TCS

I'm a student of Taking Children Seriously (TCS) philosophy.

TCS is an educational philosophy which holds that children are entitled to the same human rights, respect and bodily dominion as adults. The philosophy also holds that it's possible and desirable to bring children up without doing things to them against their will, or making them do things against their will. While I won't make the wild claim that I never coerce, this is an area where I am always challenging my thinking and striving for growth. I want to think in terms of seeking win-win solutions and want to view mistakes as opportunities for growth (rather than things to justify or feel guilty about).

I have been actively (regularly) studying this philosophy (and the roots of this philosophy), and have spent much time discussing this subject with others, for almost three years. I've also spent time studying and discussing and drawing from other philosophies that promote "being with" or "working with" rather than "doing to," such as Alfie Kohn's "Unconditional Parenting," and M.B. Rosenberg's "Non-Violent Communication."

Where a few years ago I might have said "I practice TCS," I find that just like with all knowledge...the more I know the more I realize that I don't know! I'm also not a fan of claims to universal truth, nor is that the point of consent-based philosophy anyway. It's not about "the one right way to live."

What it's about is replacing HIERARCHICAL AUTHORITY with FALLIBILITY, about welcoming the concept that no matter how sure we are that we are right...there is always the chance that we could be wrong! It's sort of like applying the scientific method to parenting...well...sort of. We aren't testing/experimenting with other people. It's sad that I feel the need to clarify that...

My meaning is that it's about acquiring new knowledge, as well as correcting and integrating previous knowledge. We are able to gather evidence and subject our ideas about others to reasoning (critical thinking)...always keeping in mind the possibility that we could be wrong...and this makes having a win-win dynamic and achieving healthy conflict resolution more attainable. It's about seeking truth, and learning through "conjecture and refutation." In practice it's about seeking/finding solutions where everyone wins...solutions that everyone is happy with...more of the time.