Advice Goddess Radio -- Tonight, 7-8pm PT, 10-11pm ET: Dr. Peter Gray, Why Play And Principles Of Democracy Are The Keys To Educating Kids
Amy Alkon's Advice Goddess Radio: "Nerd Your Way To A Better Life!" with the best brains in science.
This show, rather unbelievably, ties in two of my interests -- libertarian philosophy and evidence-based science as a guide for behavior.
Developmental psychologist Dr. Peter Gray will explain why our current educational system is actually counterproductive to educating kids. Our way of schooling kids ignores our evolved psychology and how children actually learn, and removes children's natural joy of learning from them in the process.
It turns out that schooling based on the principles of a democracy -- applied to children -- is highly effective schooling for keeping kids engaged, helping them develop self-control, and helping them develop to their fullest and become highly productive adults living meaningful lives.
Peter's fascinating book: Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life.
Join us for an exciting and controversial show that will topple much of what you -- and we all -- believe about how to educate kids.
Listen at this link at 7pm Pacific, 10pm Eastern, or download the podcast afterward:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon/2013/03/18/dr-peter-gray-why-kids-learn-better-through-play
And don't miss last week's show with University of Chicago psychologist and researcher Dr. Sian Beilock explaining why we choke under pressure and how we can avoid doing it.
Her book is Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To.
Listen here at this link or download the podcast:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon/2013/03/11/dr-sian-bielock-how-not-to-choke-under-pressure
Join me and my fascinating guests every Sunday, 7-8 p.m. Pacific Time, 10-11 p.m. Eastern Time, at blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon or subscribe on iTunes.
This was a really great show.
I was having a quibble with your chat guests over the term about little "d" democracy and a little "r" republic as Dr. Peter Gray was using the term.
A democracy is in general a mob rules viewpoint. Or as modified and we observe it now is a choice between Pepsi™ and Coke™. Any other choice is wrong, but you can think that vegetarianism sucks. If you can't choose Pepsi™ or Coke™ you are wrong. In the democratic model you would be reviled
In a little "r" republic you can choose Pepsi™ and Coke™, sweet or unsweet iced tea, water or any other beverage and still think that that vegetarianism sucks. In the republican model that is your choice.
That is what is happening in the captial letter parties now. But I'm trying to get across the idea that a republican view is needed. It sounds like the Sudbury model has embraced the idea of not everyone will agree on everything, but the moderate middle with no controversy works, and they invite the outside thinkers to the tent.
I'm trying to get to the apolitical view in this.
There are times in the Sudbury model that there is a Boolean (Yes/No) choice such as rehiring staff. But there is also choice when saying you have to drink a cola or nothing. That is a mob rules choice. That I can't abide.
Amy -- sorry to get on a long philosophical rant.
Jim P. at March 17, 2013 8:24 PM
Thanks, but it wasn't his term - he was quoting Greenberg's term. (Greenberg was the guy who started the school.)
The essential bit for me was people having decision-making power over their own lives.
Amy Alkon at March 17, 2013 8:36 PM
Sorry for the mis-atribution.
I think the philosophy stands, but want to apologize for putting words in anyone's mouth.
I do agree with the decision-making power view.
Jim P. at March 17, 2013 8:57 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/03/17/advice_goddess_104.html#comment-3645605">comment from Jim P.No apology necessary. Sorry I couldn't get to your question. Also, Gregg was deluged with calls, so it was hard to get them all.
Amy Alkon at March 17, 2013 9:05 PM
Jim, have you read Donald Kagan's _Pericles of Athens_? Kagan makes a solid attempt to champion pure democracy as a political system. It's almost convincing. The problem is that he doesn't really discuss what happens when you no longer have a Pericles but have an Alcibiades instead.
Astra at March 18, 2013 7:02 AM
This book?
No, I haven't. Most of my involvement in classic history and thought has been by finding that none of my thought is original. But when I find it and realize it has been ignored, especially at our peril, I will champion the right way of thinking by knowing the fallacies. The initial thoughts, from reviews, his thesis seems to be a mob rules view rather than a republican view.
I truly thank you for pointing it out. I will see if I can acquire a copy. I will then decide how to interpret it.
I'm just asking, from my ego-stroking need, whether my comments on a democracy and republican view are off? I truly want to learn.
Jim P. at March 18, 2013 8:42 PM
I'm just asking, from my ego-stroking need, whether my comments on a democracy and republican view are off? I truly want to learn.
I'm with you in preferring the view that our system benefits most from being a republic rather than a democracy. What struck me from your comment though was viewing pure democracy as mob rule. It really seems more like demagogue rule wherein a strong personality directs the mob to support his rule. The quality of the leader then directs the quality of the outcome. I'm probably splitting hairs a bit here.
Kagan's history of the Peloponnesian war is great too. I've read his one-volume short version and the tension between Athens exporting democracy to its vassal partners and the resentment of said partners who found it an insanely flawed system of rule is fascinating. (Not to mention that a democracy at home is barrier to throwing one's weight around in foreign parts.)
Astra at March 19, 2013 10:58 AM
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