Homeschooling and Educational Neglect
I recently read this article on Salon.com called Home-schooled and Illiterate. My first thought as I read this very long and very disorganized article is that it was an editorial by a lay person. There is really no journalism in the article at all. She uses a very small sample of anecdotal stories and didn’t seem to spend any time researching the facts. It is written by Kristin Rawls who, according to Alternet, is a freelance writer. I’ve never read anything else by her so I can’t comment but based on this piece I would say she isn’t very diligent in her...
Read MoreBreastfeeding is a Public Health Issue?
As a non-vaxer, the term “public health issue” makes my ears perk up. I do not believe that “public health” ever trumps “personal liberty”. Recently though the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a new statement on breastfeeding that has some lactivists rejoicing while other moms (breastfeeding or formula feeding) are insulted at the infringement of their personal choice. Here is the gist of the AAP recommendation read the full text here: infant nutrition should be considered a public health issue and not only a lifestyle choice. The wording of...
Read MoreCinnamon Flax Banana Bread
I’ve been making lots of banana breads lately because Pete really likes it and I think I’ve found the most delicious combination! Here it is: Cinnamon Flax Banana Bread 3 or 4 very ripe organic bananas 1/3 cup melted organic butter 1 cup organic coconut sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup) 1 organic egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon cinnamon or to taste 1 teaspoon baking soda (aluminum-free) Pinch of salt 1 1/2 cups of organic all-purpose flour 1/4 cup ground flax seed chopped walnuts (optional) sugar for sprinkling on top of loaf Directions: (I use a stand mixer with the...
Read MoreI’m a Welfare Mom
I’m on “welfare”. Whatever that means. None of the social services that I’m participating in are called “welfare” and there are thousands of social welfare programs in the United States. However, many are socially acceptable while food stamps are “welfare”. If you live in a country that provides comprehensive social programs (read: everywhere but here) I have to explain the connotation of that word “welfare”. It is said like the lowest and most disgusting thing ever. People here say “she’s on welfare” they...
Read MoreMy Homeschooling Philosophy: Part 2
If you haven’t watched it yet pop over here to see my first post in this series about defining holistic education. Today I want to look at three types of pedagological styles. A pedagogy is a style of teaching so the focus is not on the things being taught (curriculum) or the way of learning (learning philosophy). You can right away see the problem with this because looking at pedagogy in a vacuum is pointless. Teaching, in even the least holistic manner, is a two person (at least) relationship. However, as used by college teacher preparation programs pedagogy allows a focus on...
Read MoreFollow Me
