPherson (CA) writes: ing with a sigh of relief and a "finally." First of all, an accom...I encourage Ehe kids Eo do plishment is an accomplishmenE whensomeEhing besides reading in Eheir ever iE comes, The child deserves a free Eime, because although Ehey have little praise. Also, I dofrrT-866T any- many inEeresEs they tend Eo just one who wouldn'E get discouraged if settle down wiEh a book since it's every new accomplishment was greeted easier than geEting started on a carwith disappoinEment. Who wants Eo be pentry or cooking or building pronot good iirough alL the time? It ject. One thing Ehat has helped them keeP to takes a loE of deEermination is my telling Ehem to make a IisE of going in Ehe face of that. their plans for the day' Then they The school authoriEies will be have some goals to work Eoward, goals quiEe satisfied if the child geEs Eo such as "work on dollhouse furniEure" Ehe poinE where he can read. Parents or "sail boacs in the ditch." I know are ofEen more inteiE3ted in wheEher thaE for myself, reading can be an Ehe child will read. IE isnrE the escape from other Ehings which I same chingl-trlichael was 10 or so shouLd or would be doing but which before he would read anyEhing oEher are just more challenging. I want the than his schoolwork. He got good children to have a loE of differenE grades but we worried because he was besides vicarious ones... exoeriences scill functionally a non-reader. Now, [More on I'The Drawbacks of ReadaE 13. he reads for information ing" in cWS #38 & #4L.) compuEer manuals and science books but never reads for pleasure. Danette (7), who learned Eo read because she [ro[/s Ro-E rN Mr.IStc ESSot{s wanted to, Ioves to read and spends hours at it. She does noE read for From Amy Barton (IL): informacion. She reads sEories and only sEories. When she wants informa. . , I'm concerned thaE people tion she asks quesEions. Since boEh reading GWS will get the impression the oLder tr,,/o will sEill lisEen, we that all formal music training is do a lot of reading out loud, Informa- bad, and EhaE "good" homeschooling tive books for Danette, biographies Darents studiouslv avoid involvemenE and novels and stories for evervone.., irith their childr6n's musical exolorations. We've had our share of coitrolLing, authoriEarian Eeachers over the years (only last year did we find the IUORE ON READIG DRA\AiMq(S "perfecE[ Eeachers, so I could wriEe Penny Barker (OH) sent these a long leEter about Eeachers I ) . And ouoces from THE DISAPPEARANCE 0F our pracEicing relacionship has been igrlnHooo by Neil Postman: evolving over the years. But I am happy to report that a child can con.,.BuE with Ehe printed book trol her own musical life, can own another cradition began: the isolated her music, and simuLEaneously bE-Tnreader and his private eye. Orality volved wiEh a structured music probecame muted, and Ehe reader and his gram and have an active pracEicing response became separated from a Mom. social concext. The reader retired Lots of things that children within his own mind, and from the six- t'learn on their own" are learned beteenth century to the present whaE cause the child is surrounded by most readers have required of oEhers people doing those things; so they is their absence, or, if not. Ehat, have plenty of opportunities to obtheir silence. In reading, both the serve and imitaEe. We are noE surwriter and reader enter into a conrounded by musicians in my household' spiracy of sorts againsE social prehowever, since we are neither Bypsies sence and consciousness. Reading is, nor court musicians like Ehe Bachs in a phrase. an antisocial act. and MozarEs. So in our circumstances, quoted Lewis Mumford: ] it nakes sense to me to seek ouE I'MoreIPoscmar Ehan any other device, the music schools and Eeachers and Eo t

have strucEured lessons. ..,I was a parEner in everyEhing Ehey did, For example, walking theyrd grab my Ehumbs and take off.

Eventually they dropped Ehose Ehings, of course. And it vras different than

making (or Erying to make) chem walk.

So I assumed we'd share the adventure when Ehe violin came into

our home. First of all, I was che inEerDreter betr^reen the teacher and

Rachei ("Rachel wants Eo know if you

Xrrr"Chris is saying do Y").

Second, jusc Like I provided thumbs

mean

for walking, I became Rachel's spare her extra hands, eyes, and most .importalE.l ge-. I was interesEed Eo read lasE year Ivan Galamiants idea thal very gifEed musicians need feedback, because Eheir emotional involvement wiEh Eheir music and their inEernal singing of their desired performance drowned out hearing their Erue oucpuE. I used Eo say, "You sing in your head so loud you don't hear your I sEilI constantly say, violin!r'and rrThat bit was lovely, did you hear iE?" or "Did you hear Ehe scraEch?" or -ius t . ttDo vou hear ? " I never telt-Th'dt I was interfering, because Rachel wanted me Ehere. And I am still her extra ears, Ehough I haven't monitored memory, etc,, for a long time. I offered Eo hold down fingers, to warn of upcoming dynamics, whaEever, and Rachel accepted or not, or came up wich scrategies of her own Ehat included me or not. No one ever accused Ehe young Rachel of docility! So everything Ehac happened vriEh the violin happened because she thought about it. and decided. I wasn't the boss, but I wasn't a passive observer either - I very actively soughE rrays to help her undersEand, Eo get her past snags, Eo increase her sense that she could control her violin in ways she wanEed. An example EhaE might make sense Eo people not doing music: When Sarah was 18 months old she announced firmly "No more diapers, baby wants underwearlrr So into underwear she went. I knew her well enough Eo know she'd be devastated by an accident, however, so I rearranged our lives so we were home by the EoileE for the nexE few days, and I contrived to keep Ehe subjecE on cop of her mind by cheerfully and frequenEly commenting on her nice dry underwearl (Which is different from frequently and anxiousLy asking "Do you need Eo go?" or ordering Ehat she try). So, who was in control of that eDisode? I contend Ehat vre were a Eeam, wiEh a common goa1, and I know Ehat mv babv felc in control and was excremeiy pl6aG?l-wich herself ... memory,

NEW BOOI(S AVAII.ABLE HE RE

L.M. -T$295-Tl-sE. by ) In this classic childrenrs novel, the reader meets and rradopEsr' 11-year-old Anne Shirley..Anne, through either faEe or mistake, has been senE to live with Marilla and MaEchew Cuthbert, a middle-aged sister and broEher who have decided to adopt a nice sturdy orphan boy to help with the many chores around their farm. Macchew Cuthbert is surprised, and Marilla dismayed, when the orphanage sends Anne, an enEhusiastic, red-haired chaCterbox, instead of a boy.

