Home » Parenting & Kids » Child Learning & Development » Childhood Development

Back to the basics is a longer trip than we thought.

Create Your Own Lens On Alternative Education

From the lens Alternative Learning Systems & Experimental Education.


Thank you for reading. Don't let me get in the last word.

"Your world view is too extreme - if you refuse to thoughtfully consider other's views." - Allan Wallace

State you ideas here, click that make a lens button at the top of this page or on the alternative learning group page. You can make a lens like this one, for free, that can also make you, or a charity, a little money.

Visit the alternative learning systems group. You can add your lens and help create a resource to help anyone wanting to escape dysfunctional public systems.

If you support public education, make a lens and start your own group. I'll put a reference link to your group in pleasant terms and you can put one on the same terms back to me.

We can then let people decide for themselves.

  • Angelgirl1976 Feb 16, 2012 @ 7:57 pm | delete
    Another fantastic and insightful lens, thank you.
  • dellgirl Dec 6, 2011 @ 6:39 pm | delete
    I love your lens it’s very inspiring, thanks for sharing. I’m just stopping in to say hi and to wish you a wonderful day.
  • sarahrk Dec 1, 2011 @ 2:46 pm | delete
    I did well in formal school.
  • agent009 Nov 27, 2011 @ 6:31 pm | delete
    Allowing kids more play time and free reign to explore what interests them I've heard if something a lot of educators are advocating. Going to public school is primarily a function of having kids learn to socialize and learn norms.
  • RobinDM Nov 25, 2011 @ 2:05 pm | delete
    Quite fascinating! Thank you so much!
  • waldenthree.net Nov 19, 2011 @ 10:21 am | delete
    Inspiring topic and appreciating your skills. I cast my vote for "Like' on this one. Thanks.
  • faykam69 Nov 16, 2011 @ 6:02 am | delete
    you have a nice blog gr8 effort

    :)
  • mismatch Oct 14, 2011 @ 2:07 am | delete
    things are inter related -- attending formal school is important too -- but surely the real learning is taking place outside it -- as a result of getting the wider perspectives for the initial information and formation that happens in the school. I am a visual artist and teacher -- the most of my adult life after finishing formal education has been filled with learning -- as a teacher -- and with the struggle to forget -- as an artist. By the end it depends on the individual too -- some people never learn, no matter what.
  • Staceysk Sep 9, 2011 @ 2:18 pm | delete
    Interesting view. I believe education starts at home, is helped along by schools and ends at home. I think school can teach discipline in work as well as social skills, especially for an only child. I don't think that school teaches everything a child needs to know and that the gap needs to be filled by parents and extended family.
  • ajgodinho Aug 12, 2011 @ 2:45 pm | delete
    This is definitely a thought-provoking lens on a topic that is of great importance, especially that it involves the younger generation. Given the current state of affairs of a depressed economy, broken homes and the fast-paced life, home-schooling can take its toll on parent(s). I have great respect for parents who homeschool their kids because it demands a lot of sacrifice. Ultimately, whatever the case may be, it's important for parents to be involved and invested in their kids lives. Blessed!
  • YourFirstTime Jun 26, 2011 @ 3:22 pm | delete
    You've given me a lot to think about.
  • nuestraherencia May 22, 2011 @ 1:02 am | delete
    Thank you again sharing your knowledge & views. Outstanding lens!
  • BetterThanBrett May 18, 2011 @ 9:41 pm | delete
    Thanks for the provocative and challenging thoughts, and great collection of resources. I've got some fun homework now to learn more from your lens!
  • jaye5500 May 7, 2011 @ 8:19 pm | delete
    This lens was not only exceptional but it focused on main issues that have argued by many people for years! Great job!!!
  • lasertek May 5, 2011 @ 9:44 am | delete
    love to know more about alternative learning. great job on your lens!
  • lmstraining Apr 5, 2011 @ 5:58 am | delete
    We are also considering alternative learning and online training for my family. We want to make the best out of them.
  • onlinemba Mar 22, 2011 @ 2:32 am | delete
    thanks for sharing this unique system of Learning
  • miaponzo Feb 23, 2011 @ 4:06 am | delete
    Love this topic and love alternative learning.. I want to introduce it in Kuwait!
  • MamaRuth Feb 10, 2011 @ 3:57 pm | delete
    A very interesting lens. I agree with some of the ideas you have presented here and certainly think that concerned parents are always the ones who should make the decisions for what is best for their child's education. However, the reality is that many, many children are growing up in homes where parents do not have the skills or resources to seek out a better education for their child. It is our responsibility as a society to provide the best possible public education for every child that we can. Yes, there are many failing schools, but there are also many, many success stories around the country. We need to be looking at those and replicating what they are doing. That would help the problems we are facing in this country.
  • onlinecertification Feb 5, 2011 @ 1:45 am | delete
    this was a very insightful lens i learned a lots from it and will definitely bring this information in use to help my child become better educated and best human being.
  • sidther Jan 26, 2011 @ 8:14 am | delete
    I love this lens! We have had to enroll my child in a public school and we are using it solely for the social experience... they are working 3 years behind him and he is quickly "shushed" if he questions any thing they teach because it "might be too advanced and confusing to others"- but if they are not exposed to anything other than "state requirements" how can they grow?
  • Rafick Jan 25, 2011 @ 9:28 am | delete
    Interesting lens about alternative education. Very appropriate for an alternative world.
  • JeremiahStanghini Jan 17, 2011 @ 9:24 pm | delete
    I wonder if you've heard of "The School" in Russia by Vladimir Shchetinin... He was first popularized by The Ringing Cedars Series (because Anastasia referred to the school).

