I have a friend that attended a seminar where the Bluedorns spoke. She recommended this book over 6 years ago. I really had little interest in Classical Eduation and so sort of put the idea on the back burner. Someone told me that the curriculum we use, Tapestry of Grace is classical. She was surprised that I was a "classical educator". I began to hear this more and more. I was aghast. Me? Nope. I'm a fun-schooler or a Charlotte Mason educator....I kept hearing that TOG was like "Teaching the Trivium" so I finally began to read this book.I've been trying to read this book for over a year. I decided last week that I WOULD finish this book before I read another one. I determined not to mark the book. A used book sale is coming up this weekend and I'd resell it. A while back I wrote an entry on my propensity to mark books. Tonight, I went back and reread that entry and the article by Mortimer J Adlerabout how to mark a book. I feel a bit better about what happened.
In a fit of "interaction" I began to mark this book quite liberally. First, I found things I liked. Then, I found things with which I intensely disagree. I found things that simply weren't logical to me (which was supremely ironic considering Bluedorns write some really great logic materials). I wanted to unreservedly LOVE this book. I don't.
I DID find things that encouraged me and with which I wholeheartedly agreed. I also found things with which I vehemently disagree. It did cause me to think. It did allow me to interact with some of the true greats in the homeschooling movement. I found myself today trying to find someone who had read the book to discuss some of these issues....I've decided not even to begin listing what I liked and didn't like...it would be far too long of a post as there are lots of both.
I think this book falls into my "chew the meat and spit out the bones" category. ::snort:: Alas, this book is now so thoroughly marked that it will never be sold or given away. I simply couldn't stop myself...and it was a fun read in the end.
8 comments:
DeEtta,
I read this book years ago when all of my friends seemed to be 'going classical'. This was quite a bandwagon at the time. {g}I don't remember too much about it other than there was so much I disagreed with that I wasn't going to 'go classical'.
I seem to remember that the foundations were pretty shaky, certain things were made to seem like incontravertible truths about how children learn that hadn't been proven at all. I was just not convinced.
De'Etta - really, are you TRYING to torture us? "I DID find things that encouraged me and with which I wholeheartedly agreed. I also found things with which I vehemently disagree." If that's not a teaser, I don't know what is. Ha!
Can you at least just share a itty bitty, tiny bit of what you liked and didn't like? Pretty please! For those of us who are too busy reading and writing blogs to read an actual BOOK. :)
OK - maybe in the comment section it will be safe....::snort:: You ASKED for this Kathy!
1. I dislike any author who "proves" from Scripture that THEIR educational choice is THE BIBLICAL way to educate. I didn't like it when Cindy Rushton proved at a workshop that God narrates and Keeps a copy book, and nature journal....and I didn't like it when Bluedorns used extensive Scripture to prove that we should be classical educators - and not just any classical but their way of classical. I suppose if I felt anyone did this without taking Scripture out of context it would seem o.k.
2. He repeatedly says unschooling is definitely NOT Biblical - "lax education lacks education". I felt that he simply had a huge bias here and that he was defining the whole style as you'd see in a radical secular home. I know many who use interest led, delight directed, relaxed homeschooling methods - all Christian - with children who are NOT ruling the home, lazy etc. In fact I fall pretty strongly into this category. I DO use curriculum but that is because it DOES appeal to our interest. I don't believe I have to bore my child to teach them to work hard. I prefer Frank Smith's book on this topic. LOL
3. Having repeatedly told us "lax education lacks education", they go on to demonstrate some really great illustrations of letting a child informally explore interests - which IS what the Christian unschoolers I know do. I felt this was illogical.
4. There was a strong sense that things should be done "this" way but constant reminders that each family would choose their own path (as long as they stayed away from US). This wasn't consistent to me.
5. There were several references to spanking a child that wasn't cooperating in school. This does not seem to me the best way to instill a lifelong love of learning in a child. Note I am NOT saying that a child should be allowed to be disobedient or undisciplined.
6.Their were severl statements made that weren't really supported with sources etc.....on educational choices, two hours of read alouds a day, no math workbooks before the age of 10 - then go into Saxon 6/5 at 10, family worship twice a day, that sort of thing...
