tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post4549376386963530847..comments2023-10-15T01:52:45.422-07:00Comments on Woman, Uncensored: Interviewing Unschoolers (part 1)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-39593115943229826822010-09-28T20:32:29.984-07:002010-09-28T20:32:29.984-07:00Thanks for sharing this link, but unfortunately i...Thanks for sharing this link, but unfortunately it seems to be down... Does anybody have a mirror or another source? Please reply to my post if you do!<br /><br />I would appreciate if a staff member here at womanuncensored.blogspot.com could post it.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />HarryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-1252206981544659082010-04-27T18:10:15.957-07:002010-04-27T18:10:15.957-07:00"About the science question. I enjoyed scienc..."About the science question. I enjoyed science and thought about becoming a nurse so I went to the library when I was young and started checking out books on all the elements. I also read my mom's old nursing textbooks. <br /><br />Also since I liked science when our homeschool group did science labs at the local college I joined them. So I was taught science by college profs. I did well in all of them. Even though I was the only unschooler and hadn't be formally taught science like most of the kids in the class. <br /><br />I also did really well in science on the ACT. <br /><br />I was taught by my parents that if I wanted to learn something I should read everything I can on that subject.<br /><br />So when I wanted to be an architect, I read all about it and my parents got me a drafting table for Christmas and a drafting set. <br /><br />When I wanted to be a nurse my mom gave me her old textbooks to read and we went to a college I found online that I wanted to go to. We went twice to visit their nursing program. (I was the youngest student there every time!) <br /><br />When I wanted to do web design, I did it! I taught myself HTML, my parents got me Frontpage and Paint Shop Pro. By 16 I had my first paid client. <br /><br />Because of unschooling I now know if I want to do something, how to do the research to find out how to do it. <br /><br />I'm currently an intern for this lady- <br /><br />(she had the website address here)<br /><br />I'm currently doing research for her <br />dissertation. She has commented that I have great research skills. Did someone teach me that? NO! I learned to research things because if I wanted to learn something I did. <br /><br />Now if you ask me something and I don't know the answer I promise you I will know it before the day is over."<br /><br />*My daughter's comments were in response to a blog post by the blogger, Crunchy Chicken.Deannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113928043039917799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-2772179645766795702010-04-27T18:10:15.958-07:002010-04-27T18:10:15.958-07:00And from my 22 year old daughter:
"I am an u...And from my 22 year old daughter:<br /><br />"I am an unschooled adult, here is my story-<br />I went to public school until 4th grade at which point my parents choose to homeschool my brother and me (we all talked about it before hand!). <br /><br />At that point I could hardly read, spell or do math. I have learning disabilities but I was in the gifted and talented program and quiet so no one really noticed. I also could memorize to pass a test so my grades were fine, I was even an honor student several times.<br /><br />Thankfully my parents knew I was having trouble and knew 4th grade was going to be very hard for me. <br /><br />When we started homeschooling I repeated 3rd grade math using Saxon. Finally math was making sense to me! I needed one on one time and someone to understand I don't learn like everyone else.<br /><br />I'm also ADD so my mom would let me run laps in the house, play with the dogs, play piano or do art when I started getting antsy so I could sit still again. <br /><br />At first our schooling was scheduled and we used more normal homeschooling methods but over time it got less formal as that wasn't working best for us.<br /><br />After awhile my only textbook was Saxon math, mind you to this day that is still my worst subject. haha<br /><br />Point blank the unschoolers shown on GMA are not like the unschoolers I know. We did school but it was more hands on, honestly it was closer to the gifted and talented program I was in, in public school (the only of part of my public schooling that I remember!). <br /><br />We raised a tadpole you could see through for science, we went on field trips, I helped my dad build a fence to help me understand basic geometry, every family vacation included museums, all of our life was about learning, not just a few hours five days a week.<br /><br />We did things for every subject, we just didn't use textbooks. And my brother and I had control over what we did to a large degree.<br /><br />While I didn't go to college, I did take the ACT so if I ever wanted to I could. I did really well in science, pretty well in English and reading, and well enough in math to not need any remedial math. And my overall score was plenty high to get me in to the college I would have gone to.<br /><br />I could have done better had I accepted the help you can get as someone with a learning disability but I didn't want to, I wanted to do it on my own.