The ouiet and kind Matthew finds an immediate rapporE wich the Ealkative Anne. It Cakes Marilla a little longer Eo realize that Anne belongs with them ac Green Gables. Once Marilla decides she r4ranEs Anne Eo stay ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

Montgomeif,

GROUIi{G |IITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

29

she sets about Anne's "bringing-up" often with funny and disastrous results. Marilla's practical view of life, filled wiEh maxims for sensible living, does noE suit the spiriEed and sDontaneous Anne. Anne is not a sugar-and spice little girl, she is full of vinegar and often because of her temper, pride or imaginaEion finds herself in situations that have quiEe different endings Ehan the ones she had olanned.

Annb is also capable of deep Loyalty to her friends. Many of her advenEures involve her besE friend Diana. The following passage will give the reader an idea of Anne's incredible abiliEy to talk, question

Kroeber ($8.95 + DosE).

When Yankee

seEtlers in Califbrnia repeatedly shot or hanged every Indian they could find, a tiny band, determined noE Eo give up their way of life completely, decided they had only one way to survive, They had to make Ehe whites think Ehey were dead. For years, they hid in Ehe mounEains, hunting and working in secreE. Afcer the lasc of his relaEives died or disappeared, the lone survivor found he could no longer manage on his own, and in l9ll, he wandered, near deaEh himself, into a small town. The sheriff conEacted Ehe Museum of Anthropology in San Francisco, and a scholar came who managed Eo idencify Ishi's i-^-{-^. language, and who invited him to go ^-l r,"o6r"c drru Eo Ehe museum, where Ishi lived for "Well, did you find Diana a kin- the nexL five years.

Half of the fascinaEing book dred spirit?" asked Marilla as Ehey ISHI IN TWO WORLDS describes Ishirs wenE up Ehrough the garden of Green encounter with the modern world: how GabLe s , rrOh, yes,rr sighed Anne, blissfuliE looked to him, whaE he could accept and not accepE, how he made a ly unconscious of any sarcasm of home for himself there. He was a genMarilla, Marillars part. 'rOh, I'm tle and cheerful man, appreciative of the happiest girl on Prince Edward matches, unimpressed by machinery, Island this very moment. I assure amused by feet deformed by shoes. you I'11 say my prayers wiEh a Because his anthropologisE friends right-good-will Eonight. Diana and I are going to build a playhouse in kepc detailed records, Ishi has provided our civilization with an unusual Mr. William Bell's birch grove opportunicy to see ourseLves as other tomorrow. Can I have those broken see us, as well as a gLimpse of Ehe Dieces of China thaE are out in Ehe pasC. iroodshed? Dianars birthday is in The firsE half of the book, February and mine is in March. after Ishi is introduced, traces the Don't you think t.hat is a very hisEory of his peopLe, the Yahi Indistrange coincidence? Diana is going ans, and how Ehey were forced inEo lend me a book Eo read. She savs it's perfectly splendid and Erbmen- hiding - a biEEer and bloody sEory. jusly exciting. She's going to show You mighE wanE to skip Ehis, and read me a olace in Ehe woods where rice Ehe second half of the book first, lilie-s grow. Don'E you Ehink Diana abouE Ishi in San Francisco. But once has soulful eyes? I wish I had soul- you've rnade his acquainEance, you ful eyes. Diana is going to teach really should go back and read the me Eo sing a song called 'Nelly in earlier chapters, and you will apprethe Hazel Del1.' Shers going Eo ciaEe all Ehe more hrhat Ishi went give me a picEure to puc in my through. The callousness of che room; iErs a perfectly beauEiful whiEes, who appeared to think the piccure, she says - a lovely Lady killing of Indians to be Ehe same as in a pale blue silk dress. A sewing kiLLing wild animals, is beyond machine agent gave it Eo her. I belief. Just one examDle of this atfiwish I had something Eo give Diana, tude. In 1908, Iong aiter the Yahi I'm an inch LaLler Ehan Diana, but Indians were presumed dead, a surveyshe is ever so much fatEer; she ing party sEumbLed across their says she'd like Eo be thin because secret cave, where an ill and eLderly itrs so much more graceful, buE I'm woman (Ishirs mother) lay, They afraid she only said it to soothe didn't kill her, but they took every my feelings. We're going Eo the. scrap of food, ioo1s, ba3kecs, eEc; +'-, shore someday Eo gather shells. We in the cave - Ehe livelihood of four people - and left the woman there have agreed to call Ehe spring down by the log bridge the Dryadrs alone, I grew up in CaLifornia, and I Bubble. Isn't Ehac a oerfectlv ele- can tell you that Ehis kind of sEaEe gant name? I read a story oncl about a spring called that, A dryad is a sorE of grown-up fairy, I Ehink. " "Well, a1l I hope is that you won't taLk Diana co death.r' said !

history was noE taughE in school.

The book's author, Theodora Kroeber, was Ehe wife of the Museum's curator, ArEhur Kroeber, and Ehey were among Ishi's closest friends. I canrt resist adding an interesting side note about this family. Besides Ishi, Arthur and Theodora Kroeber and their four children came Eo know many other Indians, some of whom visiEed Ehe family in their Berkeley home. As Che postscript of anoEher book by Theodora Kroeber Lells: These Indians worked with Mr. Kroeber, diccating to him the words of their language, and telling him the Way of Life of their people.