7. There were lots of encouraging things about children before 10 - which fit into the Dr. Raymond Moore mode...these encouraged me on one hand and on the other hand left me thinking, "I've seen that there is an age when it clicks for my kids and things become much easier...but it hasn't been 10 with all my children". They would allow for this.....but what they say to do with a child in those early years I agreed with some and disagreed with others. Yes, read. Yes, Character training. Formal language? I guess, maybe, I don't know. No formal math - maybe I don't know. That sort of thing. Very interesting to think about.
8. There were several references to "boys" needing to know certain things and "girls" needing to know others. I understand the reasoning....but it didn't set well with me. I believe I can prepare my daughters for marriage and show them the value of motherhood and marriage and still train them to be independent. I agree with the author that my daughters should be well-educated so that they are prepared to homeschool their children IF GOD SHOULD LEAD, and I don't ASSUME that is HIS plan. I believe simply training them to be submissive does make them vulnerable to yuck. Note I do agree that my daughters should be submissive...but to their husbands...and I'm not sure I need to train it from birth or put educational focus on it. I believe submission is a response to Godly leadership. I've seen them submit well to proper godly authority in their lives (youth pastors, Dad and Mom, Master's Commission director, Pastor) I believe as they've watched it between their father and I, they've learned. It was jarring to me to hear how some things would be handled if the culprit were a "boy" and differently if the culprit were a "girl".
9. Their view on headship in marriage was different than mine. After study, Mike and I believe that Mike IS the head of the home (Eph 5). We also believe that we submit to each other for the good of the mission (Eph 5)and that I am the home manager/guard (Titus 2). Mike (frankly GOD) has delegated this realm of authority to me...and I do often discuss troubling questions with him, we do discuss character Projects etc....but it's not in a "Mother may present to the court her actions and see if Father wishes to amend".....type way.
10. Excellent thoughts on letting children play or occupy themselves quietly while you read.
11. Interesting thoughts on teaching children language and no grammar before age 10.
Really - it was a "chew the meat, spit out the bones" book for me. There WERE excellent thoughts in here....but there were jarring things that bothered me. I'm not sorry I read the book, I was dissapointed that I didn't LOVE it - but I felt I gained from reading it.
Note: I am NOT a radical feminist... someone else would read the book and skim over the parts that they didn't like and love the book. There was MUCH of value in the book.....but there was MUCH that grated on me as well.
"I prefer Frank Smith's book on this topic. LOL "
What book are you referring to here?
Gilda, The Book of Learning and Forgetting by Frank Smith.
It's a great book about the educational system and about HOW we learn and forget things. The premise being that we "teach" our children a lot but if they forget it all.....have we really taught? And how to go about changing the situation.
One thing he said that stuck with me is that when a child doesn't remember or learn something we tell them to "work harder" but maybe we need to change our methods. LOL
I want to be very sure that all understand that I value the Bluedorns and am not attacking them in any way - I simply am commenting on what I liked and disliked about the book. I am VERY impressed with the Bluedorn familiy and some of their products. I simply wouldnt' use them all exactly as promoted in this book. Here are some comments on my comment. LOL
#2 - Bluedorns did NOT promote boring a child to work hard...that stemmed from a conversation I had with someone else about the book. LOL
#6 - I suppose they were sharing their personal practices and for that you don't need to provide supporting evidence other than anecdotal stories....but I expected to hear some support because the ideas were so different than what I'd heard before....and thinking on this he DOES provide sources for the no formal education before 10 thing....I really did like his thoughts about allowing children to be children before 10.....but I am not sure quite how I'd apply it more than I already do. LOL
At heart I'm really a Charlotte Mason girl. That's the bottom line I think. LOL And even with CM I part ways because I really am interested in pursuing the children's interest.....hmmm....
Thanks, De'Etta! I really appreciate you taking the time to write out your thoughts. Did you take notes or just remember it all off the top of your head? I guess you already said you marked the book all up as you read along. Do you write in pencil? Do you underline or highlight? I don't ever write in books and I think it's a neat idea.
Kathy,
Those were off the top of my head comments...early in the a.m. after 4 hours of sleep. LOL
I usually use a pen for comments...I highlight....I've even used a crayon when nothing else was nearby...and THAT is why I don't make much selling used books or curriculums. LOL
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