Comments for Parenting Off The Grid

Comment on About by Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:34:55 +0000

wow… you are really cool. read that whole first page… but why do you keep your kids in school? k-12 is just baby sitting… it should be, no school – take ged – go to college then yippie! they are out without a hitch and paying for your retirement. )

Comment on About by steven

steven — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:58:04 +0000

lol this is pedo as brah

Comment on Why Does the “Mockingjay” Sing SO Damned Loudly? by Katie Spencer White

Katie Spencer White — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:22:03 +0000

Hi Martha – great post!

I have just finished reading the books along with my 11 year old son and we found them fascinating. And I wholeheartedly agree with your comparison. Although I admire Dave Atkins for his optimism, having lived for almost 10 years in the nanny state that is Great Britain, I see how sheep-like society can become to a powerful state control of education, health and welfare. I am American (and was a high school teacher back in the States) and am considered fairly liberal back home. Here in England, however, I am amazed at how conservative my views are. The State wants to control everything and there are few philosophical alternatives which are accepted by anyone. This country’s social/welfare state – with an all-pervasive National Health Service, life-time state supplied benefits and an educational system that brooks no deviance from the National Curriculum – was billed in the post-WWII years as a “country for heroes”. People have given up the power to think in exchange for a state that “takes care of them from the cradle to the grave”. It’s scary at times. Only when you live in a place like this do you realize how precious are the freedoms so many Americans take for granted and are now willing to surrender. I also notice the control of the State because one of my 5 kids is on the autistic spectrum. When you have a child who has additional needs, you realize how little control you have – even when you are an educational professional/lawyer and understand how the system operates.

These novels scare me because they are so close to becoming reality. And so many of us will sit in theatres this summer, with our popcorn and giant sized sodas, and never see it coming.

Comment on Why Does the “Mockingjay” Sing SO Damned Loudly? by Martha James Hartney

Martha James Hartney — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:41:08 +0000

Hi Dave, I see where it seems disconnected–I’ve written a lot lately about how government control is wielded over the family. It seems to me that when there is something “to be done” with kids, often the state mandates that it be done through schools–vaccinations, nutrition, scholastic standards–all what seem to be admirable goals. And how could anyone dare to challenge those goals? But reasonable minds can differ on those things and that puts parents and schools at odds. Schools do appear to be heavier handed than they were in the past–in part because school administrators and officials feel they’re doing more and more of the parents’ jobs. And they are in reality doing more, are expected to educate our children, do as the state tells them without complaint, and do it with less. It seems like a colossal cluster**** to me and I wish we could do better for our children–parents, government, society and culture.

It is my deepest belief that if we can raise our children with mindfulness, clarity, embodied empowerment, our entire planet would be taken better care of. What are you thoughts?

Comment on Why Does the “Mockingjay” Sing SO Damned Loudly? by daveatkins

daveatkins — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:34:17 +0000

It is interesting to see how different people can look at a similar situation and have very different perspectives. First of all, I was also hooked on Hunger Games and fascinated by the story. But I don’t see any parallel to what is going on in public education. I agree with a lot of your frustration and observations about homework (see the movie/documentary Race to Nowhere, for example http://davewrites.com/race-to-nowhere/). But I think “the state” actually needs to do a lot more, rather than less. We need to engage our schools with our communities and demand much more than just “test score accountability” by designing a more comprehensive, year-round curriculum of structured and unstructured learning opportunities to fill the time between when we working parents drop off our kids and pick them up in the evening. I’m not ready to give up on public school and believe, in a city like Boston, the opportunities outweigh the disadvantages…but it requires a lot of active management by parents. In a poor school district, with widely different cultures and languages plus a huge range of special needs kids…it is a very challenging situation. I think we might even have an advantage because nobody is “normal.” We take life one grade at a time for now. I look forward to reading more of your blog…

Comment on Why Does the “Mockingjay” Sing SO Damned Loudly? by Katie Schneider

Katie Schneider — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:34:03 +0000

I haven’t read the books myself, but several close ones around me have. I haven’t heard anyone say or relate what you did. Very interesting. You hit home for me a lot in this writing. I guess I really need to read these books. Thanks for sharing.

Comment on Why Does the “Mockingjay” Sing SO Damned Loudly? by mcmere

mcmere — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:04:22 +0000

I pulled my son out of school in the third grade, in favor of unschooling. Now he’s 19, in college, a great kid, and I couldn’t be prouder. I doubt he’ll stay in college. He’s already restless and talking about starting his own business. I have never regretted for a day taking him out of the school system.

Comment on Why Does the “Mockingjay” Sing SO Damned Loudly? by Schmuck Perle

Schmuck Perle — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:23:39 +0000

Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is actually annoying. A good website with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for keeping this site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.

Comment on Why Does the “Mockingjay” Sing SO Damned Loudly? by Tommie Evans

Tommie Evans — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:46:28 +0000

WOW! Oh My..I seriously have chills reading your post Martha. How true it is, and what I have often had floating around my thoughts you have put to paper. Frightening it is, and I wonder what it is going to take.
You are awesome. Thank you for writing this. I hope you don’t mind I share it many places!

tommie

Comment on Mandatory Schooling for Parents Who Don’t Like the Word “Mandatory” by mamakaruna

mamakaruna — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:56:50 +0000

As a public school teacher let me say, if I could do it over again, I would unschool my children and encourage others to do the same. Nothing about public schooling is what is best for kids. Brain based research and observation both support the conclusion that kids learn best when they do a variety of things, including following adults around as opposed to being kept in separate surroundings for nearly 2 decades then encouraged to ‘join’ the adult world. Do the best you can where you are with what you’ve got. But don’t assume the established, accepted model is in any way better for your children.