I don't have kids. But for those who do, I want to make sure you are aware of a resource that, to me, appears superb. There's a guy named Arthur Robinson, a scientist who long ago worked hand in hand with Linus Pauling, who was forced to figure out what to do with his children when his wife died leaving him with the brood. The Robinson Curriculum is what resulted. I highly recommend giving it a look. He has produced at least one impressive scientist son using this program and I expect the others will excell as well.
- NonE
Interesting timing.
I came across that web site a few weeks back. It’s an interesting approach ... but for a family structured like ours, his rules would not sit well with the snolfs.
Me too.
I second Sunni's comment. I've been interested in the Robinson Curriculum, off and on, since I started homeschooling about 6 years ago, but the sheer volume of information and the "rules to follow" fill me with dread. I'm glad it worked for Mr. Robinson and his kids, but I need to have a more relaxed system or I'll go bonkers.
We don't need any stinkin' rules!
I've not studied the curriculum, but I'd feel free to fold, spindle, and mutilate the rules and adapt the system as you see fit. Take the good, and dump the rest.
Yikes!
I had not heard of him until this post.
Never, Never, Never, would I use such a nightmare. Just in case that was unclear. NEVER.
Freedom is not what this is about. It is about indoctrination. A different type than the one presented in state schools, but just as bad. It does not treat children as individuals with rights.
This is "school at home", complete with curriculum, desks and other instruments of torture.
Note the rules. What if a child does not want to do 30 math problems, or does not want to spend five hours at a desk? Where there are rules, there is violence to enforce them. Oh, and rule 13 is just priceless. Don't question? Why just in this case? Why not in others?
What horror.
NonE I am really surprised by this from you.
Mea Culpa (or some such)
I have heard Robinson (I think it was) speak of the progra and was impressed by what he had to say. I also gathered that it was almost totally self directed, which I really liked. I think that may help to develop a child'/person's ability to plan, to be self responsible and other things. I have NOT read the plan, nor do I know anyone who has used it. From what you say, it appears you probably have some good reasons to be skepipukul (as the kid in the TV ad says.)
I personally would be VERY skeptipakul because he's very religious in a christian manner, and I generally find that very scary. But everything I've seen from him has had no indication of any religious bias, and so I've so far seen no reason other than my own prejudice to find fault with him.
- NonE (note red face)
As I remember, the advertising was very good ...
NonE long ago, when I was probably at the height of my anti-christianism, I actually bought that series, so I can sympathize with how you'd be enticed by Robinson's advertising. Red-faced me, too. I have to agree with the other commenters - his program definitely does not fit my conception of my daughter having the right to her own mind and life. Also, and I don't know if this is truly safe to state even in a radical environment like this without offending at least somebody, but I have trouble placing credence in any educational program developed (from memory, which is fallible but I'm pretty sure I'm not slandering the man) by somebody who thinks the world is less than 6000 years old, even if he is a scientist who publishes a very interesting energy newsletter.