Photo via bellarosebyliz's photostream
NYC is sparkling with Spring this weekend, and it is such a joy to have all the windows our home open, and to go outside in shirtsleeves. I am nursing W in our sunny, warm bedroom as I write this, and we are enjoying the opera music that one of our neighbors is blasting from their apartment. Life is good.
I hope you're relishing your weekend, too!
This last link isn't just a link. I was so blown away by this lecture about unschooling by Astra Taylor that I decided to embed it right here on the blog. Don't let the length of this clip deter you (yes, it is over an hour long!). If you are interested in unschooling, or education in general, I urge you to watch this (or put it on and just listen while you do something else). So much of what Astra talks about resonates with me, and her experiences growing up are incredibly similar to mine. If you do take the time to listen, please let me know what you think!
Here are some links for your spare time:
Babywearing is safe. However, some slings and positions are not. In the wake of the Consumer Safety Product Commission warning about baby carriers, it is important to educate yourself about the proper way to babywear, and this Special Report from Mothering Magazine is a great resource. Also, tune in for Mothering's live streaming radio show on Monday, March 22nd, that is set to feature an expert panel discussing safe babywearing.
Get lost in the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery.
The next time I need to send out evites, I'll definitely use these amazing Lisa Rupp designs for Pingg. Seriously, how cute are they? And free, hello!
This amazing site is full of free birth videos. What an incredible resource for education and birthy inspiration.
Actress Sarah Shahi talks to People Magazine about her home birth experience.
This last link isn't just a link. I was so blown away by this lecture about unschooling by Astra Taylor that I decided to embed it right here on the blog. Don't let the length of this clip deter you (yes, it is over an hour long!). If you are interested in unschooling, or education in general, I urge you to watch this (or put it on and just listen while you do something else). So much of what Astra talks about resonates with me, and her experiences growing up are incredibly similar to mine. If you do take the time to listen, please let me know what you think!
Oh Leigh, I absolutely loved the Astra Taylor talk.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
There are so many reasons why I love your blog and one of them is your unschooling posts.
I relate to the part of Astra's talk in which she talks about how unschooling should be for everyone. The kids who need to be saved from public school the most are also the ones who are usually not able. And if all of us pull our kids out of school, have we just made school worse for those who can't?
As a public school teacher (currently job sharing) I'm torn between being the change in public schools that I want to see and just pulling my children out to unschool.
In my perfect world... we would unschool at school. I try to do that on the one day of the week that I work these days now that I am a mom.
Thanks again for a fabulous fabulous link. So much to think about.
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for sharing that lecture! It was wonderful and I sent it to so many of my friends who are interested in unschooling as well. I grew up with two very conventional parents who believe strongly in the traditional public school educational system. When I was in high school, I started having my doubts about the system, especially considering I am a different type of learner than most my peers. I never understood why we tested as much as we did and I even wrote my first college paper (when I was a senior in high school) on the need for interdisciplinary studies in the education system. I have a 11 month old son and I have been considering going the unschooling route or even just an alternative school. The educational system is screwed up, and especially now with the no child left behind. My neighbors, 7th and 8th grade, can't read, do math, or write semi-complex sentences, but have been pushed through the system because they "had" to be. And because they feel so far behind from their peers, they have NO desire to seek information and learn. It is the saddest thing ever and I fear for so many other children who are experiencing the same situation. I'm new to the concept of unschooling, but have always liked the idea of homeschooling. The lecture helped answer a lot of my questions on the difference. I have read a lot of your blog posts, but can't remember if you have ever described your childhood growing up as an unschooler. I would be very interested in reading about it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture - very spring like
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the talk by Astra Taylor SO much. Thanks. Madeline's Mom
ReplyDelete