This book is going to put me over the edge....I am ready to get rid of our TVs, at the least, and I am inclined to pull my oldest out of school and start homeschooling him tomorrow. DH will never go for it, though. Aside from loving TV, he is vehemently opposed to homeschool because his younger sibs were homeschooled and he feels they were done a horrible disservice. I assure him that if I homeschooled our kids, it would not be the same as his mother doing so, but anyway....

I am hoping I can convince him to read it. Anyone else read it? Did it change the way you live your life????

I think we get rid of all our TV's except one and our DVD and VCR for movies on weekends. That would spoil DH's X-box fun, though, but I really feel we need this stuff out of our lives....
I think it would be fine for the kids to watch DVD's in the van since there are fewer things to persue when one is riding in a car, YK? But, otherwise, I think we'd be better off without them in our house...Maybe I'd even let DH keep cable if he only plugged it in and watched when he gets up in the morning before us...;)

Yes, I have. I have also read "The Underground Roots of American Education", by the same author. Now THAT book is a real eye opener!!

I've been tempted to read it but I'm not sure I want my eyes opened, LOL. Seriously though, is it worth the read. I've been putting off getting it.

Oh yeah! It will forever change how you view commercialism/capitalism and what I call The American Pipe Dream.

Gatto's books are great.

There are as many flavors of homeschooling as there are families. Can you ask him what his main objections and fears are? Then you will be better equipped to address them. What in particular is he upset about regarding the homeschooling in his family?

Good luck. :)

Tara

Anyone want to lend their copy?

I sure would, but I think it is already packed up in the attic, in preparation of our "hopeful" move. If I come across it and you still would like to borrow it, I will mail it to you for the cost of Media Mail.

I have told DH twice now that I really need him to read this book. Yesterday, I told him that it was really pushing me over the edge, and he said, "So stop reading it." I said, no, I think it's important, and it is going to require us really thinking about how it is we raise our kids, and how we educate them. He said, "We are not homeschooling our kids."

It is a non-discussion with him. He won't even persue the train of though as to whether it might be better for them. UGH. Anyway, I went on to say, "I understand that, but it is going to require some changes in the way we do things." Maybe moreso because we send our children to school than if we decided to keep them home, KWIM?

Anyway, hopefully, I can get him to read it. My fear is he will say it's a load of crap, but I dont' see how he could. He is an independent thinker, and so were many of his friends. There were several teachers and administrators who had it out for him because of it. There were others, thankfully, who lauded him for thinking and challenging, but how often does that happen???

And, some of his friends grew up with major chips on their shoulders. I think this comes from being made to feel as though there was something wrong with them, they didn't fit, etc. Maybe I am mistaken. But imagine how great these people could be if instead of ridicule, they were praised and embraced for their genius by more than just a few individuals???

I have only read about the 1st third to half of the book; that's how incredible it is. In just a few pages, I feel a need to change my life drastically.

Could you search for other "free thinking" homeschoolers in your area? Many times men need men to help them consider a new train of thinking.

Can you make one change at a time, even without his immediate consent?

DH was opposed to getting rid of the TV here, too. We moved, and the reception is so bad that one channel comes on. He's noticed the boys playing more, and being more alert, so he's going along with it.

I grew up without TV, and I was appalled at the amount of TV watched, and the orientation of his life. My arguments didn't go anywhere, but action did.

Maybe you moving the TV to a closet, or an office, or closing it up in a hutch, or putting tablecloth over it, so you really have to work to get to it? Would that be a good first step?

As for homeschooling-----no ideas. He has experience, and obviously it was really bad. I'm not opposed to public schools, but I also doubt they will be the total content of the kids' instruction, so.....

I mean, are you in a good district? Are you in a good school? Are there transfers available? Maybe he'd be okay with a chinese menu approach? I know one family where each kid has a different situation each year- homeschooling,private, public.......

What I have in my head is the elementary down the street, and then we move. Or, the elementary down the street, and then a small private school for junior high, and then discussions about senior high.

Up to you, obviously. But....and.....however......your kid deals with A teacher, not the whole system- so what are the teachers like? What is the principal like? That seems pretty key to me.

good luck,

ari

I agree about having him meet other homeschoolers. Don't make it a big deal. Don't even mention it. I know that one of my friends is all ooky about homeschooling, and we were out recently and she met a couple of my girlfriends who HS. A couple of weeks later she asked me where I met them because she really liked them, said they were smart and funny, etc. I said, "they are in my homeschooling group." She was floored...they didn't fit her image of homeschooling moms.

Tara

I don't actually know any homeschoolers. How's that? The few I know "of" are doing it almost entirely for religious reasons, and, therefore, probably not inclined to impress DH. No offense to anyone, of course. Not that I'm sure there aren't some cool dads out there who homeschool for religious reasons, but the network is not there, and it would be difficult for me to seek them out, YK?

Anyone know any cool homeschooling dads in SW Michigan???

Ari,
This is what I am doing. I am working on getting rid of the TV during the day, at least. Perhaps I will move the TV out of our downstairs living room, freecycle the entertainment center, and make the downstairs TV-free!

I was discussing with a friend of mine today that the problem is that this is a non-discussion with DH. It is apparent that there are issues here that we must deal with. We cannot even have the discussion with this as an option. I am totally open to ala carte education, if that is what best suits our children. I am trying to figure out what is best, but I can't even have the discussion.

I've read it and I wouldn't say it changed my mind but did help change his mind a bit. He was so not on board with my desire of homeschooling so I bought a few books on it and had him read them. Then we've been discussing them and other issues w/schools and he's starting to see the light and now definitely wants to homeschool. He's actually sad though that he has to work and can't do the majority of the homeschooling now, lol. Talk about a turn around.

We got rid of cable but still have a tv. We watch limited tv. I have a bunch of videos that we watch. I still like to relax in front of the tv some nights. My dd's tv viewing will be limited and monitored for sure.

I have the book if anyone wants to buy it btw..$6 ppd.

I'd love to buy it!!! PM me your paypal addy.