I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how schools (or at least I think it begins in school) separate all the subjects. There is Math, Science, Reading, English, Art, etc. etc. etc. I’ve been spending my “thinking time” taking my children’s interests and trying to complete a circle. Seeing how I can relate their interests to each subject. This really took me a lot of time to figure out. I know and truly believe that when life is pulled apart into little separate subjects, it’s dangerous. It becomes so hard as an adult to see them fitting together. I’m getting better at it and I really think that everything we do can make a complete circle through the basic school subjects. Keep reading, but keep in mind the only place I can find this “skill” useful is when filling out paperwork for the state and conversations with skeptics.
Last night on the way to my OB’s office (it’s a 2 hour drive) TJ and I were talking about unschooling and the NEU conference. In fact, we haven’t stopped talking about it! Math came up and I proceeded to tell him that I was not mathematically minded and even if unschooled, it’s probably not a direction I would have gone in. (Or would I?) He said I probably use algebra everyday and don’t even realize it. Yet, neither of us could come up with an example! Algebra exists in my mind as something done on paper with a bunch of letters and numbers and finding an unknown while using a known. Or something like that. And then… someone’s going to tell me with a grade, how I did. TJ is probably right. I probably do use algebra regularly. But since I went to and hated school, what I was doing in the classroom had no relation to what I was doing in my life. I couldn’t and still cannot make the connection.
I consider myself an artist. I love all sorts of art forms, and being crafty, and making things. Yet, I’m still working on shaking that feeling that I need approval in order to “do art”. I never really got over taking an art class and being “critiqued”. I never appreciated the advice. If I thought what I had drawn was wrong, I would have changed it, know what I mean?! Once upon a time I wanted to be a tattoo artist. I gave it a shot around the age of 18. The pressure of approval was just too much and I haven’t even drawn a whole lot since I put up so many boundaries around it. TJ claims to have NO artistic ability whatsoever. Yet, when I see the little doodles he’s made for one of the kids (or for whatever reason), I’m always impressed and know that he has way more ability than he thinks. Constantly having to be compared to others in school probably told him that his drawings weren’t good enough.
If I haven’t lost you yet, I wanted to make a few examples of that full circle I was talking about earlier. Skylar is really into wrestling. He joined the local wrestling team this past spring and has decided that it is his favorite sport EVER. I think most teachers or parents might ask what on earth he has learned from wrestling… but consider this list of the things he has learned all began with wrestling.
He’s made friends, enjoyed camaraderie, used math to keep score, time the matches, and measure weight, we’ve discussed the history or wrestling starting with the Ancient Greeks, he’s learned to self discipline, he’s learned about health and nutrition, the importance of a good attitude, and about fitness. He’s learned that wrestling is very technical, an art form, not just kids fighting on a mat. He’s drawn pictures and made computer animations all having wrestling themes. He’s read wrestling rules and hand signals. He’s read the directions to get to his matches. He’s used some self-taught meditation to remain calm before and after match, no matter what the outcome. He also found an adult he greatly admires. There is also a whole lot of physics involved in wrestling.
I’m sure I could keep going if I kept thinking, but Milo is a stinky little dude today and waiting for me to run his bath. He will be conducting experiments in buoyancy, water temperature, the effects of soap on the body, and having a great time!
The word technology begins with the greek word techno, or techni which means art and/or skill. “Like what a painter or a glass blower or a stone mason might do.” Ology means “the study of”. However, when we use the word technology, we are simply referring to the knowledge of the art and skill. Where and when did this word become so skewed? Why did we separate the art from the skills. Why did we remove the skills from the knowledge? There’s so much more than just knowing. There is doing. Which is a huge reason we unschool!
