Humanistic Teaching

An approach to learning English

Just go out and do whatever it is you want to do. Live your dreams every day.

Mike Perham 

At 17, Mike Perham has just become the youngest person to sail solo around the world. He is a few months younger than American Zac Sunderland who completed the trip in July earlier this year. Meanwhile, thirteen-year-old Laura Dekker has just been placed in the custody of a Dutch Court to prevent her from setting sail on a similar journey. The authorities haven't completely ruled out the possibility of the trip and there will be a second ruling on October 26th by which time she will be 14. The presiding judge stated that the voyage was risky for a girl Laura's age. "She would be confronted with difficult situations that will challenge her mentally and physically," she said. This could be said for any person sailing solo around the world. Given that Mike Perham sailed across the Atlantic solo at the age of 14 the remarks of the Judge come across as somewhat sexist, though perhaps the Judge would have made similar arguments to restrain a boy. Other arguments against the trip included the notion that Laura's education would suffer. The family lawyer rejected such claims saying, "Where do you learn more, on a two-year trip or at high school?".  The question needs no answer.

I'll be following what happens to Laura with interest. Her situation raises many kinds of questions. To what extend should parents be able to control what their children do? Under what circumstances is it legitimate for the state authorities to intervene in a family decision? Laura's case is complicated by the fact that her parents are divorced, though both gave consent.

Sailing around the world is a huge ambition, though the questions remain pertinent in more regular life. Why should children be compelled to go to school especially when schooling for most is authoritarian and undemocratic? Or turn it around, rather than demanding that children reach particular standards in particular subjects shouldn't school really about helping children to discover their passions and pursue them? Just who is schooling supposed to benefit? The child, the parents, the economy, the state? Comments and answers, please!

« Negotiated Syllabi | Main | Ambivalence »

• I had a dream...
• Turning Fifty
• Yada!

• Turning Fifty
    - Alex Case
    - Todd Pratum
  
• New Year Resolutions
    - Robert Sieveking
    - Chris (Hunt)
    - Steven Williams
    - Chris (Hunt)
    - Steven Williams
    - Robert Sieveking
  
• The Keyword Game
    - Brett Iimura
    - Renae
    - Steven Williams
    - Chris (Hunt)
  
• Yada!
    - michelle
    - stash
    - Chris (Hunt)
  
• Quitting
    - Jon Otto
    - Chris (Hunt)
  
• Improvisation
    - Dr. Michael Cubbin
  
• Violence
    - Jon Otto
    - Chris (Hunt)
    - Jon Otto
  
• Ambivalence
    - Ben Shearon
  
• Negotiated Syllabi
    - Harry
    - Phil
  
• Mitigating Quietness
    - Alison Miyake
  

• Festivals (1)
• Murmurs (9)
• Quick Activities (10)
• Untried Ideas (5)
• Worksheets (2)