t h e s c h o o l s u c k s p r o j e c t
EDUCATION EVOLUTION
Keys (Ongoing Series)
021: The Decentralization of Information and Communication
-What has changed in the last two decades?
-Taking technological advancement for granted
-Facebook
-Wikipedia in High Schools
-Alec Muller and Daniel Royer of Alekese.com join me to discuss the history of information control, the impact of technology on information & communication, and the future
From Alekese.com
What is Alekese?
Alekese is a tool that helps groups of people with common interests share links to great free tutorials. Using our one-of-a-kind sorting system, you can quickly figure out which skills you need to learn and where to learn them. Because Alekese automatically keeps track of everything you've learned, it's easy to focus on learning the important stuff first.
Commitment to Decentralized Education
Distribution systems for knowledge are a powerfully tempting target for monopolies.
In ancient Athens, in the 8th-10th century Muslim world, and in the 18th century Western Enlightenment, education was decentralized. Many people were well-educated, and they made critical contributions to human culture.
Then, in each case, education became more institutionalized, more centrally regulated, and lower quality for the technology of its times. In essence, it became monopolized. The first two of these civilizations suffered severe decline—and one could argue that we’re living somewhere in the declining period of the third.
We here at Alekese believe that monopolistic control of education is the greatest-single threat to a free people. We are firmly committed to developing technologies that disrupt educational monopolies by providing people with compelling, viable alternatives.
031: Leaving Government School
Jack is a fourteen-year-old who left government school to educate himself. We discuss the advantages of unschooling, talking to parents about school and politics, and public perception of home schoolers.
Jack shares his story about the realizations that led to his decision to leave school, how he approached his parents, and what has happened since he withdrew.
Public School/Skinner Box procedures include:
1. Positive reinforcement (Reinforcement) occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by a favorable stimulus (commonly seen as pleasant) that increases the frequency of that behavior. In the Skinner box experiment, a stimulus such as food or sugar solution can be delivered when the rat engages in a target behavior, such as pressing a lever.
2. Negative reinforcement (Escape) occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus (commonly seen as unpleasant) thereby increasing that behavior's frequency. In the Skinner box experiment, negative reinforcement can be a loud noise continuously sounding inside the rat's cage until it engages in the target behavior, such as pressing a lever, upon which the loud noise is removed.
3. Positive punishment (Punishment) (also called "Punishment by contingent stimulation") occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by an aversive stimulus, such as introducing a shock or loud noise, resulting in a decrease in that behavior.
4. Negative punishment (Penalty) (also called "Punishment by contingent withdrawal") occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by the removal of a favorable stimulus, such as taking away a child's toy following an undesired behavior, resulting in a decrease in that behavior.
040: Transition
Kate Richards from The Scholars' Academy joins me to discuss the possibility of non-government solutions and alternatives to public education. Although we are both supporters of unschooling, we discuss the importance of recognizing the harsh reality of the current situation: government school today holds over 90% of the young people in this country and eats up 600 billion dollars a year. Therefore, it is important to contemplate options and ideas for the transition from where we are to where we would like to be.
Kate explains that people are more willing to seriously consider alternatives if they can be presented with something tangible, already in operation. In our arguments for the abolition of public education, we often face two significant challenges:
1. Well-grained societal illusions about the benevolence or the necessity of government school
2. The apparent lack of alternatives, or 'abstract' explanations of other ways young people can learn
Also discussed:
-Sudbury Schools
-Pedagogical Approaches
-Making Changes in Public School?
054: Emergence
emergence (noun):
1. coming out of, passage out
2. a beginning
3. coming into sight
Erica Goldson joins me to discuss her story of freeing herself from the constricting environment and expectations of government school over-achievement. I equate the school experience to being stuck in a narrowing tunnel, and Erica's story provides an inspiring example of the ability to emerge from it.
Also discussed:
-"America's Economic Needs" explored
-Engaging peers and confronting authorities
-Dealing with the 'fight or flight' responses of others
-Squandered opportunities for critical thinking
-One good teacher
087: Unplugging and Activating - A Show For Parents
Laurette Lynn of Unpluuggedmom.com joins me to discuss the challenges of home education and active parenting...and how to overcome them.
"Unplugged"
by Laurette Lynn
I am an Unplugged Mom. I endorse an audaciously “Unplugged” family lifestyle through speaking, writing, blogging and on my radio show, Unplugged Mom Radio Show©.
While my general focus is on embracing informal life-learning home education, the essence of what the message actually is, is more than that. It is an entire lifestyle.
When we unplug from the passive parenting style that our culture has become accustomed to, and take a more active approach that challenges the status quo - it dramatically changes the family dynamic in extraordinarily positive ways!
What does this mean? Well, it means accepting the role and challenge of parenthood as our primary focus. It often means unplugging from mainstream conventional practices and having the audacity to step outside the box and make conscious informed decisions. This includes academics but certainly reaches far beyond the books as well.
In most cases, the unplugged parent is indeed a home educator. They choose this endeavor because they recognize that the root cause of most of the dysfunction and break down of family values in our compulsory culture lies in the way we are systematically schooled. Frankly stated – our humanity, our intellect and our creativity is schooled out of us.
The Unplugged parent is an informed decision maker. She (he) enjoys her family and is happily committed to her role and responsibility as a parent. The Unplugged family is not a typical family and they usually stand apart; often demonstrating a rebellious streak. The Unplugged parent is radical and serious about parenting. They are researchers. They are open-minded and curious. They are strong and determined.
Very often the Unplugged family embraces holistic practices and appreciates organic family growth and development. They come from all different cultures, ethnicity, personalities and backgrounds but share a very strong common similarity: they are UNPLUGGED from the proverbial 'matrix' of mainstream status quo and compulsory behavior.
Being a parent is an important job! In fact, it is truly THE most crucial job you have from the moment you become a parent! Your position as a parent plays a huge role in determining the quality and richness of your child's life experience.
Like any other important task, it is up to us to learn, grow, evolve and continually seek out better and more constructive ways of helping our children thrive.
It is my hope that more parents consider unplugging from our pop-culture world and take a more active role in their children’s lives. Parenting seems to have become passé nowadays and it saddens me. We can’t ignore the obvious problems infecting our current state of affairs in the world.
It’s no secret that the educational system is failing and so has the importance of family values and interpersonal relationships. And what are the results? Our political and economical climate is a disaster, causing the global social climate to suffer. The physical and emotional condition of the average American is seriously unhealthy.
Humanity is in desperate need of natural beauty and spiritual grace.
The good news is that more and more parents are beginning to alter their perspective as they look around at today’s modern society and all the problems plaguing us – problems that likely could have been avoided had we not forgotten the crucial importance of a healthy family bond over the last several decades.
More and more families are unplugging, and while it does take time, it reminds me that there is indeed hope. There is hope for our children, our future and our human evolution.
Parents… I urge you to Unplug. Unplug and connect with your children.
097: Autodidacticism and Engaging the "Public"
Today's show includes Paul, Rob and Adam from Remedy Radio. We discuss a variety of topics, including the essential process of becoming an autodidact. We also devote some time to the difficult process of discussing our ideas and conclusions with others, and some strategies for doing so.
Topics:
-My path to teaching
-Serious questions about the necessity of higher education in the 21st century
-The challenge of engaging people on these ideas
-Reconciling private virtue with political or public aggression
-Logical fallacies