Many returned year afCer year to spend some weeks - perhaps Eheir vacaEion - wiEh fhe Kroebers. When work for the day was done, then children and grown-ups played shinny in the old Indian hray; or they practiced shooting Ehe bow; or they wenE swimming; or played croquet. And in the evening, they sac around Ehe fire and talked and toLd scories. SomeEimes they sang songs and danced an Indian dance to Ehe accompanimenE of a gourd raEEle. How did this mixing of work and pLav affect Ehe Kroeber children?

Wefi. f don'E know abouE the other three, buE one grew up t.o be Ursula K. LeGuin! We carry many books by this award-winning fantasy and science ficEion wriEer in our catalog, And I'm sure it's no coincidence EhaE so often Lecuin writes about living in harmony hriEh nacure, or abouE gentle, vanishing people being conquered by ruEhless invaders. - DR MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS bv

Geral@hi-s is another wonderfully funny book by Ehe author of A ZOO IN MY LUGGAGE (available here). This is an accounE of five years his family spent on Ehe Greek isLand of Corfu in Ehe laEe 1930's, starting when Durrell was l0 years oLd. He Eells of his rather wacky family and of his early work in natural history.

In Ehe introducEion (he calls it I'The Soeech for Ehe Defense" ) , he says: I made a grave mistake by inEroducing my family into the book in che first few pages. Having got Ehemselves on paper, they then proceeded Eo estabLish themselves and

Mari l1a.

The auEhor of che book, L.M. Montgomery, spent her childhood on Prince Edward IsLand, Canada. She lived with her grandmother in an old farmhouse and as a child vrroEe Doems and sEories. AE Ehe age of 12 she won a shorE sEory conEesE sponsored by Lhe MonEreaL Star. Her first novel.

ANNE OF GREENTAELES, was published

in 1908. In reading Ehe book, you feel Ehat the auEhor lived Ehrough many of che feeLings and adventuies of the ficCional Anne.

Anne, like the best of fictlon children, meets life head-on and lurns !t lnto an adventure. She has Ehe spunk of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn and Ehe same curlosity Alice had as she followed Ehe whiE6 rabbi! inEo wonderland. --- CONNIE BERNHARDT ISHI IN TWO IdORLDS bv Theodora GROI.IING t.lITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

Books: Suzuki Philosophy and

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30

invite various friends to share the chapEers. lt rras only with the

greatest difficulEy, and by exercising considerable cunning, that I managed to reEain a few pages here and there which I could devote exclusively to animals.

Ha

onpc

vrr ^n

t^ LU

e-r, Jdy

rh^r LrrdL ,

dJ ^^

,,^l wE r 1I

as he could, he has been accurate he describes people and evenEs as he saw them then, He aLso says thaE iE

is of course condensed and oerhaos noE totally chronological. From i fairly recenE magazine article I read about Durrell, I would say he has indeed been preEty accuraEe - and his family is indeed wacky. The article also mentioned Ehat when his father died (before Ehe Corfu Erip), he left the family quite a lot of money, That explains Ehey could move from a small villa in Corfu to a larger one simply because his oldest brother had invited Eoo many guests at once; and vrhy Ehey could move again (to a smaller viLla, Ehis tirne) Eo avoid a visit from an aunt.

One of Ehe greatest things abouE this book is Ehe picture we see of a homeschooled chiLd allowed a great deal of freedom. Durrell never went Lo school. He did have tuEors off and on! some helpful, some only Eo be toleraEed. The tuEors soon learned thaE Ehe only way to get anything across to GeraLd was to involve animals: his studies of hisEory included learning Ehe names of aLl of Hannibal's elephants; in mathemaEics, he figured ouE how many leaves caEerpillars might eac; in geography, he made maps wiEh pictures of animals native Eo each area. And at one point, when something ouErageous had happened with one of his Dets and his brother

said they should'jusE get rid of aIl of the animals, since Gerry was probably just "going Ehrough a stage," Eheir mother replied thaf if this was a stage, GeraLd-had been in iE since he was a very tiny child and Ehere were no signs of iE letting up, so she supposed he had beEter be allowed to keep them.

Even when Gerald was studying

there are few regulations concerning private

call your home a school.

If you are concerned about revealing your name and address to the state, do this through a friend.

3) Contact state or 1oca1 homeschooling groups; we printed this list in Gl,lS #48. I'le also keep the ljst updated and sell it separately for $1 as part of our "Homeschool'ing Resource List." Some groups have prepared handbooks or guidelines on )ega1 matters.

4) Contact other families I isted in our Directory. However, they may suggest you do some of the above steps yourself, 5) In general, jt is not wise to start by asking your 1oca1 schoollistricti they usual ly don't know the law either. Better to gather the facts first on your ov{n. - DR schools and so you can

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PENPAI.SWAI{TED +Children Wantinq Pen Pals should send

us

on interests 936'l2: Dov (9) reading,4H, computers; Stephanie (7)

name, ffids --- SNIDER,

Musin,ffi,P0Box

l67l Richert, Clovis

Donald

6321, Lakeland, FL 33803i 813-747-1476

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--- IGNIZI0, 'l9504 Hjawatha Rd, 0dessa FL 33556: Graham (6) sr{ords, bikes, drawing; Drew (3) costumes,

ve Learni ng Magazi ne i sn't AB0UT home schooling, it IS homeschool ing! 27 regular features hel p fami I i es I earn together. Samp l e $l .

One year $9. Classified ads 50C/word, display rates avajlable. CLt4, Box 957, First F'loor l.lrightstown, NJ 08562-0957 Creat'i

Sympathetjc researcher, jnterested in academic progress of homeschoolers age 8 - college, would l'ike to hear from families and individuals willing to share their experiences.

