I think there is a false dichotomy between public versus private schooling, and even between learning outside school versus schooling. 1/
Paraphrasing what friends of Ivan Illich have said, he regretted focusing his critique on society on a critique of schooling in the sense that learning without school should not be used as a hack to win in the capitalism game (as @Idzie would say). 2/
In response to critiques of classroom management systems, there are people who say things such as "you don't know the realities of classroom management", but this is like saying "you don't know how bad children are". 1/
The reality is that children and young people should be treated right regardless of how they behave, and it is likely "bad behaviors" should be expected in environments in which their needs are ignored, they are disrespected, and they do not have a real say. 2/
Aug 29, 2022 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
There are small children who feel very happy about going to school for the first time, but there are also small children for whom it must be pretty disconcerting and terrifying to be left in an unknown place from which they cannot walk out the door and find their families. 1/
How can small children make sense of having their families do such a thing to them? How can small children make sense of such a betrayal and abuse? 2/
Jul 13, 2020 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
When I hear people say that the purpose of school is not childcare or that teachers are not babysitters, I cannot avoid thinking that schools and teachers should in fact take care of children and how school would be far more humane if care were prioritized over teaching.
Such complaints assume that the needs of children interfere with teaching and misguided notions of what children should learn and how they should learn, and that the needs and social standing of teachers are more important.