    With Love and Gratitude,

    Jeremiah
  • tonyward Jan 9, 2011 @ 12:51 am | delete
    I still find your contributions inspirational even if, sometimes, I don't agree with them. You may also find my website interesting at: www.tonywardedu.com. I'd love to engage in a conversation.

    Tony
  • JanTUB Sep 13, 2010 @ 7:38 am | delete
    Thank you, thank you!
  • theraggededge Nov 15, 2009 @ 5:06 pm | delete
    If I could give you more than 5 stars, I would. Like a connection to God/Source/Whatever my kids need no intermediary between them and what they are experiencing. They ask and if I don't know I'll point vaguely in the direction of the answer. Their decision whether or not to follow up. I do not want to be the filter, closing out or letting in what *I* think they should learn.
  • lravidlearner Jun 15, 2009 @ 1:19 pm | delete
    I've listened to Sir Ken Robinson speak several times and agree with him wholeheartedly. We're definitely due for a new educational model! Welcome again to the Education in the Technology Age Group.
  • tandemonimom Apr 25, 2009 @ 7:36 pm | delete
    Wonderful lens, as usual! Welcome to The Homeschooling Group!
  • BFuniv.com Dec 28, 2008 @ 8:35 am | delete
    Carmen, Thank you for writing. Yes, society's ills run deep, but somehow educational reform always comes back to throwing more money at a broken system. There will be no miracle cures, but much of what is currently wrong with society can be blamed on our educational bureaucracies.

    We have heard similar arguments before, when limiting class sizes to 30 pupils was presented as the answer - it wasn't at 30, 25, or 20 students. Even one on one teaching has limitations - if the curriculum is sufficiently restrained and the teacher hobbled. Home schooling is just one answer - but it is one that works. There are other answers for other students, but flexibility toward each child is a key.

