| In my seven years of homeschooling I've found | | | | mention of any types of rules handed down by |
| that there are usually three types of | | | | the parent - bedtimes, mealtimes, etc. - seemed |
| homeschooling families, each with different goals | | | | to be out the window. At the time I was on this |
| and desires for their children. Many homeschooling | | | | list I was still working outside the home, so we all |
| families will find themselves in one of these niches. | | | | had bedtimes. Anytime I mentioned bedtime I |
| These niches are not a bad thing, necessarily, but | | | | was told I "wasn't an unschooler" and pretty |
| some of them, in my opinion, can be taken to an | | | | much that any type of rules from me or his |
| extreme. | | | | father was hurting him. Even though the parents |
| When researching homeschooling I found there | | | | didn't seem to advocate any "rules", it seemed |
| are a lot of different names for different styles | | | | these radical unschoolers had a lot of them. One |
| of homeschooling. You have "school at home", a | | | | particular discussion was about swimming lessons. |
| strict type of schooling with a full curriculum, laid | | | | Were they too restrictive? Did they count as |
| out lesson plans, desks and maybe even a chalk | | | | "curriculum"? Should children not participate? |
| board or white board. School starts at 8:30 a.m. | | | | I was only on that list 2 weeks. I knew I still |
| on the dot with scheduled breaks, lunch and even | | | | wanted to homeschool, but I swore I would |
| a recess. I've even heard of some moms who | | | | never unschool because I didn't want my child to |
| have their children call them "Mrs. Jones" or | | | | be selfish and mean like the parents on that list. I |
| whatever when they are homeschooling in this | | | | also chose to stay off lists that proclaimed "Do it |
| method. | | | | MY way or it isn't right." |
| You also have a relaxed homeschooler. This | | | | It's been over 7 years now since I was a part of |
| homeschooler follows a curriculum but it's usually | | | | that email list and since then I've met more |
| loosely structured. Lessons take place on the | | | | unschoolers. |
| couch, at the kitchen table, in the family car or | | | | I know now that not all unschoolers are so |
| wherever else may be convenient. Sometimes | | | | "radical" and that unschooled children can be |
| the lesson is tossed for the day and they end up | | | | sweet and kind and unselfish. I also discovered it |
| watching movies as a family or going on a spur of | | | | doesn't matter what curriculum you use or don't |
| the moment field trip. Lessons start whenever | | | | use. Everyone needs to do what is right for their |
| the family feels like starting and may end well into | | | | family. |
| the night. | | | | However much I've learned about unschooling, |
| Then there are unschoolers. These are families | | | | though, I still have a fear of actually going through |
| who use no curriculum and at times seem to | | | | with it. |
| have no rules at all for their children. If they live in | | | | Maybe if I'd been able to homeschool my son |
| a state that requires a portfolio or testing, they | | | | from the beginning instead of starting in third |
| may break down every now and again and | | | | grade then maybe my feelings would be different. |
| produce some work, but they primarily just go | | | | Unschooling can be a positive thing, especially |
| with the flow. Parents have material readily | | | | starting with a young child. I still believe that a |
| available for the kids to play with or read and | | | | home should have basic rules, however, just |
| believe that they are there to be a resource for | | | | because everyone has to live there together. |
| the child. Some unschoolers are more strict than | | | | Those rules may be simple, such as bedtimes and |
| others, sometimes even more so than the | | | | mealtimes and chores and maybe there is an |
| "school at home" parents. These types of | | | | agreement that during certain times of the day |
| unschoolers are called "radical unschoolers". | | | | the TV, computer and video games are turned |
| I consider myself a relaxed homeschooler. I love | | | | off unless you are doing something educational. |
| the idea of unschooling, but I fear it as well. I fear | | | | Within that framework I believe a child could find |
| that if we unschool that our son would spend all | | | | something to occupy their time - reading a book, |
| day playing games and watching TV. I fear that | | | | creating a project or even playing with a sibling. All |
| he won't learn to spell or read well or write | | | | of those things can be a positive unschooling |
| anything, much less learn enough math to get into | | | | experience. |
| college. I fear that he will be selfish and rude and | | | | Even though homeschoolers do try to put |
| care only about himself. I have reasons to feel | | | | themselves in a "category", homeschooling is |
| this way and any newbie homeschooler should be | | | | actually so varied and different for everyone that |
| prepared if she dips her toe into the unschooling | | | | there can be no set of rules that pertains to us |
| waters. | | | | all. As homeschooling parents, we need to look at |
| When my husband and I first started discussing | | | | how our children learn best. There is no one |
| homeschooling I researched and tried to learn | | | | curriculum for all. No one can teach their child |
| everything I could. That was how I heard about | | | | everything and everything will not be learned |
| unschooling. I thought it sounded great and I | | | | during the typical schooling years. Learning should |
| wanted to know more. I found a very well known | | | | be for a lifetime and education means that you |
| site on unschooling and joined their email list. This | | | | are able to find out what you need to know |
| site and list featured a predominant unschooling | | | | when you need to know it. A quote from Think |
| figure that is well-known as a speaker at various | | | | and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill states: |
| homeschooling events. | | | | An educated man is one who has so developed |
| I found the people on this site - including this | | | | the faculties of his mind that he may acquire |
| well-known speaker - and the email list mostly | | | | anything he wants, or its equivalent, without |
| rude and arrogant. They apparently allowed their | | | | violating the rights of others. |
| kids to stay up at all hours, play games all day, | | | | I think this should be the goal of all education, not |
| and, in my opinion,pretty much allowed their | | | | just homeschooling. |
| children to do whatever they wanted. Any | | | | |