<br /><br />I also took the Iowa Test (a standardized test the schools in Oklahoma used to use) in 6th grade and was at grade level for somethings and above for most. <br /><br />My husband is a public school teacher and said the other day that if we ever have kids we would homeschool. That should say something. He went to public school his whole life and his father is a professor of Education and both of his parents have been public school teachers. <br /><br />Anyway I hope to write a blog about this at some point so I won't put everything in this. But for those who think an unschooled kid can't do well in life, think again. My brother and I prove unschooling can work, and it can work well!" <br /><br />*More to follow...Deannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113928043039917799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-55725833476751868042010-04-27T18:05:30.143-07:002010-04-27T18:05:30.143-07:00Would it be helpful to hear from adults who were u...Would it be helpful to hear from adults who were unschooled?<br /><br />Here is what my 26 year old son wrote on Facebook regarding the GMA unschooling segment:<br /><br />"I was unschooled in junior high and high school. Did I struggle in college? Nope. I was an honors student and had one of the highest GPAs of my graduating class. Did I have a difficult time adjusting socially? I had zero problems making new friends. I can, without a doubt, say that I felt more prepared for college and had better grades than most of my fellow students who went to local public schools.<br /><br />While my friends were at pep rallies and school assemblies about the dangers of pot I was given the time to freely study philosophy, Russian literature, Dada art, free jazz, 20th century classical music, world politics, beat poetry, and whatever else interested me on top of the basics. And in depth. Not just through a solitary, dull as dirt text book chapter in a class taught by a football coach. Surprise! I even managed to get good grades in my college math and science classes! Who would've thunk?"<br />********<br />And a comment he made in response to someone else:<br /><br />"I'd like to clarify and say that there are also a lot of terrific teachers out there. I'm not trying to demean that profession in any way. I had several incredible teachers in elementary school and I also went to college with some people who will probably be fantastic teachers. I'm just saying that public education is kind of a gamble and to dismiss the successes of unschooling (which is different than homeschooling) would be foolish. I'm constantly amazed by how little some of my intelligent friends know about history, geography, literature, philosophy, religions other than Christianity, and the world outside of the United States. It's not because they're dumb, it's because they didn't learn anything in public school, and the meager things they WERE taught were merely memorized and regurgitated for tests, and then promptly discarded."Deannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113928043039917799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-23857684903524350982010-04-26T22:09:24.958-07:002010-04-26T22:09:24.958-07:00Just wanted to answer Gracefire's question: U...Just wanted to answer Gracefire's question: Unschoolers can be single parents who have to work too. That's the beauty of unschooling. Of course you will have to find someone to care for your child while you are working, but when you're not working you can be choosing to live life with them and watch them learn at whatever you're doing, be it grocery store runs or just cuddling on the couch watching a movie before bed. If you feel called to do it, you can find a way to do it. And think how much you and your child will learn about creatively meeting your needs! Depending on your work situation and age of your child, you might even be able to take them with you. I used to take my oldest with me to my church job (organist) whenever I practiced. Good luck....organjessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-72597448833313417762010-04-26T18:08:20.113-07:002010-04-26T18:08:20.113-07:00This was a great article - it has certainly clarif...This was a great article - it has certainly clarified the difference between homeschooling and unschooling.<br /><br />My husband & I had discussed homeschooling even prior to our little boy (2) being born. I now understand that the idea of homeschooling we had is really unschooling.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to some amazing adventures :)Helena Denleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17730300541541633105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-68782338235683832762010-04-26T17:09:58.439-07:002010-04-26T17:09:58.439-07:00Thanks for posting this!! I loved reading through ...Thanks for posting this!! I loved reading through all of the different experiences and look forward to future posts.<br />I have gone back and forth on the idea of homeschooling my 3yo son, but haven't looked seriously into it because I'm just not sure I could do it. I have recently heard about unschooling and am now, after reading the post, thinking, oh my gosh! My son would thrive with this! I could do this! We do this already! <br />Thanks for exposing me to another aspect of homeschooling that may make the decision for me.Acacia @ Be Present Mamahttp://www.bepresentmama.