Ask me to teach Science, I'm in my wheelhouse. Ask me to teach Math, I'll go find my husband. Ask me to teach Art? I'll probably chuckle and tell you I had a hard time passing stick figure drawing in first grade. So how in the world did I expect to teach Art to my children. And how important was it, really, to teach them Art anyway?
We've all read the research that demonstrates the value of adding arts to a child's education (even as an infant), but do we agree? A May 2005 Harris Poll on the attitudes of Americans toward arts education, commissioned by Americans for the Arts, revealed (in part) the following:
93% agree the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for children
86% agree an arts education encourages and assists in the improvement of a child's attitudes toward school
83% believe that arts education helps teach children to communicate effectively with adults and peers
Knowing Electives are a good thing and actually making them happen are two different things! Motivation is tough to come by if something does not ignite your passion. So how does a busy homeschool mom make sure that those valuable Electives aren't missed?
Plan a specific time(s) in your school schedule each week to work on Electives. I don't know about you, but if it wasn't scheduled/written down, it didn't get done in my house.
Find a "curriculum" or other product that does the planning and decision making for you. If you're not artistic by nature (or musical, or athletic, or computer savvy), then creating art, music, and other elective projects on a regular basis for your students isn't likely to happen.
One of the biggest struggles for me was convincing myself that investing in Art, Music, and other Elective products was just as important as spending hard earned money on Math and Science curriculum. Please let me encourage you that the investment is definitely worth it. As we mention on our web site: Electives help to broaden a child's horizons, Electives help your kids discover their talents/gifts, and Electives add fun and interest to your homeschool ... all of which I found to be true for our family. Piano, flute, karate and computer programming likely wouldn't have surfaced in my kids had I not invested time and money in discovering where their passions were.
If your school year is well under way, but you haven't yet added Art or Computer Programming or a Foreign Language to your weekly schedule, now is the perfect time to do so!
If you haven't see the educational video Don't Stay in School, check it out:
I enjoyed the song. It's catchy, creative, asks some solid questions, and points to frustrations to which millions of people can relate. Myself, included. But even while I watched Dave's excellent response to the comments [NB: language; this is the internet after all], I had this nagging feeling that just wouldn't go away.
Why was I feeling so ... off?
I mean, haven't I linked to videos suggesting that computation isn't the main part of math we need these days? (Why, yes, I have, and I think I've shared this talk as well.) Over the years, I've certainly wrestled with similar questions. What wasn't connecting?
I went home and mulled it over all evening. I got up, still thinking about the theme of "stuff we don't need to know" / "subjects that shouldn't be mandatory" / "all the stuff we never learned that is way more important than stuff your cellphone can do better." Frustrated with my inability to formulate any coherent thoughts, I watched the video again and read the lyrics...
I wasn't taught how to get a job
but I can remember dissecting a frog
And it hit me, like the sinking feeling I get when tax day rolls around each year, unrelenting, grave, and political: You can't avoid this. This problem is inevitable for very specific reasons. What follows is my attempt to unpack those issues from my perspective.
#DontStayInSchool
1. You can't be taught how to get a job.
Seriously. My reason for feeling unsettled by the song was in the very first line: An education does not equal a job. It's just that simple. But why can't you learn to get a job? That is an important question, one I hope I addressed sufficiently in my post.
2. It's easier to introduce concepts and have kids memorize stuff.
Dissecting a frog is relatively easy. Asking kids to memorize the quadratic formula is cake (even easier: give them a bad grade if they don't, and move on).
So while it may have felt like we spent a sufficient amount of time discussing isotopes such that we could have mastered the political system in that time, we didn't. Learning how to vote properly -- whatever that means -- requires way more information, discussion, worldview building, and such when weighed against memorizing how isotopes form.
[By the by, we spent very little time on isotopes when I was at my public high school.]
But the bigger issue is...
3. Your education should not be about indoctrination.
When we bemoan not knowing "how to vote" or "who controls money," we are frustrated by political things with answers that would be highly biased if taught in the same way we teach mental math. This isn't a complex formula you can solve by punching it into your calculator.
