Around the Web…

Some links to lead you into the weekend:

• Sesame Street will start teaching children about Homeland Security — Momlogic
• Actress Michelle Rodriguez is writing a script for a children’s movie — I’m Not Obsessed
• A New York City family plans to "unschool" their kindergartner this year, exposing him to culture rather than the books — lilSugar
• Children born as the result of an anonymous sperm or egg donation are now searching for answers — and their biological parents — Today Show
• An expectant mom must make a difficult decision that will impact her life forever — AlphaMom

Comments

I am very much pro home-schooling.
Being the product of home- schooling family myself (my father was a teacher before he taught us at home) I know that it can teach you a lot, and sometimes more than you would learn at school.

I was home-schooled from the age of 5 to 11 and then went on to a normal secondary school – with no trasition problems.

Now, I think un-schooling could be great, but, I think it could very easily turn from un-schooling to un-learning if the parent doesn’t put in the effort needed to teach a child.

What the Author of the book on the link is saying, is that she wants to be able to sleep in, go out on week nights, eat breaskfast at noon, and slouch — that is not teaching a child anything, I think.

I am very much for structured home-schooling (and may well go that route with my own children) – but I would hope that anyone considering un-schooling would take it seriously, and not use it as an excuse to be lazy.

- Nancy S on September 19th, 2008

The Sesame Street article shows that an old Mad Magazine joke is coming true. A few years ago, they offered suggestions for new, modern characters, and included “Cody the Homeland Security Chameleon.” He changes colors based on the terror alert level, and always turns red whenever he sees Bertz and Achmed, two “foreign exchange students” living in Sesame Street’s “Little Afghanistan!”

- Naughty Cal on September 19th, 2008

I think the Sesame Street article is depressing. I was a big fan of the show but if it’s going all political I’m not sure I’ll show it to my child. Can’t kids just be kids anymore, without being exposed to all the politics?

As for the un-schooling article, I agree with Nancy. Homeschooling can be great! Homeschooling groups and online charter schools make this option even easier on families now. However, I think there is a diff. in un-schooling and homeschooling. I do think structure is important for kids. I don’t necessarily agree with how public schools are being run right now, but I don’t think you can discount the importance of some structure. It sounded like the author was allowing her son to choose to do whatever he liked and that’s just not a lesson that is practical to the real world. Also, I worked college admissions for a top university and I just see a child who was un-schooled his/her entire life having a difficult time getting into a good college/adjusting well to it. Just my 2 cents.

- MB on September 19th, 2008

So I went and Googled the Sesame Street thing. Here is the original article: http://www.dcexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/YeasandNays/Homeland_Security_Sesame_Style.html . It’s not as bad as I think MomLogic makes it sound, but I agree it sets a dangerous precedent.

- MB on September 19th, 2008

I don’t think young Sesame Street viewers need to learn about Homeland Security. NUTZ!! Stick to the ABCs!!!

- Aitch on September 19th, 2008