[Buddha-l] re. fundamentalism

[StormyTet at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/5/2005 10:39:52 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
jkirk at spro.net writes:

===============================
In principle I'm not knocking  home-schooling. Some local schools are in such 
educational disarray that  if parents can afford to do it, their kids will be 
better educated. But  there is also a lack among such children of what the 
_real_ world of  children in general is like.  Perhaps a combination of the  
two--public and private-- might be experientially worthwhile.
Joanna  


Hi Joanna,
 
I was amazed at the breadth of knowledge of the children that Richard Hayes  
alluded to. Wow. When my son was small I seriously considered home schooling,  
but my main issue was that he develop a love of learning and felt comfortable 
 conversing with all age ranges.  With that goal accomplished well before 5,  
I honestly didn't feel that it would be a good idea for me to be his formal  
teacher. I was good at teaching him to explore and be curious. The formality 
of  public school was good for him and he is a kind and loving presence, 
naturally  inclined to disentangle himself from situations that can backfire. The 
amount of  issues and topics that we have discussed in the last year (he just 
finished  kindergarten) makes me think that the public education system can be 
worthwhile  if the very institution and the dynamics become subjects of 
conversation at  home. In the last year we have had pretty deep conversations about 
racism,  authority, flag burning, Tsunami victims, Bully's, peace and war, 
girls and  boys,  propoganda, advertisements, living by principles and  
superstitious manipulation to name just a few.  At home, these  conversations could have 
arose, but only at an intellectual level. He had  experiences that made the 
conversations more meaningful. 
 
One of his favorite books that may be of interest to the  list is "The Great 
Hiss" by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. The Prince Who Ran  Away: the story of 
Gautama Buddha by Anne Rockwell is also a book that  he requests that I read 
periodically. He loves when Gautama puts  his hand on the earth and all Mara's 
demons fall into the crack! 
 
Stormy 
 
 
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