Alan Nicoll

I couldn't help but wonder after your description of your son's unschooling..... Firstly, I think it's awesome that you are doing this for him. I think it can be brave to go in largely uncharted territory, especially when you yourself may have been "schooled".

Anyway, I was wondering, have you read many John Taylor Gatto books? "Dumbing Us Down" and the "Underground History of Education (or something like that, you can check the article on it). He was a "teacher of the year" in NYC and quit because he didn't like "hurting children" as a teacher.

On of his thoughts was that education is outside of the school AND in the community. The gist being that learning this or that was all good and well, but kids should also be encouraged to spend a portion of their day out in the world, getting involved with things that they find interesting. Internships, volunteer work, and the like. He related it to the days when we used to learn a trade by apprenticing to a master.

I wouldn't normally have sent something like this to a stranger, but speaking from the point of view of a former kid who played "too many" video games, I've thought in retrospect that being out in the community would have been a worthy addition to my schedule. A potential addition that I lament the lack of. I thought I should say something, so that if this really strikes him, it can be an alternative for too much games. Sorry for butting in......  ;)

(Antelope In Search Of Truth 22:19, 4 April 2006 (UTC))

I'm happy to hear from you. I have read a little of Gatto; he always seemed a bit extreme to me, rather like a feminist who claims that men are in a conspiracy to repress women. Seems like I browsed a bit in his Underground History and came to that conclusion. I don't recall details. I agree that public school "hurts children"; the remaining question is what to do with them that won't hurt them some other way? Is there such a thing as too much freedom? I think there can be--there was a book I read, I think it was called Children on the Hill, about a homeschooling family where, apparently, the mother was left to clean up all the messes by herself.

My opinion these days is that "better" schools are not really that bad and may be better than a sub-par homeschooling experience, but there is no way to bring all schools up to such a standard, or indeed, even to be sure what's "better" in any general sense. I can see no general solution. If control is very local, as with a storefront school and similar efforts that avoid the huge bureaucracy (sp?), the result must be that some efforts will be brilliant successes and others dismal failures; but if the control is centralized, you are almost certain to get some version of what we already have. I think the easiest system to implement would be to allow teachers more control of their own classrooms, but I'm concerned that some would use that power to repress students even more than at present. But I'm rambling and these thoughts are superficial and hurried. I have done extensive writing on education--more thoughtfully--at my web site and at The Wisdom Project. If you're interested, check out my two essays on education at my web site (http://nicollsbooks.com/index2.html) and the several lengthy threads at The Wisdom Project (http://www.thesearchforwisdom.com/community/boards/forumdisplay.php?fid=134).

Community involvement would be great, but my son has shown little interest in such things, and I haven't the time to do much in that line myself. My "community" efforts take place mostly on the Internet.

I was indeed schooled in public school, and was largely bored by the process and felt that it was a huge waste of time. I was far more engaged with my own pursuits than with my schooling; unfortunately, my pursuits were never encouraged, aided, or even recognized by teachers. My pursuits included literature, astronomy, photography, ancient history, chemistry, biology... I mean, ye gods, what a little professor I was, and nothing came of it career-wise. I was very fortunate that my parents were supportive, but so much of my time was wasted on tests, hundreds of repetitive math problems ("drill"), boring "instructional" lectures. So my homeschooling effort and opinion is fueled by disappointment with my own life.

This was fun--it seems you uncorked something when you wrote to me. Thank you. Alan Nicoll 19:01, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

• Regarding your posting of original content on the Civilization II page: Wikipedia is not for original content... however, Wikisource is. I don't know how many will find it there, but I'd assume it'd be appreciated if you posted it at wikisource.org Lejman 20:25, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

Wikiproject homeschooling

Hi Alan Nicoll!

