Unschooling - thoughts?

[Snickerdoodle1]

Recently got back in touch with an old school friend via Facebook, have mostly shared messages but last week we met properly for coffee and was good to see her again.

I'd never heard of it before but apparently she is 'unschooling' her DS - not the same as home ed as they never sit down and dedicate time to work, they just visit the occasional museum and forest school class but mostly just focus on being happy. They go on a lot of holidays and spend time will their fellow unschooling friends.

Her DS seems cheerful and positive so clearly she's doing something right but when I was discussing with DH later at home he said he thinks it's 'not fair' on someone not to equip them for life and work and adulthood.

Just wondering what other people's thoughts/opinions are on it?

And that is why I never considered home schooling @milkmaiden. I would never have thought of half of those.

Which is fine, but that’s also why people who don’t home ed shouldn’t make judgements or comments about people who do. People who don’t home ed tend to not think about things in that way. Which as I said is fine, but they make assumptions.

You're right, they do, and yes you're right, we do. Thank you.

load of pretentious wanky woke bollocks.
Kids have to learn the basics of reading, writing and numeracy and that wont happen properly by letting them have free reign of what they want.

Now some people can do it successfully - guiding kids to unconscious learning through activities but most won't.

@milkmaiden isn't that just called parenting

You're playing a semantics game, but yes I agree; educating your child is simply parenting.

Unschooling? Sounds like skiving off if you ask me!

Firstly isn't it illegal not to have your child engaging in education (I know home schooling is legal though don't they have to still sit the exams etc?)

Secondly, I feel for this child. Fine she may be happy, but being happy won't pay the bills and I certainly wouldn't hire someone with little educational attainment. I need to be assured the person can critically think. If they just send me a blank educational history they won't get the chance to even convince me.

Thirdly, what about real world experience of education and the fact that you have to sometimes do things you don't want to do! If its because she doesn't like school then sorry, get a grip and get into school.

We are bringing up a bunch of narcissists who think social rules don't apply.

@user1471447863

What do you mean when you say woke?

Home educated children do not have to sit exams. The rest of your comment is incredibly ignorant and I cannot be bothered going over this again.

Haven't RTFT but have got the general gist and I agree with pps who've said this constitutes neglect. This poor kid is going to be so disadvantaged in later life.

Reminds me of people who pull their kids out of school in term time to go on holiday and then attempt to justify it with homilies like 'my child can learn more on a wonderful enriching family holiday than in any classroom.' Pfft. 😒

People who don’t home ed tend to not think about things in that way. Which as I said is fine, but they make assumptions.

I haven't made assumptions about home educating. I just know I didn't and don't have it in me to do it myself. I think imparting knowledge to someone is quite a skill, and it is a skill I don't have (nor do I have the patience).

I also recognise the difference between home "educating* and unschooling.

So the friend has "serious" career plans? Yeah right.

There is absolutely no chance she's planning on entering the work place any time soon and will use the child as the excuse.

However, if she does enter the real world sooner rather than later and the child has to attend a normal school, that poor kid is going to get eaten alive by the average high schooler.

Not knocking home schooling and kudos to those who can actually do it properly. This however, just comes across as Viz's Modern Parents.

For example, a parent may not enforce reading but will create an environment which fosters a love of the written word, with a wide range of books in the home, with bedtime stories, with modelling reading for pleasure.

I'm sorry but this doesn't work. You can have a house full of books, read every night to your child and talk about books endlessly, as well as modelling reading for pleasure yourself and it still won't necessarily turn them into readers.

There's plenty of pedagogic research into this, a causal link (after stripping out other factors) has never been found. (I used to research broadly in this area)

Interestingly, the converse IS true – DCs who are brought up in homes with no books and who never see anyone reading are unlikely to become ardent readers themselves. But there is no evidence whatsoever for the sort of positive connection you assume.

I'm sorry but this doesn't work. You can have a house full of books, read every night to your child and talk about books endlessly, as well as modelling reading for pleasure yourself and it still won't necessarily turn them into readers.

Sadly, this is true. I read to DD until she was 13 (yes, 13) and she still isn't much of a reader.

Never mind @RampantIvy she's a scientist, isn't she? My scientist DD reads loads for pleasure, but it's mostly trash 😀

I realise I might have come across as very negative – I definitely don't think formal education in England has got everything right. We start too young and focus too much on exams rather than learning, so I can absolutely see the attraction of certain elements of home schooling. It's just that there is no evidence for this particular claim.

@bringincrazyback - it is true that some kids can learn more in holidays than school - depends on the school, the parents and the holiday of course. I understand why they have this rule - as overall on average kids may miss out on some parts of education. But I think some kids miss out on wonderful opportunities due to it - which is partly why we home Ed (don’t do unschooling though).

We are unschoolers here and my 15 year old has completed 5 GCSEs already as well as other level 2 qualification and nearly finished a level 3 (worth UCAS) points. So far her grades have all been at least a 7 including the exam she sat in Year 8! She has won competitions, taught herself a wide range of skills she wouldn’t have had time for in the classroom and has a looooong list of courses she is undertaking next year until she is old enough to start college (she already meets the entry criteria). She is bright but most importantly she is self motivated and has a love of learning which hasn’t been dampened by being forced to study things she isn’t interested in.

unschooling doesn’t mean ignoring your children. It’s all about spotting interests and fuelling fires and giving them a broad and interesting life. If anything it’s harder than conventional schooling as it’s constantly changing and you have to be focussed enough to see where to facilitate.

truth is children are naturally curious and want to learn. When we start forcing them to do things and focus on extrinsic motivation this natural urge reduces. Also I suggest googling about the current state of mental health in our nations teenagers and ask yourself what could be the causes of this!

Oh also with regards to catching up. GCSEs can be done in a few months from scratch. We average about 9 months of study.

Could you let me know what you used to study these? My kids aren’t that age yet but I want to make sure I’m prepared for when they are.

Could you let me know what you used to study these? My kids aren’t that age yet but I want to make sure I’m prepared for when they are.

Various ways, tutors, self taught, distance learning.
some options
absolute maths
catherine mooney english
humanatees
local co-op groups
nexus
arts award
tech triumphs
idea awards

I do know someone who did this and thier son went to school last two years of secondary and was star pupil, i mean aced aced his exams! He won scholarship to America. The parents said they completely did unschooling and followed their child's passion. He Is studying biology and science. It can work, just like the school system isn't designed for all children and their true abilities sometimes.

I would have classed that as home schooling rather than unschooling @Christmastreejoy. To pass 5 GCSEs you would have to follow some kind of syllabus.

Following the syllabus was completely her choice as was when she chose to study and how. If she didn’t want to continue she was free to stop and had full say in whether to enrol for the exams this year or leave it till later or not at all. Unschooling is allowing your child complete freedom in their choices, for many this will include the child choosing to take qualifications in subjects they enjoy (or even those they don’t if they see the need to do so). She has started a course and chosen not to continue and knew she had my full support with this. This is the difference between unschooling and following a curriculum. The choice at every step is hers and we help facilitate whatever that path may be!

We also unschool our son who may or may not take formal qualifications. Again this will be based on his preference and needs