A Lesson on Scapegoating

Yesterday was a great natural learning day. Liam was watching the miniseries Holocaust (with Meryl Streep and Michael Moriarity). He then came over to me asking about how something like the Holocaust could happen. We then had a discussion on the role of scapegoating. I explained to him how scapegoating is used throughout history to maintain or achieve power. I used the current example of how many Americans are scapegoating illegal immigrants. For that matter, some are scapegoating all immigrants/foreigners.
I also discussed the role of economics when it comes to war. For example, my father kept asking himself what does Afghanistan have that we want? He knew very well that the Taliban and Al-Qaida were just the perfect excuse to invade, but what did America want? Then, he said he read about the oil pipeline in Afghanistan and he got it instantly. I told my son this anecdote in a hope to really help him absorb the lesson "follow the money." I kept repeating, and even wrote on the chalkboard, "scapegoating" and "economics."
We then went into a conversation about how Iraq and Saddam Hussein were blamed for 9/11 when they had nothing to with it. Again, we see scapegoating (they are Muslims, from the Middle East, etc.), and we see economics...OIL.
Later in the day, he read a chapter on feudalism in the Middle Ages. This portion of the day was not part of his self-directed learning, but rather what I assigned for him to complete.

Civil War Websites

Civil War Websites
civilwar.org
http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/index.htm

"Deadliest Warriors" on Spike TV

"Deadliest Warriors" on Spike TV
Crazy Horse vs Pancho Villa
Napoleon Bonaparte vs George Washington
US Army Rangers vs North Korean Special Ops
Joan of Arc vs William the Conqueror
Hannibal vs Genghis Khan - Liam saw this episode as unfair as Khan was hundreds of years later and had more advanced weaponry.
French Foreign Legions vs Gurkas
Ming Warriors vs Musketeers
Saddam Hussein vs Pol Pot
Spartans vs Ninjas
Persian Immortals vs The Celts
US Navy Seals vs Israeli Commandos

   Liam noticed the bias of the show and that the American, when an American is featured, always seems to win.  The show pits two historical figures against each other in battle.  Through a study of weapons of the time, injuries caused by said weapons, and knowledge of each historical person or group, a panel of experts determines who would have won.  The adversaries are pitted against each other in a computer simulation five thousand times.
  I am sure many people would object to the war nature of this series.  I belong to a congregation that helps young adults fill out Conscientious Objector forms and believes in non-military solutions.  Why then, would I not object to my son watching a program featuring confrontation and battles?  Well, my answer is that because my children have been raised in a family and congregation that teaches non-violence, they can easily watch programs that have violence in them and feel no need to absorb that violence into their soul.  They can easily distinguish that this is a simulation and it is NOT REAL.  I'm not trying to suggest that all other children raised in mainstream households cannot distinguish between real and fantasy. I am suggesting that since no glorification of violence of ANY kind is around my kids, then what they see on the screen remains on the screen. 

Islam Studies for 5/1/012

     Liam continued his studies on Islam using A Journey Through Waldorf Homeschooling Grade 6 from A Little Garden Flower (http://shop.beaconmama.com/A-Journey-through-Waldorf-Homeschooling-Grade-SIX-Curriculum-215.htm). The presentation of Islam in this curriculum is thorough and sensitive to its subject.  Mrs. Nielsen not only covers the basics of Islamic beliefs, but also explains to the parent-teacher the reasons for the customs of Islam.  As somebody who has lived in the Middle East for fifteen years, I can say with a lot of confidence that this program both covers the subject in an appropriate academic fashion and covers it with a human understanding.  Mrs. Nielsen does not shy away from presenting to her audience the common ground she finds with the followers of Islam and herself as a Christian woman.  The curriculum also offers topics for further study by the pupils of her program.  The program is both concise and informative.
     Liam also watched more of the PBS documentary "Empire of Faith."  For writing practice, he wrote the Five Pillars of Islam.

Paper Puppets and Islam Studies

Both yesterday and today, Seneca made her own puppets. She drew pictures of people and then cut them out. She gave her puppets the names "Riding Hood" and "Starla." Today, she sang Selena Gomez's "Love you Like A Love Song" as part of the puppet show. I also made another "fairy creature" for Seneca to play with. The pattern came from A Little Garden Flower'sThinking Feeling Willing program.
Seneca also colored with block crayons. I read "An Egyptian Cinderella Story" to her. Seneca retold the story of her birth using simplistic illustrations that I had made.
  Liam watched a documentary from PBS called "Empire of Faith" on the birth of Islam.  Liam copied the opening Surah of the Quran for writing practice.  We discussed how the Angel Gabriel appears in both the Bible and the Quran. In the Bible, it is the Angel Gabriel who informs Mary that she will give birth to Jesus.  In Islam, it is the Angel Gabriel who reveals the Quran to Muhammed.