In fact, the best way to learn how to vote, in my opinion, is by studying the very things mentioned in the song: Henry the VIII and the Hippocratic Oath. Because, yes, we could discuss politicians and current political issues, but without the history of things like Henry the VIII's break from the church and how modern bioethics connect (or not) with the what Hippocrates formulated, we would quickly make some very poor decisions. [I considered linking to a post about bioethics, but it was too political. You're welcome.]
The short version of this point is this: History helps us make sense of the world. ...and it does so in a way that educates, not indoctrinates. Who of us would rather teachers simply taught kids how to vote? No one. We learn about the flow and control of money by learning about the historical events involving money, and in so doing, we discover how bad things are when governments and corporations and greedy people get their hands on the stuff.
This points us to the fact that...
4. You need background and maturity to tackle really meaningful topics.
You can -- and should -- introduce difficult stuff early (you first encounter WWII in Sonlight's program for 5-7 year-olds). But, honestly, you can't dig into the holocaust, mental illness, your basic human rights, investments and giving, domestic abuse, political change, or even raising children until you have a framework for those things.
If a child is suffering abuse, they have a framework and they should be removed from that situation ... but it's going to take years for them to come to grips with what happened and heal; you will do no better with a kid who has no context for such evil.
With mental illness, yes, we'd love a solution. But looking back on history -- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, anyone? -- we've come a few paces, but we still have miles to go. Families, let alone schools and politicians, have yet to figure out what to do about it. (I haven't seen the movie, but I'm wondering if Maggie is an artistic approach to tackling these hard questions.)
In other words, while I totally relate to the frustration in the song, these are adult issues that can't be answered even now as adults, let alone as a kid who still can't properly hold a fork.
5. Learning should be specialized/tailored to the student ... somewhat.
Personal example: My mom told each of us kids that we had to learn an instrument; she didn't care which, but we had to choose one. That's how I started playing the trumpet. I had freedom -- but, really, did I have any idea what instrument to choose? no -- but I was still required to choose something from a particular category.
Why?
Because music instruction is good for you. Same with math, history, science, handwriting, and even foreign language.
The difficulty is in determining how much. And this is probably the point of most connection for everyone who has enjoyed this song: We also feel like we spent too much time on x at the cost of missing out on y.
But I wonder: How much of that is our own personal bias? Put another way, what things would we discover we like if we we were to be forced to try them? How long must you work at something difficult before you discover the pleasure in mastering it?
So, sure, we may spend too much time pushing kids who don't write well to diagram sentences, and we may have wasted many hours insisting math-phobes memorize their times tables ... but, given the right mix of nudging and investment, even kids who hated math or writing can end up top of their class in English or Calculus. (I just interviewed a mom whose child did exactly that.)
Have we sometimes gotten the balance wrong? Certainly. But I don't think that means such subjects shouldn't be in school. And it's certainly not insane. It is ironic, however, that this very problem shows up as something Dave seems to want changed...
6. We need not follow the rest of the world
... in foreign language or otherwise. There is a very good reason people outside the US tend to know at least two languages: They often learn English. Why? So they can communicate with English-speakers.
How did English become the language of commerce? There's some very interesting history on that, but the fact remains: America -- and the UK? -- doesn't feel pressure to push a second language because there is no such pressure.
The high school and college foreign language requirements are built upon the same foundation as what I've argued above... it's good for you.
But my study of Spanish, while useful in some areas, hasn't stuck with me because I simply don't need it. So while Dave wishes he kept up with the rest of the world in this subject area, I don't see a benefit to investing that much time into mastering that subject. And isn't that the very point of his video?
What now?
7. We should once again look at the purpose of education.
My childhood wasn't wasted. I was educated. Yes, even while in a public high school. Did I go through some pointless exercises? Yes, even in college, while pursuing my personally selected major.
...all that to say...
I appreciate the frustration. I resonate with the critique. But upon further investigation, I don't think the complaint holds water.
Can we do a better job deciding what to teach when and for how long?
Probably.
