Over the past couple of years I’ve documented my thoughts (in unpublished form) about the ultimate aim of education. Topics regarding virtue, utility, benefits to the state and socialization can be found all throughout my meandering thoughts. I stumbled across an excellent summary and thought I’d share.
For a true education aims at the formation of the human person in the pursuit of his ultimate end and of the good of the societies of which, as man, he is a member, and in whose obligations, as an adult, he will share.
- Pope Paul VI, Gravissimum Educationis (Declaration on Christian Education) October 28, 1965
In this short summary a proper balance between divine purposes and human existence is articulated. Education is more than being trained in a particular craft. It is also more than knowledge of things. It is a complete integration of techne, arete, episteme and other elements. Too much of one and not enough of the other leaves man underdeveloped and ill-equipped to participate in all facets of human existence in the 21st century. What do you think?
Homeschool, Philosophy
A couple of weeks ago, after I had finished the final Harry Potter novel, I wrote a couple of paragraphs about the appeal of these stories. It is a novel where kids and adults witness Harry experience new, exciting and terrifying things almost always for the first time. Even the most mundane and insignificant encounter is dramatic and memorable for Harry. Of course, in the novels, Harry experiences the fantastic as well. This transformation of the mundane into the extraordinary is something that occurs regularly in the life of a child. And this is perhaps why the novels are so appealing. As adults we may have vague memories of that transformation and through the novels we glimpse dimly into those cherished experiences. For the child reader, it is the best of both worlds. G.K. Chesterton says that these types of stories will endure because they place an ordinary character within the extraordinary.
The old fairy tale makes the hero a normal human boy; it is his adventures that are startling; they startle him because he is normal…You can make a story out of a hero among dragons; but not out of a dragon among dragons. The fairy tale discusses what a sane man will do in a mad world.
In fact, Chesterton applifies my own sentiments of this joy of discovery.
This is proved by the fact that when we are very young children we do not need fairy tales: we only need tales. Mere life is interesting enough. A child of seven is excited by being told that Tommy opened a door and saw a dragon. But a child of three is excited by being told that Tommy opened a door. Boys like romantic tales; but babies like realistic tales — because they find them romantic
I see this often in the lives of my own children. The young child is living the romantic and mystic life at every step as new encounters, people and experiences bombard his inquisitive and naive sense and open his heart and mind to the wider world around him. This is why proper education (or even facilitation) is important. This activity of timely and responsible disclosure that leads and allows children to discover the wonder of world is perhaps one of the finest things we can do. Sadly, because we have lost that feeling of wonder and live in the mundane, we have forgotten the excitement, enchantment and magic of the world that our children experience at every turn.
Homeschool, Thoughts
Yesterday while browsing the children’s books at my local Borders I spotted Rumpelstiltskin. While it is not the version I am used to, it is very nice to look at and captures the major plot points quite simply. I’m trying to figure out why it has taken me this long to get this tale and share it with my children, but I have no answer. When I read it last night my children gasped in horror at the king’s ultimatum given to the miller’s daughter. They gasped even louder as the straw-filled rooms grew in size after each night. It was great fun and I’m sure it will become a common bedtime request.
Stories, real or imagined, have incredible power. While I’m certain that the lectures I give my oldest are quickly forgotten, I know with equal certainty that after just one reading of Rumpelstiltkin that the story will be forever locked away in her memories. This is instructive in a number of ways. Using stories to communicate moral messages, values and beliefs can be found in some of the oldest documents in antiquity. I think that as a modern society where we are surrounded by “facts” and “laws”, we quickly forget the power of story. This is especially the case when we forget that most young children are not developmentally ready to hang “facts” and “laws” onto their neural hooks and use them appropriately. Stories have this magic ability to bypass the developmental requirements and plant themselves firmly within the child’s mind with all the associated moral messages. Are stories that contain the messages we value most more effective than other methods? I don’t know, but it would seem quite foolish to completely ignore the wisdom and traditions of previous generations.
Books, General, Homeschool, Thoughts
As a parent who is always proud of my children’s successes, their best efforts despite failure and the ability to laugh at a moments notice, I have to say that I was particularly impressed this afternoon. I was reading my new copy The Dangerous Book for Boys (more on that in another post) when I turned to a page with a picture of Gaius Julius Caesar. I had been showing my children page after page of all the cool things in this book. I asked my seven-year-old daughter who she thought the person in the picture might be. She nonchalantly replied that it was Julius Caesar. Now, I don’t know about you and maybe I don’t get out enough, but I sure didn’t know who Julius Caesar was when I was in 2nd grade. Another proud moment for a parent.
General, Homeschool
We recently started art technique with my daughter and son. Using the text Drawing with Children we are attempting to
develop “realistic” approach to drawing. The text uses a method of recognizing basic shapes as building blocks to drawing all objects. As I read the text and went through the first chapter with the kids over a couple of sessions I reflected back on how I drew as a teenager. I didn’t receive training, but I think intuitively recognized these relationships and common shapes. Here’s a sample, for those that are interested, of what I used to draw over 10 years ago.
I think the sketches are self-explanatory. Needless to say I was a volleyball and Spawn fan at the time.
General, Homeschool
Several months ago I came up with a working list of principles to guide the attitudes of the student as well as the teacher. I used the acrostic RESPECT to enumerate these principles. I haven’t added definitions to them yet, but they should be self-explantory. I did write a quick statement that attempts to incorporate all of the relevant ideas. I know, it is the longest sentence ever.
We will strive to be students with Respect for our teachers, our classroom, other students and our learning. We will use our Energy to work diligently, develop Skill in our courses of study, have Patience with ourselves and our surroundings, work with Efficiency and do the job right the first time, be Confident in ourselves and our abilities and remain Teachable throughout our life.
Respect
Energy
Skill
Patience
Efficiency
Confidence
Teachability
General, Homeschool, Thoughts
