Today, while I was editing the next podcast in the lineup--coming soon!--I heard Jill say of some fun math activities: "...kids don't even know it. They don't even know it's math. It's great."
This is a common sentiment from homeschoolers, especially Sonlighters--or maybe that's just selection bias talking <shrug>. I've heard stories over and over again about kids saying, "That was school?! It was way too much fun to be school."
These kids don't even realize that what they are doing is a secret plot to get them to learn something.
Lying to the children.
We should be ashamed.
But before I get sent to my room without dessert, you need to know that I wasn't the one who lied.
It's the idea of "school" that has twisted the minds of our young people. It is the institution of school, and the media surrounding it, that has lied to our students. Even we have been subjected to this lie. And the lie is this:
Learning must be boring.
Learning is pain
Nothing could be further from the truth. Learning is a blast! And homeschooled kids know it. Schools lie to children and tell them that to learn is to suffer, or at least a struggle.
To be fair, there are many teachers who do their best to make their lessons fun, engaging, meaningful and a joy. I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the educational system that perpetrates the lie that learning is an arduous task.
It's not always easy, but learning is always a joy.
School isn't.
So please allow your kids to remain blissfully ignorant that what they are doing has educational merit. Let them slowly learn that learning is fun, and then perhaps, just perhaps, they'll think that school is fun as well.
At least, at home with Sonlight it is <smile>.
~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father
Mom24,
So glad to have you as a part of this little blog community! Thanks for stopping by.
My wife and I are working on Rosetta Stone Russian at the moment. It's fun and exciting when I figure something out, but overall I just feel really bad at language <smile>.
~Luke
SOOOO true! I've only hs for 2 years and I love that my kids enjoy it (most of it at least - it's usually my crankiness that can make sometimes un-fun!). Reading (so far just our oldest) has opened up all kinds of cool things to learn about and I get to walk through it all and enjoy God's creation in this journey as well! In homeschooling, I can also tailor to my 5yo dd needs (she is more rt brained and struggles with auditory processing difficulties). WHere else would she get that kind of attention?? It always amazes me when she says school is fun!
I have been looking into Sonlight recently since I am becoming overwhelmed with the planning involved (for just 2 of my four!). I will check it out again at the hs convention in May and probably order for next year. I want to teach my kids to THINK (not just spit out facts or get through lessons) and I've never found anyone that disliked it.
We just started Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) for our 2nd grader and we LOVE it! He competes with me to try to get better scores. It seems like an excellent program!
So nice to stumble across your site!
I read that a lot on blogs: I'm learning as much as my kids!
It's fantastic.
~Luke
Me too, Luke! I think I'm learning about as much as they are.
Mrs. C, you are very right, and you can actually speak from experience. I'm glad to have met you and it's great to know you and have your input.
My jab at "torture" was aimed at how kids feel about being forced to learn than the real abuse your son experienced.
And I am very, very glad that you homeschool and have been able to get out of that situation.
~Luke
For sure less, are ya kidding?? Didn't I tell you we're homeschooling because they locked my autistic son Elf in the closet on several occasions when he was barely six??? Yes. I'm serious. That's why we homeschool.
I'm glad we do now, though.
Donna, I'm really glad you came back to Sonlight as well... more because it is working for your family, but also because it's great to have you as part of the community. <smile>
Mrs. C, you had to go and ruin it by reminding me that sometimes learning is pain <smirk>. Okay, okay, you got me. It's true: sometimes there is torture involved... but hopefully less while homeschooling than in the "school system."
~Luke
Well, sometimes we have to do our math worksheets so that we can play Vroot and Vroom on the computer LOL!
Luke, this is right on. This is EXACTLY what I've been thinking about for the last few days. I've been trying to come up with some words to express what I want to communicate about this, so I can post them to my blog. Alas! We've been too busy learning and the thing is... the boys don't even KNOW it!! Ha Ha! I'm gonna go work on that post.
I am so glad we came back to SL. No more school for us.