Summary: Our homesteading podcast exploring the pros and cons of homeschooling. Includes excerpts of audio from John Taylor Gatto. Passive desk based learning has been demonstrated to be a horrible way to learn. John Taylor Gatto (http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/): * Taught in NY public schools for 30 years * Named NY city teacher of the year 3 different years, and state teacher of the year * Believes that the current institutional school system does little to teach, and actually destroys individual thought and the natural desire to learn * Gatto describes the disadvantage of extending childhood too far, and advocates the earlier practice of assigning responsibility early to children. Unfortunately, we jump to quickly into a fear response, and remove all opportunities for our kids to have responsibility Homeschooled kids repeatedly beat others in standardized tests. Teaching to the test, not teaching our kids. Is socialization in school system really a benefit? (school imposes artificial boundaries approximating caste systems: age, popularity, language, advanced placement versus basic...) Not enough time in the day to homeschool? Think again. 1.5 to 2 hours to cover equivalent of a typical day's classwork. So much of school time is spent on non-school activities. Teaching children to line up, etc. Unschooling for teens and other children converting from institutional school to homeschooling. See this blog: Mark Zeiger (http://akzeigers.com/blog/):
