Portlandia!

Too funny…

Teacher reads letter of resignation

Winona, MN’s own “Unschooling Rural Oasis”

We visited Dick Gallien’s 175 acres and farm last summer, carpooling with some good friends. It was a bit of a drive from Minneapolis, but so worth it.

Part of an email from Dick after our visit: “I mentioned that my naive hope, was that this farm would be one of a number of places around the country, where unschoolers could stay a few hrs. or days, to share ideas and know that they weren’t the only ones, on that course.”

We were welcomed like close friends, and picnicked in their front yard. I would encourage you to visit Dick’s website: http://www.thefarm.winona-mn.us/index.htm

What follows are some beautiful pics I took that day. Thank you Dick and family!! We hope to visit again soon.

The compost pile…

Dick’s white pigeons would fly around like a white wave through the sky

I think I see a content smile…

Mud, glorious mud!

The girls got to ride on the hay

The Gypsy horses

picturesque

sitting down for a ride to go collect the hay

A Manifesto for the Young

Our children should have direct control over their learning experiences, not only to preserve their individuality, but  to assure that those experiences will be meaningful to them.

Compulsory public schools and government ordained curricula are not in the best interest of our children. This is proven by the breakdown of individual strengths, delivered by standardized tests, grading, and age segregated classroom environments.

Attending public school (or any school for that matter), interferes with family and community, by interrupting meaningful engagement with both.

It is not the job of a stranger(s), to develop our children’s morals, values or interactions with others. That is the job of the family unit.

We, as families, should not have to comply with, or work around the school’s calendar. We are not institutions. We are families.

Learning in freedom, without bells, walls, forced relationships, etc., is directly related to real life. Our children do not need to wait until they are 18, to experience this. They are more than capable and intelligent.

Opportunities to learn important life skills, academics and social skills exist fully outside the institution of the public school system.

Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington are all examples of what a person can accomplish without forced schooling and being told their intelligence relies on an outside source (teacher).

Fear that our children cannot learn without school, is just that- fear. It is reinforced by the school system. I have personally experienced the opposite of this in my own children, as well as in many other’s.

It is too much of a joy- not to mention a right- to witness the natural learning our children experience, to hand them over to anyone else, only to destroy that natural learning in the process.

It’ s been a while…

Happy new year! I haven’t written for quite a while. Perhaps a new year’s resolution could be to continue this blog. 

As an update, my oldest did start school in the fall. She didn’t want to, but once she did, she fell right into the whole social aspect and routine. We just had a wonderful winter break together and I don’t want to ship her off again!  🙂

<Soon I'll post an entry on the visit we had this past summer to an  "unschooling rural oasis" in Winona, MN. We drove out with some hs/unschool friends and had a wonderful visit. I plan on posting some pics as well. 

I hope everyone has a good new year. Make this the year you do the things you’ve always thought were impossible. Peace in Jesus.

Indoctrination

New Unschooling Documentary

A new film about life learning has been created by a woman named Clara Bellar. I think she visited something like 4 countries to make it. Please visit the website to watch the trailer. It looks like it’s going to be awesome.

http://www.beingandbecomingfilm.com/#Trailer

Have a Laugh

Saw this funny video at parentingfreedom.com and thought I’d share it. Although starting this fall we may no longer be able to call ourselves homeschoolers, I’ll always appreciate the time we were.

An old writing worth sharing

My Creator is worthy of praise forever! The Creator of all the earth. Of everything in the heavens. From the tiniest things that cannot be seen, to the expanse of the universe that can’t be known. The earth is sacred. YHWH made it. The Living Almighty God. Everything He does is good and just.

Our bodies are miracles. We should treat them as such. Our Maker has given us healthy, delicious foods to gather from the earth and eat. To give us an abundance of energy. And water to replenish us, so we can present our bodies as temples for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. So we can do the good deeds set before us with love and good energy.

Glorious, Amazing, Beautiful… what words do we have in any language worthy of describing our God?

Are you in a place in your life where you feel distant from your Heavenly Father? You Lord and Eternal King? Do you feel guilty? Not good enough? Too far gone? For all these feelings and more, God has made the ultimate Sacrifice for you. He loves you more than you could understand. He has the hairs on your head numbered. He knows your heart; knows you better than you know yourself.

Just take the time to pray to the Lord. Pray any time you have the chance. In your car, on the bus, in bed, in the shower. Draw near to God and He’ll draw near to you. He’s waiting! It’s true!

Fight mediocrity. Don’t take part in worldly things. Consuming, rushing from here to there, ignoring others who are in need. Your life is fleeing from you. Enjoy the moment, and if it can’t be enjoyed, at least slow down, remember to breathe and learn from it. You are loved. God bless you much!

PedalMN’s new video

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