“Kinda Hippy, Hippy”
Sunday, August 29th, 2010This summer our family was invited as guests to discuss unschooling on a new CBS pilot, “The Mom Project”, a daytime talk show similar to “The View” with celebrity hosts, Julie Chen, Sharon Osbourne, Sara Gilbert, Holly Robinson-Peet and Leah Remini. Entertainment Weekly writes, “This panel is not a bashful bunch; they are outspoken on any issue you put on the table. It promises to be an hour of television with timely discussions, unfiltered opinions and a lot of personality.” They are not kidding. Imagine five women sitting around a table with lights, cameras, audience, and make-up crew attempting to intelligently discuss a controversial issue in 5 minutes time. Yikes! You get crazy.
Similar to our experience as guests on the Dr. Phil show, it is all about entertainment. First was the shock and awe. Second, sit politely and wait my turn to speak as they all say their peace. Third, Julie Chen asks an intelligent question and I have an opportunity to speak. Fourth, I’m interrupted. Next, some interesting conversation amongst the panel. Sixth, interrupted again. After the interruption, Sharon asks me if I am “kinda hippy, hippy”. Then, interview with my kids and husband. Finally, Oohs and Aahhh’s from the audience but it was like pulling teeth.
The moment I remember best is the “kinda hippy, hippy” comment made by Sharon Osbourne. Unschooling may have a few similarities to certain ideas and philosophies from the progressive school movement during the 60’s, but just because it was experimented with during this era does not mean that unschooling is hippy hippy. It’s like saying sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll are all “kinda hippy hippy”. I don’t think Sharon’s husband, Ozzy, would consider himself “kinda hippy, hippy”. I’m just saying.
The interesting thing is that this type of education, unschooling, has been around since the beginning of time, way before the 60’s movement. School was only made compulsory in the states beginning in the 1850’s after Horace Mann went to Prussia and brought back a new model of education based on the Prussian system. Prussia had been devastated by Napoleon a few years earlier, so the country set up a new militaristic education system to raise soldiers to ensure that it would never happen again. The Prussian militaristic system is the current educational system used today in the United States and it was Mann’s intention to use this system to “equalize the conditions of men”. You can be the judge of that one.
Now, back to the show. As I walked off the stage, Leah Remini from “King of Queens” gave me a huge sweet hug as if to say thank you for being a good sport while we lambasted you for the sake of entertainment. She then walked over to my family and hugged each of them as well. I got to speak to Sharon for a bit after the show and she gave me a hug and Holly Robinson-Peet from “21 Jumpstreet” could not have been nicer.
What did I learn from all of this? These women are human just like me. They have soft skin, warm bodies, smell sweet, wear too much make-up and I am sure eat and poop just like the rest of us. They are not extra smart (although Sara Gilbert did go to Yale) or perfect moms just because they are sitting on a panel of women to discuss mom stuff on T.V. Both Sharon’s kids were in rehab at one point in their lives. They are simply T.V. personalities, entertainers, and good ones at that.
Did I get across the idea of unschooling? Maybe a little. Does it matter? Probably not. Do I really care if Sharon Osbourne thinks I’m “kinda hippy, hippy? No, not really. Was it fun? Yes! That’s Entertainment!!!
Interested in more blogging from another guest on this show, check out Tracey Jackson and her blog, “And She Called Mother Theresa the C Word???“