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-26186328200434401982010-04-26T02:03:48.731-07:002010-04-26T02:03:48.731-07:00Is the world full of people who are good at follow...Is the world full of people who are good at following rules? All those people that can't hold down a job, do you think they were all unschooled? Even those that manage it, it's not like jobs are full of people satisfied with what they are doing. Why do you think that being made to do something you don't want to makes you better at tolerating it. That's like saying that out in the real world we are exposed to thousands of cancer causing toxins so we might as well expose our children to as many toxins as possible to get them used to it.Jadenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-10812881743597688302010-04-26T01:27:13.251-07:002010-04-26T01:27:13.251-07:00I have 5 kids, 3 of which are in school and one wh...I have 5 kids, 3 of which are in school and one who should start next year. I really hate our school system here, and after reading this i would like to talk my husband into this or more of a homeschooling routine. It would just be alot easier on all of us.<br />I do have a question, i was once told that children HAVE to attend school its state law here (missouri) how do i deal with that? Any help would be greatly helpful.<br />Also what about college should your children chose to attend? Is that even an option? How does that work for transcripts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-4711849130241660772010-04-26T00:59:17.983-07:002010-04-26T00:59:17.983-07:00Here's the problem I have with this concept:
...Here's the problem I have with this concept:<br /><br />On the one hand, "unschooling" parents claim this approach prepares their children very well for the real world.<br /><br />On the other hand, the crux of it is not forcing children into a routine or to do things they don't want to do.<br /><br />And therein lies the rub. Because guess what? In almost any career or life path they choose, there will be a routine forced upon you to a large extent, and no matter how good your job is, there will be parts of it you don't want to do. That's why they pay you to keep showing up. How is teaching your child they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, supposed to prepare them for having a boss and assignments?<br /><br />You can claim unschooling and living without a routine or avoiding any chore you don't want to do prepares children well, but unfortunately, there's not much of a career path for Haiku Poets, Lilly Pad Sniffers, or Full Time Dreamers.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01905086794340337553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-60797971424477202342010-04-25T22:30:00.591-07:002010-04-25T22:30:00.591-07:00Really interesting and I think this is a great top...Really interesting and I think this is a great topic! I do love the things said about unschooling. But....I am choosing not to unschool or homeschool my daughter at least not for middle school and highschool I am considering traditional homeschooling for her elementary years strongly. I feel that my daughter would miss out on experiences like homecoming, prom, pep-rallys, yearbook club and other things she could access and be interactive with other children of her community on. i really enjoyed those things in school (i was both home schooled and in public school at separate times of my life.) <br /><br />I also do wish for her to go to college and hope that she will choose to do so. (though i'm supportive either way, my parents were too) I think college is another great experience in itself. And no matter what, we all know that many of the "big wigs" at major money making companies have degrees from colleges they attended and rarely if at all do they hire someone without a degree from a college. <br /><br />I wish for her to make alot of money and never feel financial stress, I want her to be successful. That doesnt mean that I think the only way to achieve success is with schooling or working at another persons company, i dont think that at all. But I would never be unhappy about her doing that as long as i knew she was happy. <br /><br />I don't think that a young child can make as great a choice in deciding he /she wants to homeschool as he/ she would if they were an adult with many more years of life experiences. But i completely respect that my child is capable of making her own decisions mostly on her own, and let her do so encouragingly all the time (I want her to have confidence in her decision making). <br /><br />I have been considering a waldorf (http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/)schools for my daughter since, they are founded on the believe that children should be respected as human beings and allowed to truly grow and express themselves in a happy, loving and encouraging environment without labels and competitive testing and "academic placement". <br /><br />But I also think unschooling is great too and I fully support any parent that wants to do so for their child. It's great to see parents taking such an active and participating role in their child's lives and education. Not all parents in the world are so kind and caring so i'm glad to be amongst the group that does. <br /><br />I send big hugs and lots of love to all you great and loving mommys! (regardless of whether your choice is to school or unschool) :0)<br /><br />Thanks for the great post. Im learning alot. :0DAnita Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08645140510907600206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-38990549980634268952010-04-25T20:36:31.995-07:002010-04-25T20:36:31.995-07:00This is so, so frustrating to me. Do any of these...This is so, so frustrating to me. Do any of these mothers work outside the home? I am a single, working mother who has no family and no support system and every. single. time. I read about unschooling, there is always at least one parent who does not