> Whole language means learning to form paragraphs rather than the deffinition of the titles of kennings and adjectives. I'm a college students, an English Lit major, I get A's and B's on my papers, but I have trouble with Ad-Lips because I'm not always sure what an adverb is. The basic fact is I don't need to know what an adverb is I just have to know how to use the words.

Quite a few others have already given a rebuttal on this paragraph quite adequately. I agree with what Brunnen-G, Dave, and Ticia have said. I also echo their sentiment that we want to help you, not attack you personally.

> Wrong Dewey, John Dewey didn't create the Dewey decimal system.

You are correct, sir! Thanks for clearing that up. If I had merely taken the time to do a small amount of research, I wouldn't have made myself look like such an idiot. It was Melvil Dewey who invented the DDS.

>
> The Progressive Education Association's 7 guiding principles
>
> 1. The child should be given the freedom to develop naturally

My red flag just went up! Children should NOT be given the freedom to develop naturally. Despite what the humanists say, there ARE absolutes and there ARE differences between right and wrong! Left to themselves, children will not do right. Children need to be taught right from wrong. This applies to education too. Many children don't want to go to school, and when they're at school they don't want to be there; they'd rather be outside playing. Even children who are interested and excited about school aren't going to show the same level of enthusiasm for every subject.

> 2. Intrest provides the motivation for all work.

It would be nice if this were true, but it isn't. If this principle had been used in my education, I would never have learned any math or science. Interest is possibly the *best* motivation for work, but it's not the only one, and if it were there would be very little actual work accomplished.

> 3. The teacher should be a guide in the learning process, not the task-master.

Actually I think a teacher needs to be a little bit of both.

> 4. The scientific study of pupil development should be promoted by the refocusing of information to be included on school records.

No comment.

> 5. Greater attention should be given to everything that affects the child's physical development.

True...but schools can't accomplish this. The school has no control over certain areas of the student's environment, such as home life and spiritual development. Forgive me if I've misunderstood what this principle is saying.

> 6. The school and home should cooperate to meet the natural interests and activites of the child.

No problem with this one. Although some attention should be paid to what the "natural interests and activities of the child" are. A kid who enjoys torturing small animals shouldn't be encouraged in pursuing his interests...

> 7. The Progressive School should be a leader in educational movements.

Yes, it should be / should have been. But I think it was doomed to failure due to instabilities in it's guiding principles.

It sounds like you are a lot more informed on this issue than I am. From what you've said here, it seems that John Dewey's ideas weren't all bad. I will have to re-evaluate my opinion of him.

Gri"still plans to home-school"shny