Testimonials
May 27th, 2005
Dear Diane,
One of the joys of Banbury Crossroads is the look on Anne and Rachel’s faces, when some uninformed adult commiserates with them over the end of vacation and the resumption of school, or expresses the “fact” that no child likes lessons—a look of bemused acceptance of adult ignorance.
Far from disliking lessons, Anne and Rachel find them everywhere: they turn a trip to the Stampede, or a detour around a construction site or a family vacation, into adventures in intense, focused learning. Time and again I’ve seen them watch workers until shift change—while their long-suffering parents restlessly indulge their curiosity—asking pertinent questions or just sitting and taking note of every detail. In this way they watched the tilers at North Hill Mall until the self-conscious young journeyman began explaining his movements as he worked.
After the first hour the paleontologist at the Tyrrell started letting them give his commentary. And the leather worker at the Western Living show had to tell them to leave so that he could take his break.
You see, they have never known learning to be a chore. Their earliest school-lessons were in how to get help for their own learning agendas, rather than in how to follow someone else’s agenda. From the days when you took Anne through the Red Reader because she wanted it, to teaching Rachel to make an appointment—at 3½ years old! for the private coaching she wanted, you’ve been empowering our girls to learn!
Pamela
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