We homeschoolers have that opportunity uniquely open to us.
But even with that freedom, I'd still recommend at least touching on history, science, literature, math, handwriting, etc... because these subjects provide the foundation upon which we can understand and learn about the bigger issues in our world, like politics, mental health, parenting, first aid, investment, and more. As I argue, that's the entire reason to get an education.
I am interested to find out what he ends up doing, and what impact that makes. He's certainly struck a nerve and I hope it leads to improvement in schools and education in general.
A few months back I blogged about our trip to Alaska and the stunning, majestic scenery we encountered there. This last month we were blessed with the opportunity to visit Hawaii. Alaska presented us with stark, glacial, mountainous views, but Hawaii surprised us with lush, green, tropical landscapes. While Alaska was a trip for work, Hawaii was all about vacation and relaxation. And as unrealistic as resort life is, it was nice to disconnect from the stresses and demands of life for a few days of sleeping late, eating amazing food, and sunset walks on the beach with my sweetheart.
Even though I'm officially "retired" from homeschooling our children, I couldn't help getting excited over all the new things we saw and learned. From the history and culture of Hawaii to some of the most unique, exquisite flowers I've ever encountered, all I could think was how much fun it would be to explore the Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm with my kids. Or to experience a traditional luau with my grandson. Homeschoolers never lose that drive and desire to learn!
Whether you travel to Alaska or Hawaii, or visit some exotic international location, or explore your own back yard ... I hope you never lose the awe and wonder of discovering new and exciting things. Explore what your local area has to offer, or save up your dimes and quarters and plan a trip to somewhere you've never visited before. Just never lose your passion for learning. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your children and grandchildren!
“As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.” (Herman Melville)
Regardless of what you think of his politics, Dr. Ben Carson's personal story is an inspiration – the rise of a disadvantaged child to become a world renowned neurosurgeon. As a young boy, a love of reading helped change the course of his life.
Of course I'd love a story like that!
Carson grew up in a rough neighborhood. He struggled in school and let others have it with his violent temper.
His mother, Sonya Carson, had extremely limited resources at her disposal. She had only a third grade education and, by age 13, she was married. After she discovered that her husband had a secret second family, she was on her own to raise two boys. Though she had never learned to read herself, she knew education would be her children's ticket to a different life.
So she took some drastic steps. She put strict limits on the amount of TV her boys could watch. She made them finish their homework each night before they could go out to play.
But Mrs. Carson went one step further. She also insisted that the boys read two library books every week and write a report on each one. She examined the reports closely and showed her approval with a checkmark at the top of the page.
Not surprisingly, the boys complained about these new rules. But before long, young Ben discovered something. It was kind of fun to read. And reading made him smarter. Instead of feeling like the "dummy" at school, he started knowing things that his classmates didn't.
His mother had noticed that ember of curiosity within him and helped fan it into a flame. Books helped Ben see that he really could learn things after all.
Mrs. Carson's master plan worked. Ben took off with learning. The book of Proverbs helped him learn to control his temper. After high school, he went on to Yale, and then to medical school. He became a world-famous pediatric neurosurgeon. He figured out how to do incredibly complex surgeries that no one else had done before.
So what made the difference for Ben? He didn't have a great school district growing up. He didn't have rich and educated parents. But he did have a loving mother who deeply valued education. He had a growing faith. And he had reading.
In a very real way, reading opened the world up to him. Reading sparked a love of books. And that love of books sparked a love of learning.
In the same way, Sonlight sparks a love of learning in children. Children are born curious. Just watch an infant stare in awe at her moving hands. Or watch a toddler examining a bug on the sidewalk. Listen to the endless "why" questions of a preschooler. Kids want to know about the world around them. But too many kinds of education quench that curiosity rather than foster it. If learning is dull, boring or full of pressurized testing, young children start to see it as a chore instead of a delight.
But when they get to learn through reading, conversations, and science experiments (as they do with Sonlight), they keep wanting to know more and more.
Sonlight sends kids the message loud and clear: Learning is a fun adventure. Reading takes them on exciting trips around the world and through history. This globe is a fascinating place. They have what it takes to grow and make a difference in the world.