Famous Men of Rome

   Liam continues to work independently on much of his studies.  I bought him Famous Men of Rome from Memoria Press.  The book just sat on the shelf at first.  He did already have a fascination with Julius Caesar, so I suggested that he read that section first.  From there, he took off on reading the different biographies in the book.  He has been telling about Sulla and Augustus. 
     He continues to read from D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths and to work his workbook on the subject.  I have him do workbook work to help him get used to that format for when it comes to standardized test taking. 
    The hard thing for our family is that I work and Liam is expected to do a certain amount of his work independently. When he doesn't, it throws everything back quite a bit.  On the other hand, I am trying to embrace some of the unschooling philosophy of everything in its own time.

4/9/2012

When I arrived home from work yesterday, Yasmeen and Liam came out to greet my car. They told me that they played charades together and played the board game Stratego.  I am so thrilled when my kids find my ways to entertain themselves without using a computer or a tv.  They did still have computer and tv time, but I appreciate the non-media moments.
   Tonight, all three kids and I played Stratego.  Liam decided to watch documentaries on The Battle of Thermopylae, The Battle of Marathon, and another documentary on weaponry of the Dark Ages.  He has already covered Greek History, but homeschooling allows him the advantage of being able to re-visit a subject matter as it speaks to his heart.  After all, we re-watch our favorite movies and re-read our favorite books, why not re-study a fascinating subject?
   Seneca was given a new puzzle for Easter. As Agnostics, we skip the religious part of Easter.  The puzzle is very flimsy and made her very frustrated when it kept breaking apart.  I hope she will work on it again soon. Lesson to mom, don't buy the cheap puzzles.
 

Eden Farm 3/30/2012

Homeschool Planning

  Planning is definitely what drives me the most crazy when it comes to homeschooling. The planning in and of itself isn't the problem.  The problem is implementing that plan.  I work a somewhat scattered schedule.  So, official homeschool lesson time comes in these bursts.  Liam does have independent work to do while I am at work.  I have roommates, so Liam is not home alone, but legally he could be.
  I will say that doing some unschooling during these times does work very well.  Liam's assigned work is actually quite minimal.  The rest of the time, he is free to pursue his own interests.  The more technical stuff, like grammar and math, are held off until he and I can be together for quiet learning time.  The problem is, our time together is so scattered that I don't feel like we are really gripping and feeling the lesson.  I know that I need to re-arrange my schedule at work and I will probably do so soon, but I have part time hours as it is and I don't want to jeopardize that.
  I guess this scattered way of doing things isn't SO bad.  He has learned the importance of working independently.  We do take a lot of little excursions.  Time for friends and socializing is given as much importance as lesson time.
  Our homeschool just needs a little finessing.  On the other hand, a positive about not having a set schedule is that all of my kids have always been able to handle anything out of the norm/routine very well.  For example, nobody gets agitated if we have a flat tire or just little unexpected things happen. My kids tend to be very :go with the flow" type.  Not always, but most of the time.

Civil War Re-Enactment at Fort DeSoto in St. Petersburg, Fl

Homeschooled Liam being Unschooled. Civil War trip 2011

                                         Below: Liam at Burnside Bridge Antietam Battlefield, MD

                                       Below: Liam at the 73rd Pennsylvania Monument. His ancestor was a member of this regiment.

Below: Liam at Eisenhower Farm

Below: Liam and Mom-Mom at Harper's Ferry where John Brown was captured

Below: Liam at PA monument Gettysburg Battlefield

Tuesday November 8, 2011Stopped at Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor’s Center. Saw a short film on Battle of Gettysburg Saw the cyclorama painting of the Battle of Gettysburg Became a member of The Friends of Gettysburg Took a preliminary ride around the battlefield Stopped at the Virginia State Monument; on top of the monument is a statue of Robert E. Lee on his horse, Traveler.  The lower part of the monument features statues of Virginia soldiers.  Looked across the field toward the Northern side and tried to imagine the southern troops as they marched across that field while being bombarded by cannon shots.

Stopped at Pennsulvania State Monument.  It is the largest state Monument at Gettysburg.  On the monument are listed the names of all the Soldiers from Pennsylvania who fought at Gettysburg. Listed by regiment. Saw great-great-great grandfather’s name A. Dierenbach listed in the 73^rd Regiment.  There was not enough space for his first name, Andrew

Wednesday November 9, 2011 Went to Harpers Ferry, WVA, a small town on a hillside overlooking where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet.  Three states meet here:  Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia  Saw Fire House where John Brown was captured.  The U.S. troops were led by Colonel Robert E. Lee.  Serving with him was JEB Stuart.

Visited John Brown Museum and Wax Museum

Toured Antietam Battlefield.  Antietam was the scene of the bloodiest day in American History.  23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing.  Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, risked her life to help the wounded On the battlefield.

Thursday November 10 Took a free bus ride around the Battlefield. Saw the Gettysburg Diorama, a scale model version of the entire three day Battle.  It is the largest military diorama in the U.S.

Friday November 11   R&R

Saturday November 12 R&R

Sunday November 13 Visited the Eisenhower Farm.  This was the first home that Eisenhower owned.  It is a National Historic Site.  He used it as a getaway during his Presidency and used it as a meeting place for world leaders because of its peaceful setting.

Monday November 14 Today we had a personal battlefield tour by a licensed battlefield guide, John Fuss.  The tour was like being part of a documentary.