Have you met a three-year-old baby who runs along the corridors of the clinic, yells at the top of his lungs, throws himself with toys, and fights? It turns out that this is a free education, as his mother explained. No, no, something is wrong here! The great educators of past years could not allow such recklessness.
For three centuries, the interest in raising children with freedom has not faded. What attracts parents to this concept? What is it and where are the boundaries of permissiveness?
Where did the idea of free education come from?
They first talked about free education in the 18th century. Its founder is Jean-Jacques Rousseau. He insisted on the development of children in harmony with nature. In the 19-20 centuries, this system was tried to be put into practice by K. N. Ventzel “The House of a Free Child”, L. N. Tolstoy “The Yasnaya Polyana School”, A. Radchenko “The School of Shalunov” and others. It was considered in the writings of M. Montessori, Yu. I. Fausek, E. Kay, D. Dewey.
In practice, free education has not taken root either in Russia or abroad. But modern pedagogy borrowed from her many principles and methods that are now being applied in practice. For example: replacing an authoritarian teaching style with a democratic one, elimination of corporal punishment, the use of the involvement method, an individual approach, emphasis on physical development, the creation of favorable conditions, etc.
Key Points
Free education - This is development, education and training based on the freedom of choice of the child, without coercion. Theoretical basis - each child initially has abilities that can develop independently, you just need to create favorable conditions for this.
Different teachers have their own concept of free education, but they have a lot in common.
- Equality. An adult is a friend and helper, not a mentor who needs to obey implicitly. There should not be an authoritarian learning style. Between an adult and a child, friendships and full trust.
- Freedom of choice. This ability to reckon with the opinion of "crumbs." Children make their own decisions regarding sleep, daily routine and leisure. Attendance at will. Students are given the opportunity to choose subjects of study.
- Respect for the personality of the child. A small person is regarded as an equal member of society, with its own merits and personal opinions.
- Engagement method. Refusal from systematic imposed teaching. Training and education is built through the involvement of the child in the process. That is, he needs to be interested.
- Active activity of the child. Children are actively involved in their development and learning, learn from their own experience the laws of nature and physics. Knowledge is acquired through labor, games, experiments.
- Individual approach. The child is accepted as he is, with his own characteristics and weaknesses. To each personal approach.
- Refusal of any kind of violence. No "must" and "should." Do not force to do what the child does not want. This applies to any activity, as well as food, daytime sleep, lessons. Even for serious misconduct, children are not punished.
- Close connection with nature. Development in harmony with the natural environment. Knowing yourself as part of nature. Children inculcate love and respect for it.
- Development of abilities. Provide the opportunity to develop congenital inclinations independently. To create conditions so that the child at any moment can show imagination and creativity. Free access to the necessary materials.
We also read:Free education: pros and cons
Theory of Free Education
You need to understand that the education of freedom has nothing to do with permissiveness and pampering. They are constantly engaged with children, but these classes pass unnoticed: through play, work, help, creativity, reading, talking. Children are told about good and bad deeds, the consequences of improper behavior, instilled respect for friends, respect for natural resources.
The child is always under supervision. When he does bad things, instead of jerking, teaching, or ignoring, he is explained the consequences of his behavior. The kid is mischievous and indulges - they do not scold or punish, but turn their attention to a useful occupation: creativity, work.
On the one hand, the child is given the right to choose for himself what to do and when. There are no instructions and teachings, but on the other hand, they don’t go on the occasion and do not do for him what he is capable of doing himself. For example: comb your hair, get dressed, eat on your own.
A child is free in his actions and actions until he harms others and does not violate the freedom of another person.
Free education is not permissiveness
One of the reasons why freedom education has not taken root in practice is a distorted view of this concept. And if it were separate individuals ... But it came to the point that special schools were created where children were left to their own devices. There were no classes and teachings. They did what they wanted without restrictions. The result is no knowledge, no skills, no education. At the end of school, not all of the students were able to adapt and live normally in society.
