Any unschoolers around?

[Cocopopping]

After six months of doing worksheets set by school I’ve realised thats not the way I want to do things if (when!) schools close again, and am also considering home eduction long term regardless of Covid.

I’ve been looking into unschooling/autonomous home ed and I think that’s the direction I’d like to take. I wondered if there are any unschoolers around?

Yes, us! It is a moderately popular approach in this country. Among knowledgeable people it is well recognised as being effective, so other home educators have never raised an eyebrow at the idea even if they might not choose it for their own kids. Even the government accepts it, if a bit grudgingly. But the average person in the street is another matter, LOL: "But what if they play computer games all day? You don't even make them do maths?! What if they grow up illiterate?" So it is considered very radical by those who haven't been exposed to the idea.

My young people are now aged 14 and 20 and have always been educated this way. We love it.

How old are your kids?

We are too. I second what PP has written.

Mine is nearly 10.

Did you see this Guardian article a few days ago? tinyurl.com/y2hb7bp7

It's rare to see unschooling feature in mainstream media at all, let alone in a fairly positive article. However, it does rather imply that it's okay for her since she is a middle-class former teacher, whereas actually people from all backgrounds can do it effectively.

No I didn't but thanks for the link.

Yea that's one of the usual misconceptions, isn't it? Even towards home educators in general (Non-Unschoolers).

'You can only do it if you're rich/a teacher, etc.'

No I didn't but thanks for the link.

Yea that's one of the usual misconceptions, isn't it? Even towards home educators in general (Non-Unschoolers).

'You can only do it if you're rich/a teacher, etc.'

Thanks both... yes agree most people seem to think it sounds really out there.

My kids are 8 and 11, but it’s the eldest I think would be most suited to unschooling. The youngest loves school! The eldest has SEN and has always disliked school to different degrees, is really creative and loves exploring their own interests...

Do you think it can work if only one child is unschooled, and the other attends school as normal? We may not have any choice anyway, due to Covid, but trying to think through our options...

Liked that article and will send to curious family members

Hey
We can only claim to be 'unschoolish' for the older two (and it's worth remembering that you don't have to deal in absolutes, or stick to the decision you make if it turns out not to work as well as you'd hoped) but DC3 has absolutely flown tagging along with the others with no attempt at formal instruction. I'm sold frankly, just struggling to let go of all the things I think they should know . I think it's the sort of thing that works better the more minds your child is exposed to, be they children or adult, so they can be stimulated by the ideas of others, but once Covid is bested there will be lots of opportunities for that. If you think it is working in the current circumstances, which have completely floored us, I wouldn't think about sending them back if they aren't super keen on going.