Welcome to this issue of
The Way Home
IN THIS ISSUE:
The Guerrilla Curriculum
By John Taylor Gatto
Wholemovement
Homeschooling the Late Bloomer
By Carolyn Forte
Wall Words
Dear Readers:
February is Black History Month and we would like to call your attention to the George Washington Carver video presentation we are featuring on our website, www.homeschoolnewslink.com
In this issue of The Way Home, we present two very useful and powerful articles, though completely different in topic and scope. First, we offer you a well-known piece by the pre-eminent thinker and author, John Taylor Gatto -- Guerilla Curriculum, outlining his revolutionary way to teaching his junior high students in New York. His approach provides much food for thought to any teacher, especially the parental kind. The second article is by another eminently qualified teachers/parent, Carolyn Forte of Excellence in Education in Monrovia, California. Carolyn writes about Late Bloomers in this piece, and offers excellent advice for parents who may be concerned about their child being “behind”. Once again, thank you for reading our publications. Happy Presidents’ Day! – The Leppert Family
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The Guerrilla Curriculum: How to Get An Education In Spite of School
By John Taylor Gatto
An intelligent and sensitive woman named Mary Wallech, when asked by her grown son Martin, my good friend, to consider the possibility that America’s wars were never fought for the reasons offered by great newspapers and television stations, replied simply, "It’s better not to know." I recall Mrs. Wallech to you not to explore any implications of her thesis or that of her son, but to underline for all of us how difficult it is to come to terms with the concept "education," how slippery.
Home schooling comes home to folding circles
The paper plate circle holds food we eat, and it holds the information that we would like to feed the minds of our children.
Folding circles is about touching points and creasing. If the points are accurately touching the creases will be exactly where they need to be to reveal the extraordinary information inherent in the circle. Points are small circles and circles are Whole. Only the circle has a circumference and is undifferentiated unity; it is simultaneously both Whole and part. Anything that can be constructed using polygons can be revealed by simply folding and joining circles. A child, if they can fold a circle in half, can experientially discover and learn mathematics through guided observation by a teacher or parent. It is time to start folding circles along with traditionally drawing pictures of them.
Homeschooling the Late Bloomer
By Carolyn Forte
More than thirty years ago, as a college student, I worked as an aide at Carl Harvey School for the Orthopedically Handicapped in Orange County, California. During two summers working with severely handicapped children, I learned that "experts" can help and advise, but that the very best results come only with the efforts of dedicated parents who are willing to spend limitless hours with their handicapped children. Conversely, I learned that any parent who gives a school or therapist all the responsibility for educating or training his child, physically or mentally, had better seriously lower his expectations. One would think that this kind of information was a given for most homeschoolers. Most of us are homeschooling at least in part because we have rejected the "experts" and decided that we can do a better job ourselves. It is clear, however, to anyone watching the homeschool movement today that the "experts" are moving back in and therein lies the danger.
Wall Words
www.wallwords.com
I've always loved the written word. Almost more than the meaning, I love the shape and grace of text. How wonderful that the same word can look so different but means the same thing in one font to the next. Words become symbols and a form of art. Expressive phrases allow you to share with others inspiring, thought-provoking humorous or reflective sentiments. Words convey your intellect, your philosophy, and can even serve as a window to your soul.
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