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unschools
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November 20, 2006, 7:20 am PST

11/24 Great School Debate

Quote From: gr8ful4him

This is the first I've actually heard of "unschooling", and it sounds rediculous!  I suppose it's a part of the whole self esteem idea...if we don't test them, they can't "fail", and then they won't think poorly of themselves!  In life, we are tested daily.  If we have a job and don't complete it satisfactorily, we are in jeopardy of losing that job...it's a test of sorts.  To raise a child in an environment that they are never tested and only learn what comes to them as a side effect of living is to be neglectful of that child's well-being for the future.

You'd probably get a better view of unchooling is you did some reading and research. Google unschooling, try the free issues (download in PDF) of lifelearningmagazine.com, and check out John Holt and John Taylor Gatto. Contructed a straw man of what you imagine unschooling to be based on one person's experience is a questionable means of arriving at a conclusion about it. Critical thinking, reason and research trump anecdotes any day.
 
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thomcrowe
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November 24, 2006, 11:51 am PST

Sadly mistaken

Quote From: gr8ful4him

This is the first I've actually heard of "unschooling", and it sounds rediculous!  I suppose it's a part of the whole self esteem idea...if we don't test them, they can't "fail", and then they won't think poorly of themselves!  In life, we are tested daily.  If we have a job and don't complete it satisfactorily, we are in jeopardy of losing that job...it's a test of sorts.  To raise a child in an environment that they are never tested and only learn what comes to them as a side effect of living is to be neglectful of that child's well-being for the future.

I am not a blanket proponent of  unschooling, and actually have  oppositional leanings against it, but to say things like unschoolers are allowed to be stupid or are being given a great disservice is not necessarily fair.  I know of a young man here in Tulsa who was unschooled his entire life, never took a test, went to the SAT and scored over a 1500 which then got him a free ride to the well respected private Tulsa University and is acutally excelling and has been accepted into a program to study to become a member for the NSA.   Did his mom do him a disservice?  Did he grow up stupid?  I would be inclined to think not ESPECIALLY when he has been accepted into a program for the NSA!!!

What it comes down to is the fact that different children are going to learn and grow in different ways, no two students are the same and their education may need to be tailored to fit each student. 
 
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debl70
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November 25, 2006, 9:54 am PST

unschooled to public high school

Quote From: gr8ful4him

This is the first I've actually heard of "unschooling", and it sounds rediculous!  I suppose it's a part of the whole self esteem idea...if we don't test them, they can't "fail", and then they won't think poorly of themselves!  In life, we are tested daily.  If we have a job and don't complete it satisfactorily, we are in jeopardy of losing that job...it's a test of sorts.  To raise a child in an environment that they are never tested and only learn what comes to them as a side effect of living is to be neglectful of that child's well-being for the future.

My oldest son was home schooled with strong structure then went on to 4 years of unschooling before choosing to go to our public high school. We believed that the only failure in life was if you gave up. You always have the chance to try harder and meet the success you are striving for if you just keep moving ahead. It is because we at home worked hard at understanding self worth and respect for ourselves and others that he was able to go onto a public system with high esteem and not fall to the level so many of his peers are at. At a recent meeting with his guidance counselor he was asked how school was going for him so far this year. He commented that it was fine, but so many of his friends weren't that fortunate. He saw every day the turmioil of fitting in and keeping up children were stressing over. Some to the point of self inflicted abuses. Is that what we want for our youth? I don't mean to say that the years of schooling did it to these kids, but I'm glad mine was home to be ready for what lied ahead.
 
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tlittle
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November 27, 2006, 4:30 am PST

Child-Centered Learning

Quote From: gr8ful4him

This is the first I've actually heard of "unschooling", and it sounds rediculous!  I suppose it's a part of the whole self esteem idea...if we don't test them, they can't "fail", and then they won't think poorly of themselves!  In life, we are tested daily.  If we have a job and don't complete it satisfactorily, we are in jeopardy of losing that job...it's a test of sorts.  To raise a child in an environment that they are never tested and only learn what comes to them as a side effect of living is to be neglectful of that child's well-being for the future.

Unschooling, or child-centered learning, is not a new fad invented by parents recently. I can't say who first thought of it but the first person to get credit for the idea was Dr. Maria Montessori in the early nineteen hundreds. She spent several years of her life dedicated to The Montessori Approach, opened many schools, and educated many teachers on this method of teaching. In her time she was highly respected and regarded as a miracle worker by contemporaries. This approach is still practiced in schools and classrooms all over the nation today.  I have seen college courses that were developed around this concept as well. It is not a new concept yet it is not  necessarily something everyone is going to know about because it is not mainstream in society. If you are interested, there is a wealth of information to be found on the internet. All you have to do is google Montessori.
 
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