So be encouraged, Mom or Dad. Regardless of your own financial situation or education level, helping your kids love to read is one of the best things you can do for their academic success. Even if they don't love it at first ... even if it takes a few years ... nearly every child who uses Sonlight comes to truly appreciate a good book.
And when your children love to read and learn, the world is at their fingertips. So enjoy your Sonlight journey and carry on the good work!
Today is officially the last day of summer. At least for the Northern Hemisphere. I guess that would make it the last day of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, right?
Those of us who follow the traditional US school year have probably started school by now, and it seems like summer ends when school starts. However, this year's autumnal equinox happens tomorrow. That's the day when the daylight hours and the dark hours are approximately equal. And so, that's when fall starts.
With the milder weather it's a great time to get outdoors with your kids for harvest-time activities and nature studies.
My family loves to visit a farm or apple orchard this time of year. When the kids were little they especially enjoyed the farms that offered hay rides and allowed them to pick their very own pumpkin. As they got older they enjoyed picking apples and then helping preserve them when we got home. They also like to go through corn field mazes with their friends or roast hot dogs over a bon fire.
I try to tie in the seasonal activities with learning whenever possible. We have done unit studies and fall-themed worksheets as a "just for fun" supplement to our Sonlight curriculum. Some of those are posted on our Fall Season Pinterest board. (There's also a Spring Pinterest board for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere.) Check it out! Of course, once you get started on Pinterest I'm sure you'll find many more ideas for celebrating the season.
We seem to agree that "an education" is important. But why? Why go through the trouble of being educated? Put another way: What is the purpose of education?
I suggest the purpose of education is to lay a foundation for everything you want to do. Want to be an astronaut? A mother? A baker? A banker? A banquet hall decorator? A missionary? An apologist? Nothing more ambitious than a good husband?
Cool. You need to know stuff. More than that, you need to know how to use the stuff you know. More than that, you need to know how to learn how to use stuff you don't yet know. ...hence all the talk about "life-long learning." We're never going to be masters of everything.
In the past, when I've shared this simple thesis, people have looked at me quizzically. "What about college or a job?" they ask. "That's why most people say you need an education."
Graduation Cap
"College is simply one step of many in the journey of learning," I tell them. "And your job hardly defines your life; it's only a part of it. There's so much more to what we do. We raise kids, volunteer, have hobbies, read, play games..."
More simply, the traditional "3Rs" exist so we can do basic "adulting," such as pay bills, do our jobs, and comprehend what's going on around us. But to really understand our current context, we must exceed the minimum. History helps inform how we think about the present. Science enables us to reach outside our personal experience and build things beyond our ancestors' imaginations. Math allows us to harness the interplay we observe in the universe. Within these broad categories, we delve into powerful topics of psychology, physics, politics, poetry, personal finance, and other impressive subjects that don't begin with a p.
That's why we don't stop at the fifth grade. That's why we don't quit when we graduate. That's why we explore electives. That's why we keep learning until the day we die... because if we are going to follow an infinite God where He's calling us, there's always going to be more to discover. Our children, our spouse, our world, our future are all far too wonderful and complex to "figure out" in our lifetime.
So why get an education? Because your very life will be enriched and you will be able to better enrich the lives of others and, thereby, give glory to God.
How's that for an answer?
Anything you'd like to add, include, or focus upon?
Ever had a moment with friends when someone quotes a movie or book you love, and suddenly all those who have seen or read it join in, throwing out their favorites lines? (Cue your favorite Anne of Green Gablesquotes now in the comments, bosom friends and kindred spirits.) What feels so good about a conversation like that is that you are all insiders on a shared experience.
Ask me to teach Science, I'm in my wheelhouse. Ask me to teach Math, I'll go find my husband. Ask me to teach Art? I'll probably chuckle and tell you I had a hard time passing stick figure drawing in first grade. So how in the world did I expect to teach Art to my children. And how important was it, really, to teach them Art anyway?
Still on the journey ...
