#0057: Unschooling Advice You Never Heard!

Reading time: 9.30 min

Hey !!👋

This week let's read about:

• John Taylor Gatto views on Schooling

• Train Journey with Adi

• Rediscovered the flow theory while teaching

Hello,

Today, I want to share a personal journey I embarked on recently, diving into the thought-provoking pages of an extraordinary book.

As someone passionate about transformative education, I was captivated by John Taylor Gatto's eye-opening work, "Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling."

With every turn of the page, I felt a stirring within me, as if a veil was being lifted, revealing profound truths about our education system that had eluded me for far too long.

The insights I gained from this thought-provoking book have left an indelible mark on my understanding of schooling, learning, and the untapped potential within each of us.

What struck me most profoundly was Gatto's analysis of the true purpose of schooling, revealing its underlying agenda to maintain social control and conformity rather than fostering genuine education.

It was a wake-up call, urging me to question the status quo and consider the true needs of our learners.

I am sharing some of my favorite passages and insights from "Dumbing Us Down." Together, let's delve into the depths of this remarkable work, engaging in thoughtful conversations and contemplating the transformative potential it holds for reshaping education and empowering our learners.

Travel packing with Adi

As much as I like the idea of escaping to a different place, I sense the same vibe in Adi whenever we travel. He's always excited to explore a new adventure.

This travel came as quite a surprise, which makes it more fun, and I know Adi is very excited.

I usually try to keep our packing simple and compact; this time around it's no different. We'll be only carrying two small bags each.

My bag will contain a few basics: some clothes, toiletries, my phone charger and laptop, my wallet with all my important documents, etc

I see that Adi is managing his stuff quite independently. He's got all of his clothes neatly folded and arranged in the bag. I also see he has packed a few snacks too!

The exciting part is the train journey, which starts tomorrow. We will be taking the train to our destination,

Adi is ready with his plan on what he wants to eat, drink, read, or watch during the journey!

He's also thoughtfully packed some entertainment items like card games, a book, and some music for us to enjoy.

He takes the responsibility of planning everything quite seriously.

We are all set for our journey and I'm sure Adi is looking forward to it as much as I am! All that's left now is for us to board the train and have a wonderful time.

Rediscovered the Flow Theory

As I sat down for a one-on-one learning session with my student, a sense of excitement filled the room(virtual).

Little did I know that this session would become a truly remarkable experience—one that would leave an indelible mark on both of us.

With each concept I introduced, her focus sharpened, and her interest deepened. The outside world seemed to fade away as we embarked on a journey of exploration and growth together.

Time lost its grip on us, as we became immersed in the fascinating world of knowledge.

The learning process unfolded effortlessly, like a dance between teacher and student.

We delved into thought-provoking discussions, exchanged ideas, and navigated through complex concepts with ease.

I could see the joy on her face as she made connections and had those "aha" moments.

Her eyes lit up with excitement, her thirst for knowledge growing stronger with each passing minute.

The joy of learning was palpable in the room, creating an atmosphere of shared discovery and growth.

In this intimate setting, I witnessed her entering a state of flow—a state where time seemed to stand still, and the barriers between learner and teacher dissolved.

We were partners in this journey of knowledge, bound by a mutual desire to explore and learn.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian-American psychologist, is widely known for his extensive research and contributions to the field of positive psychology.

One of his most prominent concepts is that of "flow," which he introduced in his groundbreaking book "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience."

Csikszentmihalyi's flow theory explores the state of optimal human experience characterized by complete immersion, focus, and enjoyment in an activity.

According to his theory, flow occurs when the challenges of a task align with an individual's skills and abilities.

In this state, individuals are fully absorbed and deeply engaged in the present moment, losing track of time and experiencing a sense of effortless control.

Find the link to the full blog below

cheers, Priyanka

Notion is a great tool for unschoolers to manage tasks. It allows you to create custom task lists, track progress on projects, and collaborate with peers and mentors. Notion offers customizable databases, Kanban boards, templates, and collaboration features that can help unschoolers balance structure and flexibility in their lives