answer the questions, two…

My kid is unschooled… I let her choose her direction of learning. Then, I have to justify this to all the other people in her life. I have been writing a blog on my child’s learning JOURNEY (vomit) in the hope that others see how good homeschooling is and how my kid is still becoming educated….

Where can you see establishing your own practices of activism, however small. Why are they necessary?

WHY is activism NECCESSARY? sanity? Isn’t activism just voicing ones questions about the system…

I am not in the system…  I am a master of passive resistance. It feels a little arrogant to say that, but I have been told it enough times. I wish I could apologise for some of that to my mum.

Are there things that you have said/will say “No!” to?

yes…  🙂 National standards.. I tried. I was told not to express an opinion about National Standards during parent teacher interviews. Fortunately, I found ways of scoping out the parents’ opinions during these interviews and then discussing their child in a way that was constructive and acknowledged that was not how either of us were measuring their child. Then I stopped teaching…

Put your reflections about this question in you blog/portfolio.

Mostly, I practice activism by conversations. I have been talking about my readings with friends and unfortunate available strangers… Some of my friends think that I am contrary just for the sake of it or just opinionated = assertive and have beliefs that I have thought through rationally. I like to think that me challenging the dominant paradigm in their heads is good for them. Surely, alternative ways of thinking are important for stability (that ecological principle of a diverse environment leading to a stable ecosystem)! Even if someone finds your ideas too challenging –  in that they would have to readjust too much in their head – the idea still exists, as Tom Paxton says, “… and the thought went free.” It is the same with children, tell them the idea, and that it is just an idea and let them see the truth of it or reject it. It is possible to have conversations as equals with children, especially if you put in the work, showing them that you are still learning. If I learn anything new at Everyone Out from a kid, I shout it from the rooftops with joy because I learned something new. I remind the kids when I see them show someone how to approach something that they are “teaching,” and if the kid takes it on board, how cool is that? It must have made sense.