God, this guy just doesn’t let up for a second with amazing observations:
The strongest meshes of the school net are invisible. Constant bidding for a stranger’s attention creates a chemistry producing the common characteristics of modern schoolchildren: whining, dishonesty, malice, treachery, cruelty. Unceasing competition for official favor in the dramatic fish bowl of a classroom delivers cowardly children, little people sunk in chronic boredom, little people with no apparent purpose for being alive. The full significance of the classroom as a dramatic environment, as primarily a dramatic environment, has never been properly acknowledged or examined.
I mean, that’s fucking brilliant. It really is a totally staged drama where kids learn to play certain roles publicly, while a Shakespearean/Machiavellian drama takes place under the surface. Here’s the link to the rest.
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6 Comments
the problem is the level of the portrails is never better than that of a soap opera. the hystrionics that my oldest boy pulls sometimes are embarrasing. he learns his pace, tone and delivery amongst his peers. he is far better mimicking the actors on t.v.
http://www.garlikov.com/Soc_Meth.html
Mr. Garlikov did an experiment with the Socratic Method, and managed to a) teach the kids, and b) engage them. Then, it’s less of a drama, more of an improv situation.
Of course, the Socratic Method is hard to learn, and may sometimes backfire.
Scott, I’ve actually read that same page a couple weeks ago. It’s a great example!
Which is, itself, good preparation for the world outside of school. One thing I’ve noticed about my homeschooled peers- they’re even more socially clueless than I am. Having not been put through the wringer of 13 years of public school social hell, they tend to be less cynical and much more innocent than their peers. (Also, from what I’ve noticed, homeschooled guys- even rather attractive ones- seem to never date. Of course, they also tend to see women as friends and not sexual objects to be obtained in a power struggle. But they still aren’t getting any.
)
But in general, I’m not sure if homeschooling is a good preparation for life in the world of business. The arts, sure, or the less hive-minded portions of academia, perhaps, but the cutthroat corporate power struggle? Nah. Of course, this might be a blessing in of itself…
Well my thoughts are, why prepare for that, because that sucks? Anyway, I think the point about homeschoolers being socially odd is a valid one based on the 2-3 people I’ve known. But I see that as less and less important, really. Also, I think if you’re homeschooling in such a way as your kid never sees other kids, that’s gonna be bad. But if you keep your kid active in groups, both social and formal, then I think you’re gonna come out on top.