Reply #42: I agree things could be made better for kids [View All]

I chose to raise mine in "the country."

I gave them a lot of free time and I believe very strongly in "unschooling" for children who are burned out on school (usually evidenced in fourth through sixth grade from what I've observed.)

If you let a kid follow his interests, you help him discover who he is. He will read because he wants to know more about planes or skateboards or rocket science or guitar. Other skills - like reasoning and a knowledge of history - naturally develop as a young person advances in a hobby or interest.

But adults try to fit every kid into the same mold or else they try to discourage "fanciful" interests like art or music. My heart goes out to kids with rigid parents and teachers who have trouble with individuality.

We blame parents and we blame teachers and we blame the media and we blame religion when I believe collectively we are cheating our future.

But I think that many have hope, and they are trying to make this a better world. A student asked me to read a paper tonight and I can tell you that there is reason for we old farts to have hope in the next generations.