Alex has expressed an interest in hunting over the past year or two, so we have been looking for ways to feed that interest. While we were looking up information on what season it was okay to hunt certain animals that we see on our property...wild turkey, deer, rabbit, etc., we came across a hunter education class. This is a necessary class in order to get his actual licence. John and Alex signed up for the class last week. It was from 6-10 pm Tuesday and Thursday. The first class was soooo boring. It made for interesting conversation about what it would be like to have to do that 5 days a week....as in, going to school. Even though he was interested in the content, he said so much of it was common sense that it was truly boring. We also talked about doing things we might not love, in order to get to do the things we do love. So although it was boring, it held importance for Alex. I told him he didn't have to go back on Thursday. The reply to that was an enthusiastic "no way". He reasoned he had sat through 4 hours, there was no way he wasn't going to get that certificate in order to get his licence. John and Alex both had to complete "homework", and had to take a test on Thursday in order to complete the class. Alex has never had to do anything like homework, nor has he ever taken a test. We went to Rock City all day Thursday, and literally as soon as we walked in the door, Alex rushed upstairs to finish his homework. Then, John told him he could just copy the rest from his completed work, and Alex was adamant that he was going to do it himself. Since we've never really had reason to, we've never talked about tests and how certain types of questions are meant to "trick" you into thinking logically. This turned out to be one of those tests...it was a mixture of multiple choice and true/false...both of which can cause confusion in the uninitiated. While I wasn't worried, I was curious how Alex, always unschooled, would do on such a mainstream schooly type thing. Would he be able to reason through the questions, especially those darned T/F? Out of 50 questions, he only missed 4. When they need it, or want it, they will learn it.
5 comments:
i love that you were just curious enough to wonder at his first experience at test taking...but not so much that you worried. lovely.
it seems like alex wanted this bad enough and had dedicated his time to it so it was important enough to want to learn it and take a test to get it. that is authentic learning. congrats alex and john!!
Isn't it interesting seeing how these kids handle information and testing. So different from how I was with schooling and how other kids who are schooled do. I know Alec read through the driver's permit manual once and took a practice test and got 3 wrong.
I'm sure Alex will be a very responsible hunter, he's so conscientious.
Laura, it was interesting...I didn't even do my typical control thing, where I tried to give him all the possible scenerios. I just let him be...and he did great...because it was important to him!
And yes, Kelli, I believe Alex will be a very conscientious hunter. It's one of the reasons we are so excited about Hawk Circle...learning the survival aspects of hunting, as well as respecting any life given or taken for food or clothing, etc. is very important to him.
I too love that not only are they not intimidated by testing, but because they think so logically, most of what is involved in testing is common sense.
Congratulations Alex! Gillen will be so thrilled for you, and even more eager to gt old enough to take it as well.
Very cool! Way to go guys.:)
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