work outside the home. I hear about the evils of traditional schooling, how it will emotionally scar your child, yet there is never any advice on how to pull it off if you are not privileged enough to be able to stay home with your children. What about us parents for whom that is not an option? What about parents who have to work outside the home? Is unschooling accessible to them? How do they do it?Gracefirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06579505932612742333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-90417757725668183042010-04-25T19:23:11.217-07:002010-04-25T19:23:11.217-07:00I answered on my blog. :) http://cottonwoodjournal...I answered on my blog. :) http://cottonwoodjournal.blogspot.com/2010/04/unschooling-q.htmllijhehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09213848554493937668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-16629957485773378272010-04-25T17:56:10.517-07:002010-04-25T17:56:10.517-07:00hell i'd be doing this IF my kids were left to...hell i'd be doing this IF my kids were left to being educated thru the american schools. lol!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-40223347031070170582010-04-25T08:40:10.456-07:002010-04-25T08:40:10.456-07:00In retrospect, with my children now young adults i...In retrospect, with my children now young adults in their twenties, I believe unschooling parenting gave me license to abdicate some of my parental responsibilities.I have some regrets about my own 'let down' as a single mom, when they took on their own lives. It took much soul searching to step off the public school assembly line with my children when they were middle schoolers. The first thing that become obvious was that we as a family also sealed our fate for having access (priveledge) to true participation in youth sports, to get academic scholarships and simple cred when applying for entry level jobs. When the family makes the choice to step aside of the mainstream, it does mean you have to continue as cultural pioneers, bushwacking through youth development without society approval and supports. This leap of faith, that unschooling is the best choice, has borne out in my adult children. My son got higher scores on the SAT - than his HS peers. My children were far better prepared to be self sufficient, resourceful, cooperative in any setting, deeply curious and true adult learners who excelled in a college situation and can adapt and adjust to work for wages or be entrepreneurial.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-8510518051840964262010-04-25T06:14:19.826-07:002010-04-25T06:14:19.826-07:00I've done a lot of searching about unschooling...I've done a lot of searching about unschooling, and like these interviewees, what I see are parents of fairly young children talking about how great it is. What I haven't been able to find is the 30 year old person who was unschooled and his/her view.<br /><br />My question about unschooling is what types of jobs/careers to unschoolers typically choose. Are the mostly creative/art related or do any choose to become doctors, lawyers or anything that requires extensive, formal training?Oliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01828516083662339236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-41910163946452707612010-04-25T04:18:49.752-07:002010-04-25T04:18:49.752-07:00I would have appreciated a more in depth interview...I would have appreciated a more in depth interview with seasoned unschoolers rather than people who kind of unschool or who have not been doing it very long.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-37815054043507622172010-04-24T16:04:46.834-07:002010-04-24T16:04:46.834-07:00I wanted to touch on mommyofmany's question ab...I wanted to touch on mommyofmany's question about laws protecting unschoolers. The same laws that govern homeschooling also are there for unschoolers. It really is no different for each group. You send in your intent to homeschool form and you homeschool or unschool your children. It is as simple as that. :) No need for organizations or anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-54185526551281953892010-04-24T11:04:00.431-07:002010-04-24T11:04:00.431-07:00This is so fun!! I am loving reading all the kind...This is so fun!! I am loving reading all the kinds of unschooling out there besides how my family does it. :)melissaRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-1366813288369088622010-04-24T07:46:49.818-07:002010-04-24T07:46:49.818-07:00Great topic. And nice to hear from another unscho...Great topic. And nice to hear from another unschooled adult. I was unschooled, too. =)Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647464014543827875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-7806304485099879672010-04-24T07:45:02.708-07:002010-04-24T07:45:02.708-07:00I have a few questions? Are there laws protecting ...I have a few questions? Are there laws protecting unschoolers? Has anyone had to deal with repercussions of not enrolling their child in a "school" of some type. I really wonder about that aspect of it. I was homeschooled and we joined an organization to help keep up with record days attended and such. I completely agree that children who learn from home are better rounded and can survive in the world.At 16 I got a job and my father cosigned a loan for me to get my car and I had to pay my car payment, insurance, gas, and what I had left over was mine. I moved out of my parents home when I was 16 1/2 and kept a job and paid my bills as well as other adults did because my mother and father taught me how to