Links for DH

[Melaleuca]

I have just started talking to DH about homeschooling. He is really resistant (his info on it consists of assumptions and the results of a google search today on "problems and homeschooling"). :-( He has lots of fears about them getting a "good" education, the responsibility, etc. He also had a great time at school and I need to better convey to him my criticisms of school as an institution. He did say that he will read info that I give him - a good start. I don't want to throw him in the deep end just yet with too much on the nitty gritty of unschooling, but I need to help him understand that its not about "school in the home". I have been reading and bookmarking lots on the net, and I'll go back and look at those to see what might be a gentle introduction. I thought I would ask if anyone has some favourite intro articles or links that might be good for him to look at? And any hints/hope for me about this, esp if you have been on a similar journey with your partner? Thanks in advance!

[breeze]

Cool, will be watching with interest. My dh is in a similar spot.

[GreenGully]

Sorry lovely I forgot to call you back today. Can you pm me your home number (can you believe I don't have it!!) I don't have any links on hand but am happy to chat about it all! ETA I have a few books you can borrow - i will bring them on Firday.

[Beatrice]

It's a book, not an article, but John Taylor Gatto's An Underground History of American Education is a damn convincing read about what's wrong with institutionalised schooling :) It's available in its entirety online (http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/). Someone has written an Australian history too (much shorter: article-length) but I can't find the link again and I didn't bookmark it :bang

[Sarasvati]

This article is awesome too, my partner has read it and agreed with it completely (although it just affirmed to him why we had chosen the right school LOL). http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/john_gatto.html

[arunaway]

i wrote this a while back, it called An Unauthorised Guide for Unschooling Mums dealing with (still developing) Unschooling Dads (http://theparentingpit.com/unschooling/unauthorised-dad-handbook/).

its actually the most popular page on my site, its pitched at mums but i know dads have been given it too.

good luck in your conversations...

arun

[gemi_ny]

I have also been bookmarking sites & info for DH & I told him last night that the info was there if/when he wanted to read it. He said he didn't need to as he trusted me with the education of our children :jawdrop:yay

His main concern (I have already allayed his 'socialisation' fears) was whether HS would affect getting into Uni if that's what they wanted to do. As soon as I explained that HS kids can take all the same tests & often do better than those in regular schools, and that there are other pathways into Uni now (TAFE, which many Uni's prefer), he was a happy camper!

[Melaleuca]

Thanks so much everyone!

I also found these in my travels, they might be easy links to ease him in....

Home Education Association Inc FAQs
http://www.hea.asn.au/faqs.asp

Approaches to Home Education – the common philosophies in home education
http://www.hea.asn.au/resources/disp_res.asp?type=4&id=11

Arun, I LOVED your article. It sums DH up to a tee. ESPECIALLY this bit:

Actually if you also pulled the home birth, cosleeping and/ or attachment parenting thing on them before you got to unschooling… the first reaction would be “oh shit… not again”. Then “why”. :rofl

I liked this advice:

the very idea of getting them to read something about it reinforces their (usually unstated) reason for not doing it.and

give up on them reading whole articles, let alone books. Do not print out huge stacks of “evidence” for your argument… strategically print out highlights once you identify the real blocks (more on this later). Also where possible expose them to other supportive peers.I LOVED this suggestion of yours:


Acknowledge the pressure that he might be under to “make things work” and even to counter balance what he perceives as your “reckless behaviour”. Try not to put him in a corner where he must react against you to “protect you and your kids”. Acknowledge some of your own fears so you can “be on the same side”.That's what I said to him tonight - that I want us to take the next few years (b4 DD1 gets to compulsory school age) to investigate/read/answer both our fears. And most of all, meet other people and their kids who are doing it.

Your Final Words really did get me thinking about extending to DH the empathic listening and compassion that I try to offer my girls. I think rather than bombard him with info, I will stick to listening to his feelings and highlighting our shared needs (the optimum learning environment for our girls) and how i think unschooling is the best way to meet these.

GG, I'll call u tomorrow. x

[Ayla]

Oh that's fantastic! :lol Could we publish that on our website, Arun?

[Chameleon]

I'm thinking I'm going to need these down the track. When I told my dad about a friend who home eds her kids he was not impressed. (it's the oppisit to home birthing, Martin's fam were so against it and thought we were all going to die, my parents were all "it's your life and your choice", for home ed I can see it going the other way)

I'm going to print out heaps of articles and highlight the important parts, place it all in a display folder and give it to dad (in about 4 years when D is "school age") after he tells me his has read it all we can talk. I know my dad, he won't read it all, but the fact that I gave him all that will stop the endless and pointless convos about it all. 2 hrs work for so much gain.

[arunaway]

im glad you found the article useful Melaleuca... as i say it surprises me how many hits that particular page gets, so its obviously a very common issue...


Oh that's fantastic! :lol Could we publish that on our website, Arun?

yes that fine Ayla.

[Quickening]

He also had a great time at school and I need to better convey to him my criticisms of school as an institution.

There is a great website that advocates for children and it lists how traditional schooling is harmful for our children and our society - http://www.childadvocate.org/1e.htm

[Ayla]

yes that fine Ayla.

Great thanks! I'll put it up tomorrow :eager