Learning Defined

Here's another quote from Charlotte Mason's A Philosophy of Education, which is Volume 6 in her excellent series.

"One thing at any rate we know with certainty, that no teaching, no information, becomes knowledge to any of us until the individual mind has acted upon it, translated it, absorbed it, to reappear, like our bodily food, in forms of vitality. Therefore, teaching, talk, and tale, however lucid or fascinating, effect nothing until self-activity be set up; that is, self-education is the only possible education; the rest is mere veneer laid on the surface of a child's nature."

An Announcement:
The April 2006 Newsletter is posted on the articles page of The Everyday Education.

And a Reminder:
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Baby Videos, Part II

I'm still thinking a bit about the baby videos-- I find it unnerving, though certainly not surprising, that the rush for the almighty dollar supersedes even the best-documented evidence that a product is harmful. One of the by-products of overexposure to media is the loss of the ability to think analytically. If a parent spends a significant amount of time sitting and staring, his or her chances of making wise choices for children pretty much evaporate.

If you have a television in your home, please read one or more of these books (if you click on the titles, each link should open in a new window, where you can read more about the book). The evidence is compelling-- overwhelming, even-- that television is very bad for children (and it doesn't do anyone else much good, either). Remind me to post some day on the glorious possibilties of life without television!

Endangered Minds by Dr. Jane Healy
Your Child's Growing Mind : Brain Development and Learning From Birth to Adolescence by Dr. Jane Healy
Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander
The Plug-In Drug : Television, Computers, and Family Life by Marie Winn

Articles
Sesame Street Videos Spark Controversy by David Crary
Parents, Children Lose Art of Conversation This article, from the New Zealand Herald, is not specifically about the Sesame Street baby videos, but more about what happens to communication when television intrudes.
Should you tell your infant how to get to "Sesame Street"?

Baby Videos? Never!

Have you heard about the new "Sesame Beginnings" videos that are targeted toward babies and children up to three years of age? Because these videos are designed to be watched by parents and children together, they have gotten the "quality time" pass from several "experts," who seem to conveniently ignore the fact that, for many good and scientific reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against any sort
of television/video viewing for children under two. If you want to know more about that, just google 'dangers of television babies children' for a quick overview of some of the primary arguments against television viewing for children.

Mental, physical, and spiritual dangers aside, sitting and staring is rarely genuine quality time. It certainly does not provide a baby with the intellectual stimulation of playing or talking directly with a live human being, preferably a parent. And those infant moments are fleeting-- why waste them on prepackaged mental junk food?

For more stories about the controversy, go ahead and google 'sesame baby video controversy.' That should keep you busy for awhile! I'll add links to interesting editorials as I find them. You may also want to read the article on my website "Making Time For Things That Matter: Seven Principles For Family-Centered Living." Not surprisingly, the second principle is 'Do and be; don't sit and stare!'

Resources:
Endangered Minds by Dr. Jane Healy
Editorial: Learning Must Start With Dad, Mom, Not TV