When you first hear the term “robotics,” thoughts of fun, high-spirited competitions and unique social and cultural interaction likely don’t come to mind.

That's about to change. Around St. Louis you’ll soon be hearing a lot about robotics.
 

St. Louis Kids Magazine recently sent writer Michelle Cox on a mission to investigate unschooling. The little-known educational philosophy is popping up everywhere from mainstream magazines to morning TV shows, and it's arrived in St. Louis too. We wanted to find out more. This is the first of a three-part series.

By Michelle Cox, Contributing Writer to SmartParenting

I don’t know about you, but it makes me crazy that the foods offered to my children at their respective schools often seem to undo all of my efforts to make sure they’re eating healthy at home. On any given day, either one of my older children could choose for lunch an order of French fries and a packaged brownie that has so many preservatives in it that I could set it aside and serve it to my future great-grandchildren.
 

The Hazelwood School District and Hazelwood PTA Council is holding the fourth annual Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, August 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Louis Mills in Hazelwood.
 
The fair includes information booths from 30 school sites, district departments, entertainment and prize drawings. Parents and students will have an opportunity to meet the new superintendent, Dr. Steve Price, and new student enrollment will be available.
 

Seems there are two kinds of parents: the ones who just go with the flow about their child’s education, ask few questions and take things as they come, and the ones who are brimming with curiosity from day one of their child’s conception. Educators are frequently posed questions at parties and other non-school functions such as “I have a seven year old who doesn’t quite say his ‘r’s’ right. Do you think he needs speech? Come here Johnny, and say 'rainbow.'”