Absolute confidence assured. Phyl 1is Joyce, Rt I #267, Benson NC 27504.9'l9-894-83.l8.

piano, rollerskating, guinea-pigs swords, animals

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0roville, CA 95965; 9'l6-534-4753 --Bonnie VERHULST, l2l V{alnut Valley Dr, Springfield, IL 62707 .l7078 --- Debby BELL, ll6 N Lincoln (language Robinson,

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Traveler seeks l-2 kids/teens for trip abroad MA 02172: --- Arnber HEINTZBER- this fall/later. Help pay my expenses. 9 months camping experience. Some Spani sh, French, formally, his exceptionally EoleranE GER (]0) P0 Box 1307, Carmei Valley CA 93924; horses, art, gymnastjcs --- SCHAAR, Rt 2, Gala- German, Chinese. Let's try the free host netmoEher allowed him Eime to explore tia IL 62935: Stephanie (8) cats, horses, draw- works. Elsa Haas, GWS, (I volunteer here. ) the island, and space to keep quiEe ing; Suzanne (6) dress-up, music, swimning; an array of animals in the house MacMi llan Plan Education; emphasizing primary, Scott (4) tractors, camping, mischief --- Dan Eurtles, lizards, birds, etc. He describes some very inceresting exper- GoLDFINE (]2) RFD 2 gox 236, Belfast t'l|E 04915; elementary. Detai led, comprehensive, simple iences: catching snakes, recapturing comics, baseball, words --- Gretchen KLAUSI,4EY- directions. For information, MacMillan, #5946689, First Ave., Chilliwack, BC V2P lX5. dozens of baby scorpions thaE goE ER (ll) RFD 2 Box 346, Belfast ME 04915i cats, Ioose during a dinner party, and a rollerskating, swinrn'ing --- N0DA, 388 Ewe HOME SCHoOLER'S IIEEKLY - Fnom the editors of gripping batEle between a gecko (lizCreek Rd, Grants Pass 0R 97525: Joshua (7) HOME EDUCATI0N MAGAZINE. First issue August I, ard) and a praying manEis, Eo name a starnps, sports, computers; Harmony (5) paintFREE SAMPLE C0PY! Subscription $7.50 six months few. DurrelL was lucky enough to meet ing, bicycles, babies --- Michelle BARR (ll) (26 issues), $15.00 one year (52 issues). Box up with a naturalist who helped him 22 Madison Ave, Wakefield MA 0]880; crafts, ,l089, Tonasket, l,JA 98855. organize his nature sEudies and who violin, arts --- S0T0, 674 Frontenac Ave, LA \renE out exploring wiEh him.

CA 90065: Vanessa (14) reading, writing, Ho11yTeach DRAHING, DESIGN, PERSPECTM with easy to MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS iS wood; Cancion (ll) card games, soccer; Evan understand text by former public school art bound to be a favorite - an entertain- (5) cars, soccer, books --- RIEMAN, 35483 Gr. teacher. Over 55 illus. Loose leaf pages ing book about a homeschooled child So, Overland, Julian CA 92036: Elizabeth (ll ) $9.95. Binder, add $3. Check or M.0. to E.S. poetry, reading, horses; Annie (8) bugs, aniand his family (and oEher animals).

Ford, 3362 l,l Grandview Rd, Phoenix AZ 85023. mals, writing; John (6) making things, swim-_- MARY VAN DOREN ming --- SMITH, P0 Box 7, Char'lotte VT 05445: INEXPENSIVE IIORKBo0KS to teach/tutor your own Jennille (8) penpals, flowers, art; E1i (6) K-12. Send SASE to children. All subjects,,l079, too1s, making things; Ashleigh (4) writing, f{C/VTOGFTSIARTED Sunland CA 91040 drawing, playing --- R0SS, Rt 2 Box 39 B, Nor- SMM Educ Services, Box Here are some ways you can find out the fork AR 72658: Kengi (.l0) letters, playing, 1ega1 situation in your state. sewing; Jonah (7) cars, jets, basebal I --I ) Look up the la!, yourself, in a public Margot PAKENHAM (5) South Head Rd, HelensADDTNONSTODIRECTOFil/ (courthouse, law library or law library ville, RD I, New Zealand; coloring, trampoHere are the additions and changes to (15) 1ine, dol 1s -::-TfiFTs--TnTEN school, etc.) Laws are indexed; try "school Carnp Butler the last the Directory v{e have received since Box 'l575, FPO Seattle |.lA 98773-0006; sports, attendance" or "education, compulsory." l6 issue. Gf{S #48 has the complete 'l986 Direcstates have revised their home education laws neading, wniting tory, GtlS #51 has a sumrary of additions for since l98Z (seven of them in 1985), so check the first half of thTs:FEF. the recent statute changes. }Je have printed or our Directory is not a ]ist of all subsummarized these new laws in our back issues.

ADDTNONSTORESOURCES scribers, but only of ttr6'3e who ask to be list2) Ask the state Department of Education Certified Teachers I'lilling to Help Home- ed, so that other G}.ls readeri-6'F-o-fhEF ii'tEF for any laws or regulations pertaining to homeE5ted oeoole. mav oet in touch Y{ith them. If schooling and/or starting a private school. In school fTm-a-1tF?5805 (K-8) --- Mari lyn DeVORE, 2120 B you woirld'liie t-o 5e included, please send the some states (particularly CA, IL, IN, KY) AKMEZIKYAN,

Schoofst, Watertown

reading, draw'ing, Barb'ies

@

GROI{ING TIITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

JI

entry forn or a 3x5 card (one farnily per card). 78) 830.F1eming.Av, Augusta 30904-61]4 Antonia/80) Rt 4 Box 368, Marshall 56258 ___ lJe print birthyears of chi'ldren, not (change) --- WiAe i Oe6na J0HNST0N (Clarissa/ Daniel & Linda SMITH inni"tuZSt, John Danjel/ ages. If we madFi-TiSEike when-convertins 79t Jiyl83, stertingTssi-nt 2 Box 920, caiauia Ba) t3 cotumbia nv sr, ii. ctoud 56301 - - --

your child's age to birthyear, let us know.

Please tell us if you would rather have your phone number and town listed instead of your mai 1 i ng address.

