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Why We Banned Legos (2006)

rethinkingschools.org

11–20 of 440 posts

Re: Why We Banned Legos (2006)

#13
post #5

Stuff like this is why we get parents claiming that teachers are trying to indoctrinate children.

At this point the evidence is pretty clear that is the case.. well maybe not "indoctrination" but for sure many many school systems do not share the value system of the parents sending their kids to the schools The question then becomes who's value system should "win", IMO it should be the parents, the parents should have the final say in their child's upbringing not the schools or "community".

I would rather my children go to a school that challenges our beliefs, because they may be wrong. I don't want the growing up parroting what I believe just because I believe it, they should come to their own conclusions.

Re: Why We Banned Legos (2006)

#14

I know that posting articles behind a paywall is allowed but, frankly, I don't think it should be. A link to a page that just says "give us money" is just an advert. Here's a Wired article discussing the article: https://www.wired.com/2008/02/lego-building-a/

Ironically, the original link has no paywall and I can read it without issue, but this wired link is paywalled for me.

Re: Why We Banned Legos (2006)

#15
This article is the best argument for unsupervised free play that I've seen. Adults have no business moralizing and interfering as children negotiate relationships on their own. It's developmentally important. Children who lack that experience will constantly look for authoritative arbiters of the relationships. That's the soil that societal authoritarianism grows in.

Re: Why We Banned Legos (2006)

#16
They banned them because the teachers hadn't been paying attention (and kids were hoarding the "good pieces"), and brought them back with three rules:

1. everyone can play with any structure but you can't change someone else's structure

2. play has to be together

3. all structures must be a standard size

So, Minecraft claims.

Re: Why We Banned Legos (2006)

#17

This article is the best argument for unsupervised free play that I've seen. Adults have no business moralizing and interfering as children negotiate relationships on their own. It's developmentally important. Children who lack that experience will constantly look for authoritative arbiters of the relationships. That's the soil that societal authoritarianism grows in.

This is the best comment here. The most successful children in elementary school are the ones who have gone through those social conflicts in preschool and worked things out for themselves. Sometimes that means mental conflict, sometimes that means not engaging with your peers and then having to forgive, barter, trade, etc.

Re: Why We Banned Legos (2006)

#18
post #5

Stuff like this is why we get parents claiming that teachers are trying to indoctrinate children.

At this point the evidence is pretty clear that is the case.. well maybe not "indoctrination" but for sure many many school systems do not share the value system of the parents sending their kids to the schools The question then becomes who's value system should "win", IMO it should be the parents, the parents should have the final say in their child's upbringing not the schools or "community".

More to the point, the parents will win. They'll send their children somewhere else.

Re: Why We Banned Legos (2006)

#19
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At this point the evidence is pretty clear that is the case.. well maybe not "indoctrination" but for sure many many school systems do not share the value system of the parents sending their kids to the schools The question then becomes who's value system should "win", IMO it should be the parents, the parents should have the final say in their child's upbringing not the schools or "community".

I would rather my children go to a school that challenges our beliefs, because they may be wrong. I don't want the growing up parroting what I believe just because I believe it, they should come to their own conclusions.

Good parents should do this, but from what I see this is not what is happening in modern schools.

It was starting to change even when I was in public schools 30 years ago, and from what see it has only gotten worse.

Lets Critical thinking, and less open questioning, more authority, follow the rules, do not question "The Experts", do as your told (but only what those in Authority tell you not your parents) etc.

That is with out getting into any of the "culture war" topics

Re: Why We Banned Legos (2006)

#20

This article is the best argument for unsupervised free play that I've seen. Adults have no business moralizing and interfering as children negotiate relationships on their own. It's developmentally important. Children who lack that experience will constantly look for authoritative arbiters of the relationships. That's the soil that societal authoritarianism grows in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_the_Flies
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