Family

Responsible Education

Just got our property tax receipt for this semester. Our library is about $90, while the schools are about $4,500. This compares favorably, if I recall correctly, to private school tuitions. Apparently vouchers aren't a hot topic this election season.

Two things brought schooling to the forefront of my scatterbrain: I'm reading Lies My Teacher Told Me, and the schmuck heading Edison Schools has heard about labor practices in the Chinese schools.

Chris Whittle ... recently told a meeting of school principals that he'd thought up an ingenious solution to the company's financial woes: Take advantage of the free supply of child labor, and force each student to work an hour a day, presumably without pay, in the school offices.
— "For-Profit U.S. Schools Sell Off Their Textbooks", Toronto Globe & Mail [emphasis mine]

We'll be thinking about schooling more often as the Big Sister approaches Kindergarten.

12:02:39 PM # Google It!
categories: Family, Learning

The First Lesson

The first thing we learn is how to fail.

The other day I was in the basement, putting something away, carrying the Little One. I turned out the light, turned to walk back to the stairs, and promptly slammed against the edge of the air conditioning unit that waits in the basement for Summer to return. I kept moving forward, towards the floor, but managed to flip and cuddle. I hit my workbench with my back, the air conditioner with my ribs and the floor with my shoulder. But the Little One was safe. Shocked, but safe.

11:09:43 AM # Google It!
categories: Family, Learning