    If your main concern is the poor and broken, it would make more sense to subsidize private educational initiatives for them alone, rather than general public ones that fail or drop half the students.
  • Carmen Dec 28, 2008 @ 2:11 am | delete
    Good idea, but too many variables. Only very, very, few children can benefit, these are the from homes that have stable, loving, parent(s) who care enough, and are smart enough to do homeschooling. The reality is that too many children live in broken homes, homeschooling would be very difficult. These are the hordes of children who will continue going to public school. Take away public school, and how will they get an education? Something is better than nothing. Perhaps it would be simpler to cut down class size to 10 students/teacher, pay teachers a decent salary, and lower the outrageous wages administrators earn. Students would have a better environment to learn and excel.
  • jeolaa Jun 22, 2008 @ 12:33 pm | delete
    Really an inspiring lens. This site rocks. Everybody should consider the alternative learning for themselves and those we love. Like wise, when you search for Online education step into Education and surf the stuff about the Online University Courses and College Studies.
  • enslavedbyfaeries May 29, 2008 @ 11:42 pm | delete
    Until the past year I had never given much thought to what my girls were learning in their public school classrooms but last fall we given the opportunity to join a Montessori/Liberal Arts school and it has turned out to be the greatest gift. They have the freedom to make choices and have learned to be self motivated. Their confidence has skyrocketed and they are actually inspired by what they are learning. Thanks for sharing your ideas and thoughts. 5*'s for a thought provoking lens.
  • totalhealth May 26, 2008 @ 4:36 pm | delete
    one great and interesting lens worth 5 stars
  • tonyab May 18, 2008 @ 8:00 am | delete
    Oh my - this is great! I checked out the list of your other lenses as well. I wish I had "bumped into" you before! I'm on your side sir! (And thanks for visiting my lensography.)
  • Dean_Geyer May 11, 2008 @ 10:45 pm | delete
    5 Stars....5% of all school age children have a learning disability. Lots of help available for Home Schooled Kids. See the lens that my daughter and I published. She has "audio processing disorder" and is now doing very well. Visit us at Hey Teacher My Child Can't Read
  • grassosalvato86 May 4, 2008 @ 7:03 pm | delete
    You've got an iteresting lens!! 5 stars!!
  • Tony_Ward Mar 5, 2008 @ 2:27 am | delete
    Hey, Great comments! As a founder member of the NZ Homeschooling Association (in 1983) I couldn't agree more! Check out my website at: http://www.TonyWardEdu.com.

    Well done.
  • Renegade-Dream-Builder Feb 7, 2008 @ 2:32 pm | delete
    Great lens. I am a survivor of the public school system. As a dyslexic I began my journey to read and write at age 49. Today I am an author who's soul purpose is to help others realize school is not the end of life. All they teach you is what to think, not how to think. Definitlly a 5" in my book lens like this are sooo important.
    Gary
    The Renegade Dream Builder
  • Directnet Jan 14, 2008 @ 11:58 pm | delete
    What a very interesting lens. Great insights on a great topic. Thanks!

    Nice Job!
  • Evelyn_Saenz Nov 8, 2007 @ 5:27 am | delete
    So nice to run across fellow unschoolers. I just published a new lens http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/workshop/wisest-teacher-ever about John Holt and unschooling. I'd love to have you come over and check it out.
  • The_HomeScholar Nov 7, 2007 @ 11:28 pm | delete
    Great lens. My youngest son is crazy about Bastiat. He goes on and on about Bastiat and The Law. It started when he was eleven. Homeschooling has really allowed him to excel. Check out my lenses (expecially the one on gifted education). I hope you enjoy them.
  • Patti May 19, 2007 @ 7:43 am | delete
    I was a public school teacher who now homeschools. When I try to talk about ideas like this with people (not necessarily homeschoolers), they look at me like I have two heads. When I was in college in the early 90's, I predicted that we would see the public school system crumble in our lifetime.
  • BFuniv.com Feb 25, 2007 @ 11:36 am | delete
    Thanks Angela,

    There is a lot of room for others. My site is open source - feel free to start your own College to learn.
  • AngelaHarms Jan 26, 2007 @ 1:33 pm | delete
    I'm right with you on the "proud to be unaccredited." Take a look at http://www.squidoo.com/ulc to see. I love the work you do. I hope BFU grows like wildfire (and some similar, less Christian universities form)!

by

BFuniv.com

Allan Wallace trains and inspires visionaries. Allan is Rector of and author of . more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

Explore related pages

Related Tags