I noticed you were a member of WikiProject Alternative Education, and thought you might be interested in WikiProject Homeschooling. In this "WikiProject," we have been together working on the collaboration of Homeschooling-related articles. As a member, I really hope you can join, and let me know if you need any help signing up or with anything else. If you have any questions about the project you can ask at the project's talk page. Cheers! RC-0722 ^communicator/_kills 23:43, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Alternative education

There has been a proposal brought forward [1] regarding a merger of WikiProject Alternative Education, and as you are member of that project, I am notifying you. Thanks. Twenty Years 13:32, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

WikiProject Homeschooling May 2008 Newsletter

	The Homeschooling WikiProject News
Issue Four • May 2008 • About the Newsletter
News Recent Project News Collaboration of the Month nominations are currently open for WikiProject Homeschooling's Collaboration of the month. So far there have been two nominations. You can nominate and vote at May's Collaboration page (link). Project member count reaches 37 members! Invite others using our invitation templates. A new article, List of homeschooled individuals has been created. You can help the project by tagging the talk pages of articles with {{WikiProject Homeschooling}} We are working on getting the homeschooling article to GA status.
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Newsletter written by DiligentTerrier (and friends). Newsletter delivered by Diligent Terrier Bot

The message above has been delivered by Diligent Terrier Bot, a bot operated by Diligent Terrier.

WikiProject Homeschooling newsletter for June 2008

	The Homeschooling WikiProject News
Issue Five • June 2008 • About the Newsletter
News Recent Project News User:Diligent Terrier has retired. Project member count reaches 37 members! Invite others using our invitation templates. You can help the project by tagging the talk pages of articles with {{WikiProject Homeschooling}} We are working on getting the homeschooling article to GA status.
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Newsletter written by User:RC-0722. Newsletter delivered by User:RC-0722

AfD nomination of Leuren Moret

I have nominated Leuren Moret, an article you created, for deletion. I do not think that this article satisfies Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion, and have explained why at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Leuren Moret (2nd nomination). Your opinions on the matter are welcome at that same discussion page; also, you are welcome to edit the article to address these concerns. Thank you for your time. ScienceApologist (talk) 17:42, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

WikiProject Homeschooling Roll Call

Hello, Alan Nicoll! You are receiving this message because you are on WikiProject Homeschooling's list of members. WikiProject Homeschooling is holding a roll call to identify active members. All members will be listed under "Pending". Please move your name to "Active" or "Inactive" based on your ability or interest in contributing to the project. After two weeks all names still listed under "Pending" will be moved to "Inactive". If you are actively interested in participating, we are in the process of trying to revive the project and would welcome any help. Discussion can be found at the project talk page. Cheers! 21:00, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

Wikipedia vs Civilization, Similarities

Wikipedia is more like a game than anything else. You have opponents and allies if you edit controversial topics. You have to win edit wars. Wikipedia is also turn-based, you make one edit, your opponent makes a reversion. Then you revert him. Most of Wikipedians are male. Wikipedia and Civilization are both addictive. Have you ever considered this? Kavas (talk) 16:51, 15 August 2011 (UTC)

MfD nomination of User:Bachcell/Leuren Moret

User:Bachcell/Leuren Moret, a page which you created or substantially contributed to, has been nominated for deletion. Your opinions on the matter are welcome; you may participate in the discussion by adding your comments at Wikipedia:Miscellany for deletion/User:Bachcell/Leuren Moret and please be sure to sign your comments with four tildes (~~~~). You are free to edit the content of User:Bachcell/Leuren Moret during the discussion but should not remove the miscellany for deletion template from the top of the page; such a removal will not end the deletion discussion. Thank you. Ricky81682 (talk) 23:07, 5 March 2016 (UTC)

Proposed deletion of A Secular Humanist Declaration

The article A Secular Humanist Declaration has been proposed for deletion because of the following concern:

Doesn't cite any sources, spends more time talking about the signers than about the contents of the declaration

While all constructive contributions to Wikipedia are appreciated, pages may be deleted for any of several reasons.

You may prevent the proposed deletion by removing the {{proposed deletion/dated}} notice, but please explain why in your edit summary or on the article's talk page.

Please consider improving the page to address the issues raised. Removing {{proposed deletion/dated}} will stop the proposed deletion process, but other deletion processes exist. In particular, the speedy deletion process can result in deletion without discussion, and articles for deletion allows discussion to reach consensus for deletion. 70.124.147.243 (talk) 22:16, 26 June 2022 (UTC)