If a name in a GlllS story is. followed by an abbreviation in parentheses, that person is

(change)

'

M0 _ Gary & Becky COLVIN (Jenn.ifer/74, JessicE-/76, Julie/78, Joanna/gl) Rt 3 Box 32, #G, Hakjmo Rd, Waiane 96792 Em.inence 65466 ___ Ron & Judy HIRSCH (Josh/69, ID - Dave & Ruth ARTHURS (Ann/80, Beth/ Shawn/69, Jai/74) P0 Box 18, Theodosia 6576t 84) ]00-Jouth-Z'10 East, Burley 83318 -__ HOME EDUCAToR SINGLE PARENT NETI^/ORK, Rt 5 IL - Catherine COX-a nt-FRyDRyK (Jane/ Box .|20, Ava 65608 ___ Jane & Terry SMITH in the Directory (check here, in #48 and in pa;!

83) 67--0ogwood:!, (Seth/70, Forest 60466 --Sarah//6) 6 Center Rd, #51). }Je.are happy to forward mail to-Those Therese pdL, 995g'S Hill Terr, Apt 23_201, Kirksv.i.l.le Lindsey/71, 63501 ___ Beth & Tim STACHI|I, 22Zt whose addresses are not.'in the Directory (mark Pa'los Hills 60465 --- Dave & Jeanne R0SS ct, wentzvilte o:jg5 the outside of the envelope.-viith name/descrip- (Becca/80, Sara/g4) gzg-iinaen, Elmhurst 60r26co'lterNV - John & virginia sAXMAN (Kim/70, pat_ tionl-r-ssG, and page number) --- steve & sharon SCHAAR-(Stephanie/78, - -- r:ck/7t r.i7id,-niiiii')g\ ztts E Tropicana you when send us an address change for a Suzanne/80, Scott/82) Rt 2, Galatia 62935 --2,]5, Lai Vegas aSttS subscription, please remind us if you are in Steve & Bonnie VtRnUlSi (Lorj/83, Uichael/g6) NM _ iohn & Donna SPRUILL (Joanna/68, the Directory, so we can change it here, too. l2l Walnut Valley Dr; Sp;.ingfield 62707 Molly//T, Ramona/78) Gen Del, tlaxwell

31904

. .. __ HI.- iaymond & Sabrina ARIZ0 (Alan/79, Maile/gT) gl-\215

87728

AL

-

craude & Dian-ARNoLD

Seth/7f, Mignon/74, Carolyn/78,

o,riris/6e, rliiii-i iSiii'r:i:tT l[:'!ijlfl' Alodia/81) Rt 5"1rv#, Bend-466i4 --- Rod & Tammj H0DGES ilen/18,

