[email protected]

I totally agree with you all about using the term "eclectic" or some other
word...but NOT Unschooling.
I was at least aware enough all of these years to not call myself an
Unschooler even though I heavily leaned before finally letting go.
I told people "I lean towards Unschooling Philosophies" and even had a group
called "Eclectic Homeschoolers" and actually met a total Unschooler through
it.
It irritates the heck out of me when groups like that WAUnschoolers use the
title, because they do a huge disservice to anyone really trying to
understand unschooling.
No Andrea, they are NOT Unschoolers. I can tell just from the small amount
that you posted.
And it wouldn't be worth my time to go to their site and discuss it with
them. They don't get it, my posts won't help them.
At Unschooling.com I DO feel it could make a difference though.
And the way the entire battle resurfaced, was that I questioned a brand new
unschooler over her comment "and if our kids get behind, we will help them"
or something to that effect.
I got completely slammed by a couple of people that said "do it YOUR own way"
and then JoAnna came on and pointed out that the list was lacking in
substance...
blah, blah, blah.
Some of us are very passionate about pure, radical unschooling. I do not try
and shove my views down anyone's throat that doesn't want it. By posting at a
public UNSCHOOL board, they are asking for my opinion and anyone elses that
wants to give it. And hey, I never said "don't do it that way" I just don't
like it being called Unschooling.
YK?
People want to have this ambiguous definition of Unschooling. I say it's
fairly easy to define, because we have many of John Holt's books!! How it
applies to other areas of life can be a grey area, but that's why I turn to
people like Sandra, Joyce and Pam (among others) to get a feel for how they
handle certain situations.
I have a deep respect for them and how they are raising their kids.
So it makes sense to turn to them for advice when I'm not sure about
something.
These ladies have EARNED the right to some respect by their peers and new
Unschoolers imo!!
I mean Sandra has been deeply entrenched in the public school system (having
been a teacher) I think she knows what the heck she's talking about when she
speaks for Unschooling!!!!
Anyhoooo...
I'll shut up now. I just wanted you to know that I don't think your WA group
are Unschoolers at all.
And I'd be happy to look in my old issue of GWS and see where some
Unschoolers are in the Seattle area. I would guess that anyone in that
directory would be closer to true Unschooling than the people on your e-mail
list.
It would be a good start anyway.
Although any homeschoolers can be a good support network for friendships.
My oldest ds has a best friend in ps, so friends are in any walk of life of
course. But it is nice to "let your guard" down so to speak and not have to
explain why you do things the way you do.
I have had good experiences with many of the homeschoolers here. The ones
that judge me and think I'm nuts, don't talk to me. So it works out fine.
The ones I get along great with are willing to accept my views without
judgement. Even though they do things different.
Ren