[email protected]

In a message dated 3/19/2002 2:19:24 PM Pacific Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:

>
> Just thought I'd open thedebate on 'Unschooling' or 'child led learning'
<snip> what this ramble is leading too is people's experiences of
> unschooling older children and their thoughts on unschooling

I'm emerging from lurkdom for this one ;-> --

> I feel that workbooks are 'make-work' to keep adults
> happy

Not only happy, but for some, employed <beg>....

> but he is concerned that they will need exams and must have the
> ability to take exams and learn.

In another post, you said your hubby was soon to become the hs'ing parent.
That in itself will provide an interesting wrinkle. My dh sounded alot like
yours when ds was 10. My *devil teacher* had been coming out alot to
tyrannize, and ds, after much mutual soul-searching and a some mutual tears,
informed me that I was fired as his teacher. (His exact words were [albeit
said tenderly], "I need a mother right now more than I need a teacher, and
you're just not very good at changing hats." Out of the mouths of babes...)
Well, I wasn't about to let him get away with firing me -- ! -- so I quit the
job.

Enter dh, who decided that *he* would take over, because after all, those
3R's had to be mastered. That lasted exactly 6 weeks. (Dh got fired, too.)
After that, ds took over responsibility for his own education and unschooling
began in earnest.

> he is concerned that they will need exams and must have the
> ability to take exams and learn.

A few things you might share with your husband: Kids aready know how to
learn (they've been doing it all their lives). Yes, my son did learn how to
take tests. And yes, he did get into the college of his choice, where he is
happily following his interests. It all works out.

Marge