BHS Educational Philosophy

A Brooklyn HomeSchool's Philosophy of Education

"Rain Painting" by Naia:




Whether you choose a full schedule, part-time, or after-school "enrichment" for your child's experience at BHS, you can expect the following principles to be at-work (and play) in the education being delivered:

*Keep it small enough that Each Child Always gets full attention, a complete education... no child left behind whatsoever.

*Virtually never "do things" FOR the student; virtually always do things/ learn with, alongside the student (exceptions include dangerous/ advanced activities beyond child's capacity, of course). This in no way implies neglect, or unrealistic expectations of a child's abilities-- but trusts that a main impulse in all forming minds is the desire to expand their own capacity, their own direct interaction with the activities a life requires. Cooking, gardening, sewing, yoga, multiple languages, multiple physical disciplines, computer skills, music, dance, multiple artistic media... all will be taught, largely determined by students' own interests, as well as by weather/season (gardening, for instance)

*Any rules, precautions, and procedures are to be created and understood by all-- never/ rarely imposed by "authority" (any exceptions similar to above-- include anything likely to harm, impede learning or health, etc.).

*Social, creative, physical, and spiritual (ethical) learning are At Least as important/ crucial as "academic" learning; in young children they're Always More important.

*Environment/ tone accounts for a great deal of the actual learning that occurs in life and education.

*Authentic learning grows from the seeds of authentic interest. An interest-led/based education maximizes authentic learning of any subject/ lesson(s).

*Education is life, and vice-versa; it does not begin/ end in school.

*Responsibility for your own (and others') happiness, empowerment, well-being, self-sufficiency, and behavior is a central, ongoing lesson(s) of authentic education.

*Nutrition and responsibility for well-being (physical fitness, etc.) are essential aspects of a complete education.

"Rainbow Rock" by Naia and ZL:



*Art and creativity, creative approaches to learning and problem-solving, are essential and too-often-neglected aspects of a complete, authentic education.

*Flexibility-- of curriculum, location, schedule, and responsiveness to unanticipated events/ changes (which are inevitable in life)-- is an important feature of a best-possible education, and is increased the smaller the group involved.

*Mobility-- the opportunity to utilize a great diversity of locations and hands-on life experiences as a weekly, sometimes daily aspect of the educational process-- is maximized the smaller the group of able-bodied students are involved per adult teacher.

*As so much of the day-to-day in-school experience of homeschooled students involves in-person interaction with the "real world," outside of an institutional environment-- tangible social skills and a great maturity of socialization is achieved by such an education. Studies are revealing that-- contrary to the assumptions of some critics-- well-homeschooled students (who are not Purposely isolated from the "outside world") display better skills of socialization and social maturity than students educated more traditionally. (To learn more about some of these studies and findings, read through the articles linked at the right of this and the other BHS 'blogsites).

"Rainbow River and Mountain" by Naia and ZL:



*In the face of the now-clear, now-unarguable likelihood of a human-caused ecological crisis (of which climate change is a significant, but not the only, part) looming in our children's generation, an eco-logical education, teaching a love and sensitivity and sense of responsibility toward the earth and its interdependent, connected ecosystems, is one of the most crucial and urgent subjects of any education preparing for a sustainable future. Hands-on gardening and organic gardening skills, frequent trips to wilderness areas, organic farms, Prospect Park and the Botanic Gardens (among other such places), and a thorough education and ingrained appreciation of responsible, eco-logical habits and day-to-day choices and behaviors (including food, transportation, financial and waste-disposal choices, among many others)-- are all advantages and prioritized emphases of A Brooklyn HomeSchool's educational philosophy and practice.

*In a time when war threatens and destroys so much, and humanity's military capacity for destruction is total, Peace MUST be closely studies, discussed, and an urgent pursuit of any purposeful education (frankly, it's Far More Important than "getting a good-paying job"). The coming generation MUST be effectively educated in this life-or-destruction reality, and A Brooklyn HomeSchool will always focus on studies of nonviolence as a pragmatic and spiritual necessity for the future of humanity and life on earth.


Snowball Snowman:




Speed Demonz:



Let’s Teach Them Well.

-Zack Lehtinen
Father, LifeLong Teacher
A Brooklyn HomeSchool

(718) 689-0128
zacklehtinen@hotmail.com

posted by Unknown @ 2:23 PM