- Frances KoRN (Erisabeth/6e, :n"nii /7j\ 3W Beach 25th St, Far

Joceryn

Rockaway, Queens Bonnie/8]) Rt I Box l3oa, gloomfield 47424. l69t --- John & Jane iAMpKIN (Jol.ie/80, ]^l9l^39j.'Fairhope-36532 --- Nancv & Perrv Jenrna G00DS0N (iJendv/80' Derek/83),Rt 1 Box 165-A, jbgor KY - Greg & Pat t/tiLIAMS (cam/79, ivan/ /gA\ 59 Rt 306, suii".n --- Nick & Itene Rockford 35136-lchange) --- Barbara.sMITH, 223 82) Rt-T Box 3dz, Gravei switch 40328 :-MANGIERT ieuoii.iTe:, r,,tiihietzast 53 Bittmore spring vallev ct, Huntsville 35802 (chanqe) Robert woLcHocr i Linda sHoup (Be;j;;inl79, Df, uastic Bch 1951 --- Dan.iel MARSHALL, AK - Tom & Pat HAM0N (Casev/8z, Kris/85, Larkin/81, saranlea) Fo Box '145, Biadfordsl Jacques TRAVERS, Kevin DACy, pautine SHTUKA, Anna/85T SRA Box 124, tJittow 99588 --- Denise vitle 40009 987'E 38 St, Brookiyn riZiO ___ tiarren & Rome & Jon KLEINE (Zenith/75) HcR 39955 Highview Veronique LALIBERTE (Lara/79, Lain- wirrLrn (Aimee/70, Jutia/78, Jasper/82) RD 2 ..Mg (change) Ct, Homer 99603 eyl81)-2906 Peregoy Dr, Kensington 20895 Box 3lB, Hamiiton 13346 AZ - Peoov & l'lichael AHERN, 2442 E SheriMA - James-& Dorinda strltttos-istniamin/ Nc - Terry CRAVEN & Carolyn LUcENro dan, Ph-oenix a5boe (clange) --- iameron a zq, oanTeluzs,-ii'.r.i.i7i), Rebeckah/78, Timna (Jesse//3, cal/73, cassie/77) t"l0uNTAIN M0NTES(Rvan/77, Julie H0LMES Colin/80, Lauren/84) /79, Keilah/80, Palestina/841 204 Bedfo;d St, SORI SCHO0L, 176 wh.ite Oak cr Rd, Burnsviile 3419 E Gold Dust, Phoenix 85028 --- Kathleen 02351 --- Michael & Diane D'ARCANGEIo 28714 --- peggy DAVrS & iom yARB9R9UGH KNEZ, l.ltSTERN NAVAJ0 RESERVATI0N, P0 Box 889, 4lilgtql (Julie/76, Stephanie/78, Etizabeth/80, Michl iNattnew/gO) 22t7 Kenmore Av, Chartotte 28204 Tuba Citv-86049 ---.lqf LAROUX and Art BLINIcK elle/82, t'tictrabt/a+, Jinmy/85) 62 Plainfietd i-- r,'tark & Nancy Hossol't iliaac/82, Francis/84) (Stephen/77' Stuart/83) 3716 S. Grandview, Av, Malden 02148 --- tlari; GRES0CK & Jude Rt 2 Box 360, pittsboro z73iz --- Drs. Alan & (Diane/76, L9!tv & Ginnv (Athens/79, zEGER phyllis BAiTLES Austin/81, Lowet't/85i 26 J"tpg.9!?a? -,J0yci-HASHAM (Aensus/Bl) Dun Aensus, Davjd/78) 4134 N 35th Pl, Phoenix 850)8 Portland St, Haverliill 01830 --- Stephen & Rt l, Benson 27504 (Zips CA, South to-94000) Jud & (Colin/g0) Lynn Lynne J0HNS0N 7 Beechmont'St, Wor_ _. ,0H _ James BODE & Candace t"ltLLER (Erica/ BLAINE--(-Josfi7-f5', Megan/79) 2532 Nabal, Eslon- cLster 01609 --- Sue & Jjm KINNEL ar, lnuilriz7, Norgan/ei)-+:s-i-c"r"-ii, 45805 --dido 92025 --- Sandra a !9s-e]t llr (Alicia/76, Aubrey/81) 97 Haig Av, Seekonk 02771 --- carol Aaion &-Beverly llELCH (rin/82, r_tru Nathan/84) 4705 Nathan/7g' Elliott/83) Bq!!0fT PARK scHOOL, & Steven LASH (Hainahi79, Isaac/81, Abigail/ t.t Bancroft, Toledo 436j5 47] Belmont Dr, salinas 93901 --- Terri & Mark 85) 35 Conway Rd,.south Deerfietd 01373---0R - Chris ANDERSON (Bi|y/79, Sissy/80) HoRNING (Jamie/81' Heidj/83) 55 clark st #4, p0 Box-T]8, t,Jinchester- si+96-oqta (change) --Pat & Paul LIJGIN'(Matt/8], rate/e+) 48 w Hilt 93901^----Dwight & Jeanne JOHNS0N Rd, Marlboro 01752 --- Riihard & susan MAS0N Jajaen BECK & John pARE, p0 Box 99]ilu: 346, scio (Christopher/8o) THE HoME SCHOoL, 36ll Boun- (!1eg91y/82, Nicole/83, gi374 --- Atison cLEMENT & Chuck |.lTLLER (charHitalie/85) p0 sox szlo+ --- Ramj & Eric 351,-chirlton 0,|507 --: Dous & Dawn McNAMARA totte/g3) rsj6-sr-23 ii, Fortrana gzzt+ 99ll^lt:. iul Ql9so NELSON (Misha/71, Joe/78' Jesse/84) ll6 Knoll (Tyier/82) 7l Park St, Tuin6rs Falls 01376 --(change) --- Kristin K0ESTER, Rt 3 Box 2310, Rd' Vista 92083-5813 (change) :-- [9tl:ry & Li: & Mjke sTEvENs (Jicob & Nancy/74, Rachet/ Gasto;97119-9303 --- Gaiy & Gwenn tlccALEB Allen OGLETREE (Bethanv/79, Kelley/83) 961-12 82t.147 Eryn/77) 6Zl Lockwood Rd, Roseburq $a, Springfield 0j109'--- David (Krysta/tt, Acosta Plaza, Salinas 93905 --- Debbie & Steve & Nancy !9va1g TowLiR (M;e starTgt, Nathan/82) Box 974i0 .-- ooug'a Jenny wriiai;ic'i,j"ii"i;8;-"'' 'l70, M;hawk rrait, sneiuuin-0]370 SCHMIESS (Andy/81, Laura/83, Julie/85) 45 (crringei Sarah/85) 3935 SE Fra'ncis #to, por;and 97202 chestnut, Salinas 93901 --- Barry & Lorinda pA - Debby & Kermit gElr (euori"t a MI - Tom & io BLASCo (Michael /16,'Scott/ SEVENANS (King/71, Joey/78, Katje/79) t857 Et 78, Tonrmy/80, patrictisi) Oe2t Maple Ln, nives MichaeVS3, Katie/85) |6 N Lincoln St, pal_ -Cajon Lane, Ramona 92065-3337_(change) --Junction- 492i7 --- Boniie DeROSE b llituer myia 17078 Charles SIEGEL & Jeanne MILLER (Benadict/81) wILSoN (Audrey/8o, Leatr/82, Isaiah/g4i 5660 SC _ Charles & Dolores WHITE (Rachel/73, 1807 Bonita st,-Berkeley 94709 --- Kevin & Austin Rd, camden 49232 --- Connie KNUDTS0N & wjl/75, Eenji/76, Nathan /77, Ro6in/78, wesley/ (coljn/8'l, Becky SLADE Austin/84) 55'l westHo\lard rHOMPS0tl (oaniei/zg, Eric/82, siminlrril eo, a"ianisi, Trivjs/82) 145 seech springs Rd, bourne st, La Jolla 92037-,5449,(change) --peizer 2soogls26i i;;;;g.j 85) 3788_Griffith, Berkiey 48072 --: paul & chris & Rob STEITz (sarah/8l, Anna/8s) 675 Ellen KoEHLER (seihzao, siee/Bz) 218 s GainsTN Park St' salinas 9390'l --- Peter & Mary w0LK, borough, Royal Oak 48067 --- Thomas & Leslie NashvjTle shannon BOTTOMS, 257 Eisenhower Dr, 3l|l] --- t4.ichael & Karen stlITH 710 Grand Av' 0iai 93023 roilPKiNa \\llltt, cayl;/8o) 8282 Island Rd Rt (Alissa/80, Rhianna/83) p0 Box 515, Tultahoma (Zips CA, North 94000 & up) So1 DAy, l, Elsie 48831 .l8603 373gg ___ iatrjcia STREET & Courtney SC0TT I-fwv-TT121, Fort Aragg bs+sz-azel (tl.icheile/ (ceta/8t, connor/83) RR 4 Box 2/8K-2, creen MN - chris & vivienne -(change),^;---legina &.I!ih19l HAMB (Daniel/80, 7'l, Leonje/73) 872 co. Rd EDWARDS plain 92, Maple vait"y Dr, Ashtand city 37015 i.r,uns"lPatrick/81' Eljzabeth/83) P0 ll5, Mad River 55359 --- Nancy GRUVERA t Joe KELLY (Mans/8o, TX - G.inny BAKER, IX HoME SCHO0L C0ALI95552 --- PENINSULA HoMESCHooLERS, 3906 Ross Rd, Palo Alto 94303 --- Connie pFEIL, CONTRA C0STA H0ME EDUCATORS, 3345 Santa paula Dr, Con-l cord 945,l8 --- Sue &'Rod POOL (arianZTg, r"iiv f ENTRYFORM FORDIRECTORY /80' Steven/82' Ljsa/84).l?l-ly.f^.y" St,-woodl j lr you would Iike to be included in the Directory but have not yet told us, send in this 1gn4 ?!9?s-:-: Marillyn RATLIFF (Sherry/72, ' fo.r or uie u t"paiit.-postcard or 3x5 card (on)y one family per card).