Errors of the distorted idea of free education
- Permissiveness. Some parents confuse free education with "everything is possible." Allowing the child to do what he wants, not restricting, not forbidding, even if it harms others. Lack of control over the child, no upbringing and learning. The result is an uncontrollable, immoral, socially rejected child.
- Connivance. It is found that parents hide behind this term, hiding indifference to the development and training of their child. The kid is left to his own devices, because adults don’t have time for him: "He will grow like everyone else." They don’t think how he will grow up.
- Submission or "Dance to his tune." Another common mistake is to follow the orders of the child. He ordered, his parents immediately did. Children should have their own position, but mom and dad are not slaves. Adult is reliability, security and support for the baby.
- They do it for him. Child naughty, refuses to eat and dress on her own, mom immediately fed from a spoon and dressed. This is not freedom of choice, but rather education manipulator. Now he knows exactly what needs to be done to get what he wants.
Education of freedom in the 21st century
Currently, renewed interest in free education. Development centers open in a number of cities in Russia and Europe by the method of M. MontessoriWaldorf gardens and schools are being created.
From 1921 to the present day, the Summerhill School in the UK has been operating. Founded by Alexander Neill. The educational institution is based on self-government.
Waldorf system
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Founder of the Austrian scientist R. Steiner. The first school was opened in Germany in 1919, and in 1925 the first kindergarten.
Waldorf kindergarten. Very different from traditional state-style gardens. All furniture and playground equipment are made from natural materials. In one group, children of different ages: from 3 to 7 years. Adults are not allowed to raise their voices on children and to punish. The word "No!" used in exceptional cases: to prevent danger.
Toys are made of straw, wood, fabric. Often they have the appearance of incompleteness, for the development of children's imagination.
In the presence of children, the teacher is engaged in household chores or manual labor. Cooks, cleans, sews and occasionally spends time with children. Toddlers are free to observe and participate in adult activities.
Daytime sleep, food, games - at will. The child has the right to refuse the lesson organized by the tutor.
Food is cooked right in the group. Children are directly involved in cooking. Servings are laid out in accordance with the individual needs of the students.
Kids are engaged in various types of manual labor: embroidery, wood carving, pottery, work on a loom, in the garden, in the garden, in the kitchen. Much attention is paid to acquaintance with folk culture.
Waldorf School. Systematic training is built without coercion. In the lower grades, children learn science effortlessly. In seniors - the method of involvement is used.
Training lasts 12 years. There is no evaluation system. Much attention is paid to spiritual development, familiarity with culture and traditions.
At school, children are engaged in manual labor and gardening, sew, knit, dance, and stage performances. Classes are designed in such a way that mental activity alternates with physical labor. The child receives motivation for learning by comparing current achievements with their own for the past period.
The Steiner system of free education does not use visual teaching methods, emphasizing cognition with feelings. The basis for this is the confirmation of psychologists that emotional memory is more stable than visual. The main emphasis is to include the feelings of children, their interest.
Waldorf schools have no directors. They are governed by a council that consists of parents and teachers. Adults are actively involved in the life of children.
Free education is the ability of adults to listen and hear a child. Respect the feelings, needs and desires of a small person.
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I do not agree that physical punishment cannot be applied. The scriptures teach that if a parent spares the rods for his son, he does not love his child. You just need to do this not in anger, and so that the child understands why they beat him. And then you need to talk, restore peace.
I bring up my daughter based on my concepts of freedom, I do not take any schools as an example. Just trying to take into account the views of the child. Especially often in terms of food. I have a little one, therefore, instead of stuffing semolina with force, I just offer you a choice of several cereals and meat. Only after that I prepare portions for one or two. Troublesome, but without scandals and a well-fed child. Also with clothes, no matter how ridiculous it sounds, but at 3 years old she puts on my clothes and chooses clothes, of course I adjust for the seasons. So, in my opinion, free education is good if there are wise and adequate parents next to the child.
There is a lot of information about the methods of upbringing, I concluded for myself that our babies can no longer be brought up according to the methods of our mothers and grandmothers, because they live in a completely different world. An interesting article was on this topic at Petranovskaya. There is definitely a sense in building a relationship with a child on the principles of free education