Dumbing Us Down - Part 1

I've signed up for the TJEd "Mentoring in the Classics" series, (details about which can be found here).  The January book is Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto.  Since I don't use Facebook which is where the official discussion takes place, I thought I'd write my own notes here. 

The first essay in the book is Taylor's, "Seven-Lesson Schoolteacher" which was a speech he gave to a group of teachers as he accepted a Teacher of the Year award.  I first read this essay about two years ago, but it reflects so many of the reasons we first decided to homeschool about ten years ago. 

"The first lesson I teach is confusion.  Everything I teach is out of order."

"I teach the unrelating of everything."

I was attracted to the idea of homeschooling because you could combine subjects as much as you want.  Learn about history by reading novels - awesome!  Study biographies of scientists then try some experiments.  Math in everyday life?  You betcha!  Everything relates to everything else, nothing is in a vacuum.  Unless you are sitting in an elementary school classroom.

"Nothing important is ever finished in my classroom nor in any class I know of."

I was so turned off public school by the description I was given of full day kindergarten by one mom I knew at the time:  "The kids are constantly changing subjects.  They spend 15 or 20 minutes on one thing, then they are up and off to the next thing."  She said it like it was the best thing ever.  I kept thinking: "can you say ADHD?"  And "But what if they aren't finished learning the first subject?"  Neither matters of course.  Just medicate the kids who can't sit still.  And we aren't going to do anything important so why bother being done with it.

"Curiosity has no important place in my work, only conformity."

Don't be different.  Don't ask questions.  Don't ask to learn something that isn't planned. 

The next two quotes mean more to me from a business office stand point.  I work in a large company of professionals, and I work a lot training and mentoring the new hires.  You can see such striking differences between the kids straight out of college and those who are coming to our firm from somewhere else in the industry.  The kids do what is asked of them, and do it well.  They don't take initiative.  They don't ask for more.  If they are done they just sit there and wait.  (There are some exceptions, in fact our current crop is fabulous!  We've got some real go-getters who you just wonder where they came from and where we can get more of them!  But most of them over the years, sadly haven't been like that.)  I don't blame them.  They are a product of the factory they came from: institutionalized schooling.  They don't know any better.  (I wonder if the few who do really stand out are influenced by family work ethic.  That's got to be it.  Work hard and get ahead.  You learn that from your parent and grandparents, not in school.)

"Good people wait for an expert to tell them what to do."

"We've built a way of life that depends on people doing what they are told because they don't know how to tell themselves what to do."

I think we are suffering in our society from too many cogs and not enough thinkers.  We've "schooled" the thinking out of people.  We can't do anything unless we're told do.  After all, what if it is wrong?

Gatto talks about "emotional dependency" in schools.  Students crave praise from the teachers, who are always right and know everything.  I see the same thing in the business world:  The boss is right.  The boss makes the rules.  The boss has the final say. 

Now yes, the boss does have the final say and makes the rules.  But there is a place (and I argue a need) for questioning the boss.  In the right time, place and manner (let's not get ourselves fired here).  But we don't have to stop and get the boss to answer everything.  We can learn from one past answer or instruction and move ahead and think things through.  Do we need to call the boss in?  Or can we handle it?  If we haven't learned to think, then no we can't handle it.  Sad.  And tiring if you are the boss.

I have notes on some of the other essays too, but this is long enough for now.  I'll make it a Part 1 and publish more tomorrow.

Craft plans

Today I got the front room, where the Girl Scouts meet, cleared out and vacuumed.  Which allowed me to get out the bin of craft and other supplies I use with them.  Which allowed me to get the samples of Friday's craft projects out and photographed.  Which allows me to now post them.

The first is a trip album made from a road map.  I got the basic idea from Family Fun magazine.  I added the cover to it.  And I adjusted their pattern a bit so that the flaps open without unclasping the whole book.  Basically you use a road map of a place you've been to make little pockets for souvenirs (like ticket stubs) to create a trip album.  I've asked the girls to bring a road map.  I have extras for anyone who forgets.  I would have just gotten them for everyone (thank you AAA), but I thought it would be more meaningful if they could choose the state that they've been to.