manage my money and work hard for it. I want to teach my children values and how to thrive in the world but am a little unsure how the legality of everything works. How do they get decent jobs if they dont go to collage? do you have to have a certain number of credits or collages just accept them with just an SAT score? My husband and I have already decided that our youngest 2 are not going to public school and if we could we would take the other children(we are a blended family with 6 kids) out of public schools but that would have to be an agreed decision that both parents make, if one disagrees then they have to stay in public school.mommyofmanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01533100549733544401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-61684358550386737712010-04-24T07:43:18.581-07:002010-04-24T07:43:18.581-07:00I am so happy you have blasted open this topic! M...I am so happy you have blasted open this topic! My husband and I have been considering home schooling for our daughter (just turned 3) since she was still an infant and only in the last 6 months I have stumbled upon the concept of unschooling. The idea appeals to me in a major way. I fully agree with it. My daughter has expressed how badly she wants to go to school, so we have enrolled her in pre school. So we will see how that goes but I believe we are "unschooling" our children all the time, even if you choose to put your child in school, you unschool them every minute they are awake and with you, life is one big learning experience. Prop to all you stay at home parents!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-15880520504011970282010-04-24T07:35:49.623-07:002010-04-24T07:35:49.623-07:00Thanks for sharing this information. My husband an...Thanks for sharing this information. My husband and I are very seriously considering homeschooling our little girl (she is 18 months now), but are unsure of what method of schooling we would use, if any, when the time comes. <br /><br />I have heard of unschooling before, but it's so nice to hear a variety of opinions and methods on how can be done. Very informative!Outspoken Tomatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04778458076215789583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-40065001832683458022010-04-24T05:41:58.647-07:002010-04-24T05:41:58.647-07:00Unschooling is a brilliant idea. I first found out...Unschooling is a brilliant idea. I first found out about through the Teenage Liberation Handbook, which I highly recommend to anyone who knows nothing about unschooling. Unschooling may not be an option for some people until they have children that are teenagers, and begin to dislike going to school. I'm sure everyone out their in the big bad world, at one time or another, has dreaded school, esp. as Monday morning is creeping up on your Sunday. Boy, that feeling is something I still remember as an adult.<br />As a parent, I don't want my kids to hate school or even be forced to being something they are not. Learning should be fun and to some degree on the child's interest, not forced.<br />Unschooling, for me, is like peaceful parenting and it nurtures the innate skills that are inherent to your child.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799685441547308974.post-89311965071298153812010-04-24T05:36:21.814-07:002010-04-24T05:36:21.814-07:00Very, very interesting. We are unschoolers and I ...Very, very interesting. We are unschoolers and I enjoyed hearing from other families and hearing their perspectives on it. <br /><br />After all the mainstream controversy last week I was jolted into reality of how difficult it is for people to comprehend especially if they rarely think "outside the box". <br /><br />For us it was so common sense. Life after school was such a rude awakening for my husband and I--we had school loans, no real direction, no idea how to write a resume (and were college educated) and the last thing we ever wanted to do was sit inside a cubicle until we retired. <br /><br />We realized that instead of just spending all of our time in school we could have been learning valuable life skills that were 1)interesting to us and 2) contributed to our life sustenance. INstead we were in our mid-twenties in debt and felt like we had to start from scratch. <br /><br />We realized with our children we could give them the opportunity to learn organically. Just watching a child grow and learn is a miracle in itself. They are so self-motivated and curious and want their questions answered. The key is to let them find the answer instead of saying, "Well, right now we're talking about the ABC's not science." (not to mention that the ABCs are in science--all learning material is integrated, not separate material).<br /><br />I am watching my 5 year old start to pick out letters and patterns while we're reading and I just normally continue the conversation. I answer his questions and offer some insights. I didn't teach him how to crawl or walk, but I sure did support and encourage him in those endeavors. Same thing goes for reading, writing, numbers etc. <br /><br />We run a business and our children watch us balance our life of work and play. My oldest goes to job sites with Dad and watches him use geometry and math to help configure projects. Dad asks him to help and he feels very proud to be a part of our family business. <br /><br />I could go on and on and on......<br /><br />Watching our children learn and growing (and learning along with them) is pretty much the most amazing and exciting thing.Hillaryhttp://www.infinitelearners.comnoreply@blogger.com