By Deb Lewis
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingbasics/
***Why should I unschool?***
Because people want to be free and children are people. Institutionalization
of children is *not* a normal part of healthy human growth. It's a social
experiment and the tactics they use are shame, guilt, conformity, obedience,
confinement and force. If your children are not lab rats, don't put them
in the cage.
Unschooling
is the free and joyful life of learning humans are meant to live. Children who
live with loving, interesting people learn what they need to know in their
lives because that's exactly what humans specialize in.
***What are the pitfalls to avoid? ***
Your own public or private school programing
that tells you children need to be taught or they won't learn. You may find
yourself unfairly assessing your children or comparing them to children who
attend school. You may be tempted to blame unschooling
for family problems when unschooling is not the
problem. You may find it difficult to let go of and rethink society's
blueprint of what it means to be a responsible parent.
*** What are the cons I can't avoid? ***
Friends, family members and strangers will not understand
and in many cases will do their damndest to convince
you you're wrong. They may try to convince you by showing you your
children are lacking in some area. They may try to convince you with books,
studies, experts, laws, or anger. You may lose friends.
***It seems that there is some variation in what people
think is unschooling, is that true?***
Yes. Some people think unschooling
is letting a child choose which unit study to work on this month. Some people
think unschooling is letting a child choose when and
where he wants to do his math workbook. Some people think unschooling
is not doing school. Some people think unschooling is
life, naturally. They think children learn what they need to know in the
course of living life in world full of possibilities.
***What do you feel is essential to unschooling?***
Trusting your children will learn and grow. Being
involved in their lives and interests and being available to inspire, encourage
and help them in ways they need. Understanding learning is a
personal journey and happens when the learner is ready for it, not when *you*
think they should be ready. Parents need to be interesting people who
find pleasure in life. They need to be positive. They need to have
humor and flexibility and patience.
***What about math?***
Math is all around us. When your child pays for a toy
at the store, when she divides cookies evenly between family members, when she
counts the channels from your favorite news station to Boomerang, when she waits
an hour for popsicles to freeze, math is a part of a
child's real life. When their real lives call for the use and understanding of
other types of math they will find it and use it.
***What about College?***
Your kids might not choose college. Life is big.
Life is bigger than college. Lots of times people go to college to make
their small lives larger, by getting away from their parents, meeting new
people, doing new things, being independent. But kids who were
never confined in an institution and boxed into thinking life was about SAT
scores and school, will have a world of options and college will be only one.
In the years between your three year
old and college things might change in ways you cannot conceive of. But if your
children choose college they will be able to go.