The second craft is utilizing a bunch of craft foam that one of the girls gave me. She and her mom cleaned out their craft supplies and offered it all up for us to use.  In my sample I made mine smaller than what I'm going to have them do.  And I have some initial patterns (not initial as in starting, but initial as in first letter of their name), that if they choose they can use in it.  We've got a lot of little craft foam shapes (some sticky, some not) that they can bling their initials with.  Some of the girls really like to bling.  My sample was just playing around with it.  My initial isn't really X.  The dots were testing out how Sharpie marker worked on the foam (very well).

I thought I'd show them how to do both, have all the supplies out, and let them decide which they want to work on. 

Back in the swing of things

Guess we're getting used to being back in school and activities and everything else.  Using Khan Academy for algebra is working really well.  We started as an experiment for the chapter Violet struggled with.  But I think we'll finish up the subject with Khan.  Although sometimes the problem sets can be a bit much.  It doesn't think you've practiced enough until you get 5 right in a row.  So if you get 4 right, then miss one, you have to start all over on your count.  Annoying.  My worries that she wouldn't get enough practice are definitely gone.

Abigail Adams Academy classes are starting up again.  I've done the reading for Classic Moms (Great Expectations) but I'm behind in the Abigail Adams Colloquium.  I've also signed up for the TJEd Mentoring the Classic series that is just starting.  I know I'm trying to do too many online study programs, but gosh I really enjoy them.  I'll see if I can keep up for a little longer, then next year step back and do less.

Girl Scouts starts back up Friday.  We have two craft projects planned.  Well, I should say, I have them planned.  I am pretty sure this will be my last year of doing these meetings.  It is a lot of work.  Plus I have to clean my house (okay, I should be doing that anyway, but I don't) and put things away so we have space (ditto).  There are 7 more meeting days scheduled including Friday.  I'm thinking if I'm counting them down like that, maybe I really should stop.  

In other news, there really isn't other news.  I guess that is good.  It is no longer bitter cold.  Although it did snow this morning.  And it looks on the radar like we might be getting more.  Spring can't get here fast enough.

Stressful day

Violet and I both had stressful days today, but they ended on good notes.  And tomorrow should be better.

I had a call with my boss and the head of HR.  Cleared up the policy change that looked to be a major cut in my benefits.  They way they plan to apply it to me won't change anything.  Just how my timesheet is completed.  Would have been nice to know that 2 weeks before I sat around angry about my cut.  While they were on vacation.

Violet got her braces tightened.  And found out she'll be getting them off in 12 weeks!  One more appointment for a final adjustment, then impressions for her retainer, then they come off!  I couldn't make the final appointments today because they didn't have April in the system yet.  But I can call back in a couple of weeks and get those last 2 appointments booked and we'll know the No More Braces day!  Should be the first week in April.  She's just glad it is before Easter.  The Bunny better bring lots of jelly beans, she really missed those last year!

Violet had her first art class of this session tonight.  I'd been hoping maybe the art studio would close since all the schools were closed again due to the weather.  But it was open.  One girl she really likes was back in the class.  And she liked the new kids who joined.  The roads weren't too bad, just snow covered, so I didn't have problems getting her there.  (I slid while trying to stop twice going to the orthodontist this morning.  And it isn't like I'm a fast driver.  I've been called "pokey" more than once.  Roads were just really slick from the bitter cold and being snow covered.)  Where the studio is located, I don't like going at night.  The streets aren't well lit.  It is residential so it isn't scary or anything, just not easy driving.  And there's hardly any parking.  I prefer going there in the daytime.  But since we've passed the solstice, it will only get lighter each week.

Tomorrow the temperature is supposed to be above zero all day!  And no snow or freezing rain!  Amazing how good 10 can look!  We don't have to go anywhere.  I have 2 short calls scheduled for work, but both will be good.  Just planning calls for tasks I like to do.  No one difficult on either call. 

Yes, tomorrow should be a much less stressful day.