Cindy/74) QUAIL HILL SCH0OL, t5ts Quaii Ro, Newcastle 95658 --- Naima SHEA (Iehya/8z) 420 Commercial St, Nevada City 9595d :-: bt;;yi-& | ADULTS: Susan STORRAR (Li z/71 , Jenny /t3, Mi ke/77 ) I OO0 Elysian, Penngrove 9495.l (chanqe) --- pat & Gabrjel |iELLS-C0NSTANS (Sarah/60, Brendon/82) | 0ncAluZntION (appties only if '1700 P'ine Flat Rd' Bonny Doon.95oq0:96r0 | address is same' is famiryj: C0 - Dale & Connie NESBARY (Nikki/8'1.

Matt/8zT'10224 owens St, Westminster g0020 | CT - Linda & Dick-SCHR0TH iniitorTei, I CHILDREN' NAI'IES/BIRTHYEARS: Jonathan/82, Brian/84) P0 Box 250, Cobalt 06414 DE - Robert & Sharon ERNST (Zachariah/ 81, NaEhaniel/84) 400 Ramsey Rd, Wilmington I 9803 FL - Ken & Rachel BARNES (Jonathan/80.

David/g3) 600 E 23rd p1, pompano Beach 33064 | ADDRESS; --- Alan & Grace JUSTISS (Suzanne/8]) p0 Box 678, Keystone Heights 32656 (change) --- Helen & Marti n RUBIN (Daniel /77, Alexander/Bl ) 921 St,l lSth Court, Fort Lauderdale 33315 --- Tom & Denise ZUEHLKE (Thomas/79, Kar'l/82) 5oz9 stone-l Have been in Directory before: yes No ler Rd, Tal lahassee 32303 | ," .". GA - Edw;;;-cluiio-a nancy HoEHN (Lydia/ ' If this is address change, what was previous state?

I

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,

| I

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GROIIING WITHOUT SCHOOLING #52

32

TIot{, P0 Box 1237, Quitman 75783 --- Tim

&

Sherry EARLY (Rachel/85) 15707 Rlll, Houston 77063 (change) --- LMNG HTRITAGE ACAOEMY, P0 Box 1438, Lewisvi lle 75067 --- Margaret McLAIN (Johnnie/83) Rt l, Dawson 76639 --- Kathy & Alan l,lATTS (Nina/77, Jesse/80) Rt 2 Box 2530, Cedar Creek 785]2 uT - Davjd & Linda

OESTER

(Joanna/72, S

- Victoria & Leon KNIGHT (Charlotte/ 74, Jeii6ifer & Rebecca/76) 5497 Carolina Rd, Suffolk 23434 --- John & Jennifer NEIIC0MB (Elisabeth/78, Bobby/81, Billy/84) 905 El liot Dr, Blacksburg 24060 --- Kim & Lesl ie PAYNE VA

(He'len/76, Lee/79, Jean/8.],

Batt'le Park Dr, Spotsylvania

Samuel

/84)

3

22553 Diane & Irwin POST (Nathan/82, Rt 2 Box 445, Bethel 05032

l,lA - Maury & Nancy CAIN (Jennifer/79, Noelle785) Rt 3 Box 968, Newport 99156 --- Bob & Linda CASELLA (Melinda/79, Carmen/81) Rt 3 Box 845, Newport 99156 --- Don & Kathy HARLAND (Karl/77, Cade/79, Brooke/80, Dan/83) P0 Box I187, Kalama 98625 --- l,larty & Sandi H0RNE (Erik/82, Kyle/85) 802.l 8th Av, Nt.l, Seattle 98lli --- Jerald & Judith KINCAID (Bryce/76' Brett/77) Rt I Box 5068, 0kanogan 98840 --VT

Brian/Bi[)

Puyauup 98371

(Da]

tl;

-

MARY JONES

27 16 MAIN

ST

PLAINVITLE

THE

fAfilLY SCHOOL, ll'12 Oxford Ct, Neenah --- Jane & Jim HERMAT{S (Tony/73, Katie/ 'l644 Hal sey St' Green Bay 75, El i zabeth/82) 5430'l --- John & Meri KUEHN (Dyami/79' Chinalis/83) Rt I Box 99A, Mayvilie 53050 (change) --- Carla & Dennis ZEVNIK (Cassandra/81' Dan'iel/84, Samuel/86) 205.l S Layton Blvd, MilwauBEAR

54955

kee

5321 5

CAI{ADA _-ALTA - HOMESCHOOLERS ASSOC OF NORTHERN 11-gggTA-/o l l415-43 Av, Edmonton T6J 0Y2 BC - Lee LARKIN & Denis KN0PP (Angie/81' I'lyatt/FJ, Deanna/86) 47330 Extrom Rd, Sardis vzR lBl --- Sean & Lillian SLY (Matthew/79' Heather/82) 2352 Kemp Lk Rd, RR 4 Sooke V05 lN0 l'lAN - Brian & Irene TODD (Cathilyn/77' KeithDT Glenda/82) Box 158, Kenton R3L 0P9 ONT - CANADiAN ALLIANCE OF HOMESCHOOL-

l9Fltarkville Rd, Unionville

ERS,

t3R 4V8

Richard & Pat KERR (Carolyn/58, Sunny/73'

