The Freedom in Education magazine

The Freedom in Education magazine

The Freedom in Education magazine can be ordered on our freedom-in-education website.

Here is some information about it:

What it is
Freedom in Education is a monthly magazine which has been running for one and a half years. It combines the recipes, craft projects, gardening tips and cartoons which can be seen on this site, with the main article, on education, from the freedom-in-education site, plus letters, puzzles, news items, a literature page and Euclid's geometry.
It is twenty-four sides long, with a colour cover, and black and white on the inside. It costs £12.00 for twelve issues.

How it came about
A magazine was an idea we had long been contemplating. In 2002 my father, Gareth, started his website and began a free e-newsletter, which quickly gained 1000 subscribers. It simply contained an article on education, but the response back was so encouraging, we decided to publish a printed version, with all the puzzles and cartoons which the medium of the internet didn't allow.
It now has about 200 subscribers, and the letters we receive back from it are overwhelmingly positive. It has been called "the only magazine which all the family fight over!"

Who it is for
This is essentially a family magazine, with things in it for people of all ages. Many of its articles focus on learning at home, and it is bought mainly by home educators, but there are other people who do send their children to school who subscribe as well.

The contents
It is not a very big magazine, but every page is packed. Here are the things it contains:

The Main Article:
It is Gareth, my father, who writes the main article of the magazine. His style is clear and easy to read, whilst what he says is always encouraging, inspiring, and well-thought-through. Past issues have dealt with the topics: The English Language, New Technology, the Social Aspect, How to learn to read and write, Universities, Primary Education, the best Way to Teach, and Preparing for the Real World. His main article usually fills about half the magazine and past ones can be read on his site: www.freedom-in-education.co.uk

Recipe:

Every month there is a new recipe. You can see them by going to the Cookbook section of this site. The recipes are taken from traditional cuisines around the world. In the past we have had the delicious almond and puff pastry King Cake from France, sugar-glazed hot-cross buns

from England, chunky, chocolate-filled cookies (an American recipe), hot, spiced red beans from Kashmir, the chocolate Italian biscuits: Mostaccioli, and the mouth-watering, classic French tart topped with raspberries in an almond paste.
The recipes are as simply and clearly written as we can make them, often with diagrams and a colour picture of the finished dish. They are tested out, at least once, by someone who has never made the dish before.

Cartoons:
The Freedom in Education magazine has three different cartoons in it every month.
Brother's Grimm Fairytales

On the back page, in full colour, is the long-running series of the Brothers Grimm fairytales in cartoon form. The original story is translated, then drawn out, by Bethan, who makes sure her cartoon sticks as closely to the original as possible. These magical stories, full of so much age-old wisdom, are always a delight to read, and can be viewed on this site. (Click here)

Æsop's Fables

A later addition to the magazine is an Æsop's fable every month, in cartoon form. They show that Æsop's simply told stories are just as applicable to every day life as they ever were! You can view them here: Æsop's fables

The Spoon Cartoon

The Spoons are exclusive to the printed magazine. They tell the serial adventures of the Spoon family who live in the kitchen drawer. The father, Max, is determined to send his four children, Galahad, Amelia, John and baby Denny, to school, to give them the education and social life they deserve. However his wife, Mirabelle, would rather they were happy than successful, and this is the tale of how it all turns out, drawn and written jointly by Samuel and myself (Wendy). Of all the features in the magazine this is probably the one we receive the most feedback on.

Crafts:

Every magazine sees a new craft, often tied in with the seasons

or a particular festival in the month. They can all be viewed on my Craft Corner. The past few issues have included: how to make a willow whistle, an old craft which our Grandfathers knew; a knitted chick for Easter, simple enough for a young child to make; a traditional Chinese paper kite which is easy to fly in the gentlest breeze; a paper window star and marzipan figures for Christmas; many simple origami instructions, with step-by-step diagrams, and a little felt mouse. They are intended to be easy enough for children to do, and are good to while away a rainy afternoon.

Euclid:

Taking up a double side each month is a proposition of Euclid's Geometry. Written with great clarity, they prove through utterly simple logic that the world around us is not quite the way we think it is. Nothing else but Euclid can make one feel this way about the things we take for granted, and his propositions are certainly worth reading.

Literature:
One side of the magazine is dedicated to literature. Here are featured poems, nursery rhymes, a passage from a book, or a quote form a Shakespeare play, accompanied by a detailed illustration. This is exclusive to the magazine.

Story from History:

One of the magazine's most exciting features is its story from history. Here you can read about those memorable men and women who have truly left the world a better place. Antoninus Pius who brought peace to the Roman Empire, Thales who proved that poverty was more desirable than wealth, Saint George who killed the dragon, and Epictetus who subtly changed for the better the lives of thousands. Also are recounted the stories of how Queen Philippa saved the lives of six men soon to be beheaded, a little girl who prevented her father and his army from entering into war, and how Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, spoke to Alexander the Great. This is certainly a page you will quickly turn to.

Puzzles:
Word Search

The word search has become a classic feature of the magazine, often taking up a full side and having as many as 56 words in. The topics are always interesting: British towns, Greek heroes, local animals, different types of breads, or American states - they aren't that easy, either, and may take a couple of hours!

Dot to Dot

The dot to dot has been in the magazine from the start - and, in our house at least, is always the first puzzle to be done.

Code

The magazine has its very own code, and, if you can decode it, you will find a traditional English riddle, and two proverbs!

In the magazine there is also either a maze, a spot the difference, or some other sort of puzzle.

Gardening:

There is always plenty of advice about gardening in the Freedom in Education magazine. It will tell you just when to prepare the beds, plant the potatoes, thin the carrots, and harvest the crop.

Botany:

This very interesting part of the magazine will help you identify all the local trees and plants around where you live. It also provides fascinating information on the plants' uses and medicinal properties.

Additional contents:
Letters

Several pages are always dedicated to letters. Parents often recount their experiences of learning at home with their children and these are very inspiring.

News

Sometimes the magazine includes topical news items, focussing on education in all parts of the world.

Articles

There are often other articles, besides the main one, dealing with aspects of education outside school.

The Freedom in Education magazine can be ordered on our freedom-in-education website.