Minus Twenty

That was the air temperature when I got up this morning. At 1:30 in the afternoon it has warmed to a balmy minus fifteen.  Wind chills between 40 and 50 below.  We put towels in the window sills and in front of the doors to help keep out the cold.  The thermometer on my alarm clock in our bedroom was reading 53 earlier.  The room does have high ceilings and a big window.  But still.  Gosh that's cold.  We've been keeping our thermostat at 68.  I dread seeing the heating bill when it comes.

The mail is still being delivered, but garbage pickup was suspended.  Schools have already started announcing that they will be closed tomorrow too.  Violet has an orthodontist appointment in the morning.  As far as I know he won't be closing.  And she has art class tomorrow evening.  Although it is supposed to warm up to around zero tomorrow, I'm really hoping the art studio stays closed tomorrow like it is today.

I got back on the treadmill today.  I did 1.5 miles (instead of 3) with a high speed of 3.0 (instead of 3.7).  Figured I shouldn't try to push it.  Violet is walking now, but she hasn't been sick so she's doing her full workout.  She is dreading school starting and so far hasn't done much today.  I can't blame her.  First day back after holiday break and other than a few homeschoolers no one studying today. 

Oh Burr

Good news:  my bronchitis finally seems to be better today.  I'm coughing a little, but haven't taken any cough syrup.  We'll see at 8:00 tonight.  That's when it usually kicks in.  I'd like to work out, but a voice keeps telling me to wait another day or two.  Really, it isn't going to kill me to take more time and wait until I'm healthy again.  I am so glad I spent the money on a treadmill and not a gym membership.  I would have completely lost out on the gym this past month.  And Violet's still been able to work out, I wouldn't have driven her to a gym most days.

The temperature is down to 6 so far.  It is supposed to hit minus 13.  Then add on wind chill.  We're expecting it to be between 40 and 50 below with wind chill.  It is cold in the house, the wind is already blowing and you can feel it come through.  I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a less well built house, or worse no house.  We've probably gotten 6-7 inches of snow in the last day.  It has hard to tell.  Partly because we already had snow on the ground, and because it was blowing around. 

We have the world's most wonderful neighbor.  He has a snow blower and he loves to play with it!  I know he did at least 5 neighbor's driveways today.  Those are just the ones I saw.  He was out working on ours by 8:00 this morning. 

Most schools have announced that they will be closed tomorrow.  And the library.  Violet and I voted and since we don't have to go out, school will start up tomorrow as planned.  Mr. Incredible is going to work from home.  My office sent out a message that we should work with our department heads to work from home or out of the downtown office or the regular office, as is most convenient.  Since I work from home anyway, no changes there.

Did you see that Minnesota closed all schools tomorrow?  Go Minnesota.  What a smart move.  It is just too cold to send the kiddos out.  And you know that some would have no choice but to stand and wait for the bus or walk to school. 

So business as usual here tomorrow, except we're not venturing outside unless we absolutely have to.  May your blankets be warm and your slippers not have holes in them.

150, bronchitis and snow

My weight goal was to be down to 150 by the end of the year.  That's losing 16 pounds since June.  Well, this morning I weighed 150.6.  That counts in my book!  I haven't been working out (see next topic) but I haven't had an appetite and have avoided almost all Christmas goodies and beverages with calories.  I still want to get down to 145, then maybe 140. 

Just before Christmas I started having sinus pain.  Felt like a knife was sticking in my sinuses.  Then it became a cold.  Now its bronchitis.  I mainly cough at night.  I've got some new night time cough medicine to try.  The doctor?  Nope, I'm not spending that much money to be told I have a cold and bronchitis and to rest and take cough syrup to try to sleep.  I wish the Affordable Care Act would have made healthcare affordable.  $75 for an office visit just isn't affordable in my book.  My costs have gone up, my care options have gone down, I've gotten so stressed out by it all that I've gotten sick.  That wasn't my idea of healthcare reform.  Pass the herbal tea.

Something's happened at work too.  Not a good something.  Not a horrible something.  But it has added more stress.  I can't talk about it online. 

We've gotten at least 7 inches of snow since yesterday.  And it is still coming down.  Once it stops the temperatures are supposed to drop. Goodbye balmy teens, hello below zero.  This is panning out to be one rough winter!