Okay, so I am here killing time, trying to avoid watching the Presidential address this evening. (Shudder) Much as I adore (cough, cough) the president and his brilliant (ahem) plans for our nation, I'd rather not slog through some spin-docotors predigested tripe as it is spewed through ole GW's mouth.

Yetch.

It would be one thing if he was actually speaking to us instead of that pedantic, mind-numbing regurgitated speech.

Oh, well.

It's given me time to think, and tonight I am thinking about my own theory of education. It's developing, somewhere past zygote but not quite full-term, just floating along, absorbing nutrients and changing and growing. I ran a DNA test and was shocked to see that there are an unusual number of parents of this child....either that or I just stole body parts in a Frankenstienish attempt to create a new life.

At any rate, here they are...


John Taylor Gatto--From him I stole a bit of guts, the courage to know I could do it better than they were. He also provided some beautifully derisive metaphors for public schooling that come in handy with homeschool-doubters.

Maria Montessori--the bones. She was one of my very earliest influences, back when my Dodo was still a baby, and the prepared environment has been a part of our life ever since. The backbone of my own sort of classical/eclectic/unschoolingness is my version of the prepared environement. My baby's gonna have great bone structure with genes like this.

Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise--the brains. I know they didn't invent the concept of doing history chronologically, but it was from their book that I first learned it. It was an epiphany for me, a glorious aha! moment. Their book is full of moments like that. I also stole Latin, Greek roots, and the idea of a spine to hold studies together without a structured plan. I don't think they intended it that way, but it works for us.

John Holt--The lungs, the deep breath of relaxation and confidence that learning is happening all the time, that learning is not something that has to be taught.

Early Childhood Educators--okay I am stretching my metaphor a bit with this one, since it isn't one actual person, but I have learned so much from this field. Where else would I have discovered the imaginary play, sensory play, sand tables, dry rice, collages, finger paint and wooden blocks so dear to my heart? From them I stole the heart, that lively beat that keeps us going. Also an inordinate fondness leaning towards obsession for arts and crafts supplies.

Ruth Beechick--her practical feet keep me down to earth. When I am off being obsessed with raising my super-brains to be scientists or mathematicians she grounds me, she says it's okay to slow down and just get through the day, learning is fun and that is how it should stay. Keep your expectations high, but they don't always have to be sky-high.

Mary Poppins--that droll, sometimes prissy but always kindly smile. A smile that speaks in a cultured British voice and says, "I am willing to give you some sugar to help that medicine go down, but if I believe this medicine is necessary then you will be taking it whether you care for it or not. But lets not ruin a perfectly splendid day worrying about it."

Charlotte Mason-- the eyes to see the natural world, and a large old-fashioned skirt just perfect for grasping children, or for shy children to hide behind, or as a nice shady canopy for our long, leisurely nature picnics.

Okay my metaphor is beyond strained, time to exit.

~EC