Replies to '11/24 Great School Debate'

I also know several unschooling families.  None of them are ultra-religious. 

What people need to understand is that unschooling isn't just washing your hands of textbooks, curriculums, and planning.  It's actually a greater responsiblity, creating an educationally-rich environment, and providing their children with lots of resources.  Dr. Phil actually made a few points FOR unschooling that he may not have realized.  Saying he enjoyed learning about the market in his 30s and absorbed and enjoyed it was the point of self-led learning, whether it be by a child or an adult.  Unschooling parents often leave little tidbits about to spark a child's interest.  I know many who put interesting books in the bathroom (even as an eclectic homeschooler I do the same) and before they know it, the child is asking for resources on that topic. :)  Trust me, we all remember the things we wanted to learn about way better than that we learned just to pass a test. 

<grin> on the class size comment.  The county in which I live just published that they are short 1,300 students by their annual projections.  Luckily they're blaming the rising insurance, home prices, and taxes for this, not the homeschoolers or private schoolers.

I also know several unschooling families.  None of them are ultra-religious. 

What people need to understand is that unschooling isn't just washing your hands of textbooks, curriculums, and planning.  It's actually a greater responsiblity, creating an educationally-rich environment, and providing their children with lots of resources.  Dr. Phil actually made a few points FOR unschooling that he may not have realized.  Saying he enjoyed learning about the market in his 30s and absorbed and enjoyed it was the point of self-led learning, whether it be by a child or an adult.  Unschooling parents often leave little tidbits about to spark a child's interest.  I know many who put interesting books in the bathroom (even as an eclectic homeschooler I do the same) and before they know it, the child is asking for resources on that topic. :)  Trust me, we all remember the things we wanted to learn about way better than that we learned just to pass a test. 

<grin> on the class size comment.  The county in which I live just published that they are short 1,300 students by their annual projections.  Luckily they're blaming the rising insurance, home prices, and taxes for this, not the homeschoolers or private schoolers.

I also know several unschooling families.  None of them are ultra-religious. 

What people need to understand is that unschooling isn't just washing your hands of textbooks, curriculums, and planning.  It's actually a greater responsiblity, creating an educationally-rich environment, and providing their children with lots of resources.  Dr. Phil actually made a few points FOR unschooling that he may not have realized.  Saying he enjoyed learning about the market in his 30s and absorbed and enjoyed it was the point of self-led learning, whether it be by a child or an adult.  Unschooling parents often leave little tidbits about to spark a child's interest.  I know many who put interesting books in the bathroom (even as an eclectic homeschooler I do the same) and before they know it, the child is asking for resources on that topic. :)  Trust me, we all remember the things we wanted to learn about way better than that we learned just to pass a test. 

<grin> on the class size comment.  The county in which I live just published that they are short 1,300 students by their annual projections.  Luckily they're blaming the rising insurance, home prices, and taxes for this, not the homeschoolers or private schoolers.