Tobias and the Angel

[camaleon]

After not feeling that impressed about the school my DD is attending (long story based on my gut instinct more than rational evidence) I finally had to agree the ofsted reports were right about the originality of the curriculum. We received a Newsletter about the kids working around the painting of Tobias and the Angel in the National Gallery, an artist visiting the school, the kids playing instruments from the XV century, etc.

We do visit the National Gallery a lot. To my surprise, this is not a reflection of some original thought coming from the school but a 'Take one picture' initiative of the National Gallery offering a 'one-day course for primary school teachers focusing on creative cross-cultural planning using a painting as a central stimulus.'

I do not expect answers since this is more of a little rant about how nothing new can be expected from institutionalised education. I just find it weird to be sold as 'original/alternative' institution that takes the first one-day training course that is on offer.

Hopefully the main sentiment of this post is clear... I should move to unschooling I believe

[MortaIWombat]

[cory]

I think you probably should, camaleon, because it is highly unlikely that you will find an institution that meets your expectations.

But once you are unschooling- remember that you will be letting yourself down if you ever take your children to an exhibition or show because somebody else has suggested it might be a good idea. Only unchartered territory is good enough for your offspring!

[Merle]

So you initially thought it was a good idea, though not one you had thought of yourself, despite your frequent visits to the same gallery. Now, as the teachers did not dream it up themselves, you think it is a bad idea.

Get a grip! This is ridiculous.

[camaleon]

Cory...
I am very much part of the institutionalised education system myself... and very much a unschooler at heart who has not the imagination/ability to implement that feeling in any real way.

Was just so, so impressed about the idea that felt a bit when saw it was not the school's idea. Of course it is still a good idea. Should think better before posting random thoughts about a feeling is not worth sharing

[cory]

If you want to unschool- why don't you just go for it? It's ok, it's allowed, you'll be fine! Lots of good ideas on the HE forum!

It's not really the school you're griping about, is it, but your own dissatisfaction that you have not fulfilled your dream.

So make a decision- either go for it or don't! Either decision might be right for you. But once you have made your mind up, you need to decide to be happy about it.

And it was a perfectly decent initiative, wasn't it? Even if it did come out of a training day.

[camaleon]

Cory...
How many assumptions about me... All wrong. I have not fulfilled my dreams because I never dreamed that far. It was probably my destiny to be stuck in some hard work in a deprived area of Spain (one of those PIGS countries). Education, and I can tell you, a terrible education system at least 30 years ago, made me escape. I have a quite good career as an academic which is the most unlikely future for someone coming from where I came from.

Because I owe much of my own satisfactions in life to education I have very little 'original' thoughts going through my head. To unschool I would need a training manual which well... defeats the purpose...

And yes, the idea is fantastic and my ds (3yo) and I have enjoyed loads with 5yo explaining a bit of a painting to us. A painting I did not know but I have got inerested in now as my own way of sharing the experience of learning with my kids. Still I demand my right to have been disappointed... sorry for not being extremely rational.

[smee]

An alternative thought camaleon, but why not volunteer in the school and start your own project or suggest to HT that they link with other organisations that spark what you're after. Our school now actively encourages parents to do that and it works well. They're paired with all sorts and regularly have artists and musicians in the school. Also seems to be a springboard to teachers picking up from that for creative project work in class.

[cory]

Don't get this. If you haven't got original thoughts- why do you blame the school for not having them either? At least they are doing something.

You said yourself you were "an unschooler at heart"- so I think the assumption that you had a dream of unschooling your dcs was a perfectly fair one to make. I was not talking about any dreams you may have had about yourself and your own life, simply that you seem to want the unschooling experience without having to do the actual unschooling.

Imho that is unlikely to happen. No school, however original or alternative, can offer the same experience as being unschooled as an individual. You either have to do the unschooling (or rather, let your children do it) or accept the limitations of a school.

Besides, even if you do do unschooling, you (and your children) would be very likely to make use of resources such as training schools or initatives by other people. So if the school does the same, they are not failing any more than you would be.

Btw I don't think the idea of unschooling is that you, as a parent, have to have wonderful ideas. The idea, if I understand it rightly, is that the whole process is led by your children. So it all comes down to their ideas, not yours. And the point of unschooling is that you give them however much time they need to find out what it is they want to learn. (If it is parent led then it can be home education, but is not unschooling). Have never tried this myself, but have been interested to read about it in the HE forum.

[mussyhillmum]

Your lucky DC! I wish someone from my DC's school had gone on that course. Original or not, it is a brilliant idea!

[LetsEscape]

Our school has taken part in the 'take one picture' project. It's fantastic and our children's work was exhibited at the National gallery. The children and teachers were buzzing. The more schools that take part the better. A school that is not creative will learn so much from the project as it incorporates all aspects of the curriculum even maths.