Homeschooler's Ire

I realize that many of my beliefs aren't in line with many other educators.  But, I put them out there so that a dialogue can happen - when a dialogue occurs, we think about and revise our views of education.  This dialogue makes us better educators.

One of the more recent posts that people disagree with is the post from my series about Lies ELA Teachers Tell about why we shouldn't necessarily present books as "important".  I argue that we should present the books as what society as deemed "important" and to question why they have been deemed so and help students come to their own conclusion.

This particular view has drawn the ire of some - including some homeschoolers who have not only commented on my post, but wrote about it here and HERE (there's one more link to a homeschooler who wrote about my post, but I can't find it right now)!

Here's a comment I left on the lastest post on one particular blog ...

I respect your opinion and agree with you on many points.  I fear that following your train of thoughtto the end, though, means that we will lack innovation in the world.  If we simply pass along pre-selected "important" ideas to students and don't foster any kind of independent, critical, and intellectual thought then students accept what has come before without question.  I believe that is wrong.  I believe that our students need to learn how to question others' ideas so that - as a human race - we are always working to improve ourselves - both in terms of how we engage with each other and advancements made in understanding and technology.

If Galileo had accepted the previous Copernican system, then we would still think today that everything revolves around the earth.  If American revolutionists hadn't challenged the British system of rule, this country would not exist.  If abolitionists hadn't challenged the previous system of slavery, then many of my students would currently be enslaved.

Progress requires questioning and critiquing what has come before.  Encouraging students to fully accept others' opinions without question prepares them to exist under a tyrannical system.

That is not to say that students are out there all on their own to think and do whatever they want.  They need to be guided through the process of looking at the world and questioning it.  We should show them what is currently thought as "important" but also teach them to challenge these concepts.

Comments

[Dana Huff]

For the record, I thought what you had to say was thought-provoking, even if I disagreed. I even linked it on my personal blog's Literature Carnival, which is, I think, how at least one homeschooling blog found you. Maybe. I don't know. Anyway, I guess I feel bad, in a way, if any negativity has been thrown your way. I linked you because what you said made me think.

[Tim Fredrick]

Dana, Please do not feel bad. I don't. The reason I do this blog is to put my ideas out there and see what comes back. The "for" and "against" voices make me think further and I come out with better ideas for my students.

[DeputyHeadmistress]

Disagreement equals negativity, Dana? It seems to me that this series is about things some teachers do with which Tim *disagrees,* and he disagrees so much that he calls them lies, a very perjorative term.

MIght there be a problem with implying that we are supposed to teach children to question authority, but objecting to other people questioning Tim's authority and the merits of his ideas?

And why the emphasis on the fact that we're homeschoolers, I wonder. Would it make it acceptable to disagree if one of us had a degree in Literature?

At any rate, I apologize for the delay in response. As I posted to our blog, I've been out of town and only just got back. I've replied further to your comments, Tim, if you're interested in or have the time for continuing the discussion. I fully understand that none of us have unlimited time (or, in my case at least) attention span, so if not, that's okay, too.

[Tim Fredrick]

I only mentioned homeschoolers because it seemed interesting that two homeschoolers commented *so* negatively that they felt the need to comment on my blog and then write disagreeing/negative posts on their own blog regarding my post. (And, for all I know you have a degree in literature. That's of no relevance to me.)

I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one. We obviously have different priorities when it comes to education. In response to your comment on your own blog ... I'm very proud of the education I offer my students. You feel that I've mischaracterized your view and I feel that you have mischaracterized mine (you can be CERTAIN that my students are not going around "willy nilly" as you suggest on your blog).

Let's leave it at that. I have 110 students to attend to and a research project to complete that will hopefully help them think more for themselves.