Reasons NOT to send kids to college

Seven Reasons Not to Send Your Kids to College
By JAMES ALTUCHER
August 2, 2010

You can read the first six reasons, which have to do with finances (because it's a finance/investment article) at the link below, but here's the seventh item in the article:

7. Alternatives to spending $200,000 per kid so they can waste four years of their lives:

• Give them $20,000 to start one to five businesses. Most businesses fail but that's ok. The education from the process lasts a lifetime and the network you build when you start a business will lead to many future jobs and possibilities.
  
  
• Travel the world. That would be an education that pays many dividends and is much cheaper. Your kids can then go to college with a much more mature view of the world.
  
  
• Work. They won't get the best jobs but they can make money, network, get a "hands-on" education, learn the value of money and go to college in their 20s when they can afford it—and make every dollar worth it. Plus your kids will have a more clear idea of what they want to do in the world.
  
  
• Volunteer. Let them see a side of life that is harder and where they can add value. An education like that is invaluable.
  
  
• Do nothing but read. Get the benefits of a college education without paying the $200,000. I'd be happy to support a child that wants to home school a college education.

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/investing/seven-reasons-not-to-send-your-kids-to-college/19572537/

Research Finds No Advantage In Learning To Read From Age Five

Research Finds No Advantage In Learning To Read From Age Five

Unschoolers knew this well. :-)

For those who only believe "scientific proof," though, here it is:

A University of Otago researcher has uncovered for the first time quantitative evidence that teaching children to read from age five is not likely to make that child any more successful at reading than a child who learns reading later, from age seven.

The ground-breaking Psychology PhD research, conducted by Dr Sebastian Suggate, has been placed on the University's "distinguished list" of doctoral theses for 2009. Dr Suggate has also been awarded a prestigious Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the Humboldt Association in Germany to the University of Wuerzburg in Bavaria to further his studies into childhood education.

Starting in 2007, Dr Suggate conducted one international and two New Zealand studies, each one backing up the conclusions of the other; that there is no difference between the reading ability of early (from age five) and late (from age seven) readers by the time those children reach their last year at Primary School by age 11.

Comparing children from Rudolf Steiner schools, who usually start learning to read from age seven, and children in state-run schools, who start learning to read at five, he found that the later learners caught up and matched the reading abilities of their earlier-reading counterparts by the time they were 11, or by Year 7.

read the rest: http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/research-finds-no-advantage-learning-read-age-five/5/33888

"I Have Completed This Period of Indoctrination"

(the beginning of the article "When I leave educational institutionalism, will I be successful or forever lost?"
Sunday, July 25, 2010 - Helping to Homeschool by Amie Beal):

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Among the congratulatory plaudits and cliches passed out at the annual commencement ceremonies, one valedictory speech was delivered this spring with a refreshing twist.

"I have successfully shown that I was the best slave. I did what I was told to the extreme. While others sat in class and doodled to later become great artists, I sat in class to take notes and become a great test-taker. While others would come to class without their homework done because they were reading about an interest of theirs, I never missed an assignment. ... So, I wonder, why did I even want this position? Sure, I earned it, but what will come of it?"
Enter one Erica Goldson, valedictorian of Coxsackie-Athens High School, class of 2010.

"I Have Completed This Period of Indoctrination"

You may have come across the text of Goldson's speech - it's been making the rounds on the internet.

Forsaking the typical "first day of the rest of our lives" quotations and Dr. Seuss, Goldson chose instead to fire a clear shot across the bow of public education, a deliberately incendiary projectile from a departing star member of the ranks.

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More of the article at the Washington Times site:

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/homeschool-highlights/2010/jul/25/school-not-all-it-can-be/

HSC Conference SOON!!

Online Registration Deadline Extended through July 18th!
http://www.hscconference.com/

Spanish TV coverage of homeschooling

From July 4, 2010, on laSexta TV network, in Spain. It was on TV Sunday night, and is on the web, too.


http://www.lasexta.com/sextatv/vueltayvuelta/completos/vuelta_y_vuelta__domingo__4_de_julio/280193/1

Knoxville TN online article

Alternative form of homeschooling offers little structure, free-spirited learning
By Jessica Boyd
Posted June 29, 2010 at midnight

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jun/29/alternative-form-of-homeschooling-offers-little/

Part of the interview is with a school-at-home family, and it's not very long, but it happened and I'm announcing it!

Times of India (Marathi supplement)

Hema Bharadwaj, from Pune, in India, has sent a note and link to an article (in Marathi) new this week:

A few of us from our Pune Homeschoolers group were interviewed recently. The journalist Karuna did a good spread about Homeschooling and Unschooling. She interviewed me for over 2 hours and has written candidly and clearly. I was nervous about being misrepresented and quoted out of context... as has happened in the past (a few months ago). But Urmila assured me that this journalist came across differently. And after reading the article i can see that she was right.

Its for a Marathi supplement paper that is part of the Times of India Group. I will get a translation from a friend within a few days and post that link back here.

. . . .

Then you click "next" at the end of the article twice to get to the 3rd page.... where our individual interviews are.

the original link no longer worked; these should:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=1wrvsCWtMr5rlGwJMzdm04FYlXEpyAgaqcUxcwn94tB9g1LnKMdDxzfcnlQsf&hl=en&authkey=CMD00Y8N
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=1wrvsCWtMr5rlGwJMzdm04FYlXEpyAgaqcUxcwn94tB9g1LnKMdDxzfcnlQsf&hl=en&authkey=CMD00Y8N