School is a state of mind.
Getting rid of school wouldn't *necessarily* mean getting rid of places
for kids & adults to hang out together during the day, playing and
learning.
Maybe we just need to get rid of *grades* (the letters *and* the levels)
and extend kindergarten to encompass the educational experience.
Flannery just started kindergarten this year & I pick her up every
day to take her to day care. We chat in the car about what she's been
doing & learning. She's having a blast! Meeting new kids. Collecting
precious stones (aka gravel) at recess. Playing on computers. Learning
games (cleverly concealed math lessons). I wish I could go with her!
Speaking of which, you parents out there will identify with this:
Today was computer day & Flannery was telling me the colors&shapes program
they got to use. So then it was my turn to share what I'd done this
morning and I told her I'd started learning a new computer program, too.
Procmail, which among other things is supposed to be a fairly powerful
mail filter. I told her I thought this program might help me manage email
better. She picked up on the significance of that right away...
"Oh cool! Does that mean I'll get to play more games on your computer
now?"
Already we have nightly negotiations over the computer. I think we're
going to be investing in more hardware and a third phone line before long!
One machine ain't big enough for the both of us.
--Eric