---

Gordy/ 76, Roseann/78, Alison/8.l) RR 3 Dalkeith KoB 1E0 --- Barbara & Bruce SlilALL (Carolyn/75) RR #,l, Goodwood LOC lA0 --Carole Sl'llTH & Stephen BYRNE (Katie/78' Daniel /81, Henry/85) P0 Box 82, McDonalds Corners KOG lMO

---

Dean &

Joceline TATE (Sam/76,

John

t'?o i36 t48 t60

5x s70 6X s78

I 2345

JII'I &

NY

0l 01

53

'I 'I

?iil;. $35 $64 $90 $ll2

$48 990 $125

$ls6

tr

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44

i2l6

etc: il2 per person per year.

Please send ln the nanes and addresses

7Xr 8X, I

of

of your group sub, so that we can touch wlth then. Thrnks.

menbers

keep

ln

Jones'T[6-dx-p'lTEs "'-if vre were Gl'lS nas founded ln 1977 by,lohn Holt. to receive their renevral before we sent our Editor Donna Rlchoux final account changes to the mailing house l'lanaglng Edltor - Patrlck Farenga (early october), t6ey would quallfy-for the subs-rlptlons & Books - Steve Rupprecht' ;soctate Edttor - srr..Hf{h$l$h 3lll::,li'H:i31.;r'3'il.1i'n3f,!i' Subscriotions start with the next lssue t Ho]t Assoclrtes oublished. Oui current rates are $20 for 5 for the subscription.

Roger & Anne EPLEY (Brian/78)

i:3:

x REIG\ /A,S 2x How can you tell when your subscrlption 3X expires? Look it this sample'label: 4x I

The number that is under'lined in the Jack/78) Rt 3 Box 816, Harpers Ferry 25425 --' 266, Glenville example tells the numbtr of the final issue

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JAIME

Zearand

GltOD IMPRESSIONS,

26351

all

address mry be replrced for $2 each.

Germany) (chanqe) --- Frank & Jane DONEGAN Group subscilptlons: rll coPles are nall' TfeEi.7to, Brenian/83) Knockrrnny, Moycul'len, Co. Galwiy. treland (chanse)--- Jlnr & Carolyn ed to 6iFidilFEiitffiare the CURRENT grouP BROliN (JeirnyTfa't5'er1ne/i9, Rachel/82, Jul lel- rctes (lx merns you get one copy of each 83, Laura/86) Box 65-1603, US Naval Hospltal, lssue, 2x melns you get 2 coples of each lssue, 3X merns 3 coples' etc.): FPo Seattle 98755-1600 (Yokosuka, Japan) --' Peter & Ji I I I,IHITMORE (Thomas/75, trei7n ) 58 Jelricoe Rd, Auckrand 6 New irtl!;.

I

MICHELS (Phoebe

trlv H0ME EDUCATI0N ASSOC, P0 Box

to-t4T:50, $1.50. Speclal:

1as/80, Jereqy/- es, $4.00. These prlces,lnclude postrge.

Address chrngq!: If yourre novlng' let Nassau Bahrmas --(ttrrla/77.]...aifrad/7g, us knotrlo-i6lFiFEililFess as soon as posslble.

Juanita/80, Gabrlel/82, Arlel/84, Nathanlel/- Plerse enclose ! recent lrbel -(or gopy of 86) B Co tith Stg An, ApO NY O98Ol (liurzburg, - one). lssues missed because of c chrnge ln

Da;iei & catherine

- Ana FRANKLIN & Dale P0 Box 33' Shirlev 26434 --- Sarbara & John PLUNKET (Orion/76' liV

/82)

L0CATI0NS

KNOIILES ----Tiiay-fiCency 8'1. AonltTg+) Aox-FHl4401,

Jennifer/75, alaude/78, Jesse/83, Tiffany/85)

E,

!t

(change)

Claude & Cheryl LIN0SEY (Roland/72, John/73' 3108-90th Av

-

4N3

oTHER

Andy/fT David/76, Sarah/78, Carrie/80) 330 900 E, Kaysville 84037

Crescent,

our rates for back lsgues: rny.conblnr' /79, Chrlstine/8z) 4 Langstone on. tlm! t0 onr tlon of back lssues, nlllad Geoigetown L7G (,Jerse/76) addrcss, sost $1 per lssucr plus $2_pcr_ordcr.

QUE - ilax.tne I'iACGILLIVRAY 4625 JEifrne l.lance, ttontreal --- Danny & Teresa For example, GtlS #l-51 would cost $53. Thcse TITTLEY (Nathan/76, Naoml/78, Caleb/83) 30 vlc- rates lra for sq!rql!9r!-g!l; non-subscrlbers pry $3.50-FEFl!3iir toria, Pointe Clatie H9S 4S3 Index to Gl{S #l-30: $2.50i to #31-40'

The

with Issue #53, the next issue. But

sr.rBscRrpno.{s

issues, $36 for l2 issues, $48 for 18 issues.

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other nonth. A single

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to take your children out of school.

I'lany

the artjc'les are as useful and inportant when

qr{g) t\to 6 (lIo

8J= olz

= < l6t -< > ol-

ool-{ N Jlo=tJVte

o.q< al ot(, oto r{-

t9 lr IH

ll6)

of

as

they were pninted.

RENEWAL FORM

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this

form to renew or extend your subscription to GR0t'llNG lllTH0UT Place the labe'l from a recent issue below, if possible. If not,

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fIITHOUT SCHOOLING, 729

GRO}III{G TIITHOUT SCHOOLIIIG

'52