Oddbean

Well, you have Montessori and Steiner, both alternatives to the factory schools. I don’t think homeschooling is the way to go for all of us. My main concern would be the social learning, not all families have 4+ kids. So what’s the main problem in modern schools? In my opinion it’s the lack of practical and creative subjects, not enough physical activities and playing (especially for the youngest), and the fact that most boys would have been better off starting school at a much later age (7-8y). And last, but not least: Music and singing is heavily underrated as a tool in almost all subjects. It’s a well documented fact that singing boosts endorphins, builds the sense of belonging to a group, helps you develop language etc. (Disclaimer: I’ve been teaching vocal arts and music production for 15y at high school level.)

Not directly, but some of my students the last years came from these schools. They tend to be more creative and have good social skills. And I know some teachers at Steiner in my hometown, great people. If a kid shows interest in something, they get the opportunity to dig deeper into it. The teacher is not a slave to the standard curriculum. If a boy feels it’s more important to work with wood than to learn algebra, then maybe that’s what he should spend most of his time on?

my kids don't go to school, and we are all introverts here. but I figured out ways to go outside and I discovered a place in our city that is a play house that kids go after school (most come from Waldorf). and I've been observing and studying and experiencing, in the deepest level I can, what is to relate to others. and the woman who started the place asked me to be her partner and now I also go there to take care of the kids and that's something I love to do, and being there with them, observing their conflicts and listening to them, I'm so confident that we don't need schools to relate to people genuinely - and actually I don't think schools are a place with any special skills to help with that. but I still think schools can change and be great, but I guess we all need to change ourselves to create that. because I don't think the problem is jus the curriculum.

My daughter's went to a Montessori kindergarten and we had great results, but they was also down to fantastic staffing. In some sense, all online learning is Montessori, if you provide the right boundaries.

I would be interested in the position as head master of a school in a bitcoin community, of you hear of any openings… 🤓 I would also like to add that a school should be religious and political neutral, as far as possible. Kids should of course learn philosophy, political history and religion, but they should be encouraged to think for themselves.