Messages By: omgwhocares

My overall job will be making sure they're learning, while not overworking them and letting them be kids.  I'm sure it's not easy, but that's my goal  :).

that's what most homeschooling parents say as well

It's important for every kid (rich or poor) to get a good education because they'll be running everything someday.

I agree and I think that unschooling is the best way to get an education. 

Assessment occurs on a daily basis, but yes it is pretty much always anecdotal by friends, family and strangers.  There are also many tests that my kids choose to take,  just for fun.  

Both of my children, have decided to get a highschool diploma and chose a homestudy program, so now we have added textbooks and tests along with a certified teacher for assessment.  That is in addition to our own state certified teacher annual assessment . I don't want to imply that this is the norm for unschoolers, simply what two are doing. 

I have been surprised that my 12 yo, was able to jump into two college level textbooks and score As on the all of the tests.  It shouldn't be such a shock, because I believe in unschooling, but to go from a situation of no textbooks, and no assignments, it seemed like a quite a leap.  In one day, she learned how to do complex math formulas and logarithms.    And now at 13 is about to complete a 50k word novel for Nanowrimo (written in the last 20 days). 

I see my role as a parent to provide an atmospere where my children can grow and learn with access to resources which they can learn about whatever they desire.  And showing them how to use those resources is the most valuable thing they can learn.  I also make sure that they know what things are available and guidance in whatever endeavors they choose. 

I'm sure that I try to nudge my children towards my own ideals, but hopefully they have enough gumption to do what they feel is best for themselves.  My only goal is that they grow up to be happy, healthy and lead productive lives.  Right now, it seems as if they are headed that way much more than any traditionally schooled child that I have ever known. 

Please excuse the long post (I can't stand long posts)  It's just that these questions don't have quick answers. 

Generally, extreme in the unschool case would be radical unschoolers and what you are describing is confusing to me. 

Living can include many things, so why wouldn't they learn the names of arm bones?  Which, btw, my own kids learned by breaking them. 

Unschooling is really just child led learning.  It can include tradtional school classes as well as a whole sleuth of other methods.  It is merely the choice of the child.  There is no coercion to learn specific things or not learn spefic things. 

It's really not so complicated, but I guess it is confusing nonetheless.

I doubt most parents are concerned when their children are read a story for an older age group.   They'd probably jump on the bandwagon of thinking the kids are advanced. 

FWIW, one of the reasons my kids aren't in traditional school is because stories like this are not permitted.  There is way too much censorship in schools, it has become ridiculous. 

Unschooling parents do educate their children.  You seems to be confusing hands off parenting with unschooling. 

Have you read any of her other posts? She is not against homeschooling.

Maybe not against homeschooling, but she posted on the first page of this board very much against unschooling.   

Twice, I asked her simple questions in response to her posts,  and she became very defensive.  But, then I think people tend to get defensive when it comes to their children.  Maternal instinct to protect, I guess.

Just guessing here, but I seriously doubt that she was an unschooler.  Her parents were probably some of the extremely controlling religious zealots who school at home. 

BTW, if Phil had been looking for adults who hated public school, he could have interviewed me ;)  

Of course measuring social development is pretty much impossible, so this is all just anecdotal and both sides can be endlessly argued.  Social misfits are raised in all types of places, do you have any statistics that support the idea that more are home educated?

Each state has its own regulations, but one way or another it is legal. 

I don't think any states require a masters degree and certainly not a PhD for teaching beyond 6th grade. 

Personally, I'm not convinced that my PhD aids my ability as a parent, but it certainly seems to be something non-homeschoolers focus on when giving their approval of my choice to unschool.