Michael Cooley

We are going to have a full PDC at this local community college in August-November. The link is below. Going to see if the PDC held at a college can catch on seas to infect more brains with Permaculture!

https://tinyurl.com/y8obpat8

Michael Cooley

Narrow Passage Permaculture

We picked up two IPP piglets yesterday. Did a fair amount of research before choosing. Really seem to like pasture. Will eat wild lettuce too, which we have tons of.

Matt Powers wrote:There's a greater lack in socialization in public ed than in homeschools. That's why they use armed police officers, metal detectors, cameras & constant surveillance. They don't know how to interact other than in a hierarchical, dominance-based way. Maybe that's why top colleges are seeking out homeschoolers.

Brother Matt,

Thanks for chiming in.You are correct of course. The main difference seems to be the difference in discipline and values. My youngest son went into college instead of what would have been his senior year of high school. He could not understand why students in a work group would not actually do the assignments, choosing instead to just get by.

I really hope your Permaculture Life School takes off and spreads. I hope the curriculum will spread far and wide. No telling what the positive impact may be.

Mike Cantrell wrote:I feel like this deserves some balance.

First, context:
I went to public school k-12, hated it.
I went to a private college, loved it.
We're homeschooling ours, with a meets-one-day-a-week co-op.

Now, balance:
Maybe you've never been around large numbers of badly-socialized homeschoolers. It's disconcerting. When people worry about that, they're not just inventing a problem. It exists. At my college, we had a significant homeschooler cadre. Some of them, you'd never know. Others, it was obvious. As an example, should you try not to fart around other people? Yes, you should try not to. If you can't help it, you should try to be quiet about it. And opinions differ here, but I think, if a loud over escapes you, you should pretend like nothing happened. The essence of etiquette is making people around you comfortthat there was, and I think it's worse to proclaim, "Excuse me!" than to ignore it.

My college also hosted a couple of different tournaments for homeschoolers. Again, some, no weirdness. Others, holy moly. It was clear that there was no difference in their mind between home and permies. Need to occupy a piano room to practice your debate? Go ahead, it's yours! Definitely not going to be any piano students scheduled to use it today!

It was messy. So we were pretty concerned about it when we decided to homeschooling ours, having seen it go wrong. The older I get, the more I think the weird kids just came from weird parents. Reassuring, right? Unless you're a weirdo yourself and don't know it. (Or more likely, you think you're a charming weirdo and you're actually an obnoxious weirdo.)

So we haven't been completely confident about our choice, because socialization is not a totally fabricated problem. Exaggerated, maybe, but not fabricated.

Nothing for it but to do our best, I guess.

You're right...there are some weirdo Homeschoolers....but...there are some weirdo public schoolers too. Most of the weirdo homeschoolers I've seen are too shy or timid, rather than to aggressive and hurtful. The weirdness may be prevalent...but in my experience...its preferred to the weirdness one would see in the state school...

You're absolutely correct...context is important. I'd much rather be "disconcerted" over student weirdness than "down right frightened"!


By the way...was our fearless leader Paul Homeschooled perchance?

David Livingston wrote:I think a lot depends on the teacher

David

No argument there...its not quite for everyone...and we took it a year at a time...still...I think most parents could pull it off with the online resources and books like Matt Powers new Permaculture Education book available.

The Willy Whitefeather series are fantastic.

Back when we homeschooled...it wasn't cool like it is now. My mother went berserk. Lots of people thought we were nuts. "How will they get socialization skills" was the most common negative input.

So...the oldest is now 30 and is a D P.T. (Doctor of Physical Therapy). He was student body President of a major University in our state. The youngest who is now 27(handsome and single ladies) is a successful Mechanical Engineer who has played in several bands and has many many friends. Socialization was not apparently a problem. In fact...a case can be made for the improved condition of socialization that occurs in home schooling. They were more accustomed to interactions with adults and thus learned adult behavior earlier. They were involved in home school groups that gathered regularly to enable interaction with generally behaved children their age, and they participated in recreation league sports. They missed the drug culture socialization, gang violence socialization, and group-think, state controlled education-socialization. Oh well. My boys took backpacking trips for weeks at a time as a part of their curriculum. Decent trade-off don't you think? And my mother? She's a believer now....said she wished my nephew would have had the opportunity.

So...if you are looking at Homeschooling as a way to teach in a way for improving the world through your children...you are on the right path.

Hi Matt,

Wow...wish this book would've been around when we homeschooled! We homeschooled two boys from 4 years old through high school. NO regrets. Oldest is a Dr. of Physical Therapy and Youngest a successful Mechanical Engineer. Both men of great values and faith. Matt...saw your early attempt to get this going and so glad it has come to fruition. Will plan on getting it for when (and if..hopefully!) grandchildren come around!

Welcome!

Michael

www.narrowpassagepermaculture.com

http://permacultureglobal.org/users/8798-michael-cooley

Welcome!

Really interested in seeing how 5 gallon buckets might be used for apartment balcony situations. Did some consulting with an inner city collective that were using them.

Michael

http://www.narrowpassagepermaculture.com/