Instead of beginning with a tiny idea, the sound of a letter, she began with a big and important one, that books belong to people and could belong to her.

In time she filled this big idea with smaller but still large ideas: that books have stories locked in them; that they have written words in them,

and that the stories are somehow contained in the words,

so that somehow figuring out the words is the key to unlocking and taking possession of the stories, and that these stories can be shared with, given to other people.

–John Holt in Growing Without Schooling

Issue #40 archived here.

Whenever the kids are working at something that requires my presence to answer an occasional question or simply to provide moral support, I have to have something to keep MY hands busy so I stay out of their work except when they need or want me.  Sometimes this can be accomplished while I am doing kitchen work, if the project lends itself to the kitchen floor or table.  But I must be doing something that tolerates frequent interruptions or I will end up getting more frustrated instead of less.

–Madalene Murphy writing in Growing Without Schooling

Issue #40 archived here.