Counterpunch - You Are Your Own Best Teacher! provides a remarkable variety of teachable
antidotes to the punishing forces bearing down on youngsters from
harmful marketing, the insidious grip of ‘virtual reality’ and the
tyranny of peer groups. Apprehensive parents and burdened teachers will
delight in the lessons of this book for Tweens (nine to twelve year
olds). It will spark their innate curiosity, imagination and idealism.
Tweens, who are whipsawed by relentless distractions, profit-driven
manipulations and oncoming addictions, are guided toward elevating their
own sense of significance, protection and realizable achievements.
Through this process of discovery, they explore wider frames of
reference with roles inside and outside the family environment. Many
motivating stories from history to the present make Claire Nader’s
gentle nudges toward self-educational experiences exciting. She takes
children on a tour of the print dictionary, highlighting concepts such
as justice, freedom, peace, wisdom and gratitude. She introduces the
young to Benjamin Franklin, Frederick Douglass and Helen Keller to
illustrate their profound awareness and discipline. By addressing Tween
self-consciousness, the book takes youngsters on new explorations about
being “smart” to learn about their own bodies, pressing for physical
activity, eating smartly, controlling their time and avoiding hours
glued to hypnotic screens. By explaining the importance of learning to
unlearn and ask questions such as “what if?” and “why?” she encourages
Tweens to teach themselves to distinguish fact from fiction, thinking
from believing, respect from disrespect, all of which will prepare them
for the realities they will face as they grow older. This book doesn’t
talk down to Tweens. The author shows they are capable of understanding
the perils of “click on” contracts and their rights under tort law.
Self- teaching to build their confidence is also heartening for parents
who feel deeply the loss of parental upbringing.
Online report of the Progressive Review. Since 1964, the news while there's still time to do something about it.
September 22, 2022
A great book for tweens
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1 comment:
It sounds as though this author all but stole Grace Llewellyn's The Teenage Liberation Handbook (q.v.), which is widely considered the first of the secular home- / self-schooling manuals.
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