Ren Allen

I'm still having problems cutting and pasting...so bear with me.


Rebecca,
You said something about being a "closet unschooler", I suggest you
try to find some other unschoolers in your area so you don't feel like
the only ones that understand natural learning.

Also, Brandi mentioned being a clost unschooler around people that
don't get it...but she's NO closet unschooler.
She runs an email list for locals here in the Tri-cities (TN) area and
her list descpription is totally, completely, 100%, authentic, radical
unschooling!! When new folks sign on, she usually questions the
unschooling aspect of things prett quick. I get the feeling she's
fairly outspoken in real life too.:)

BUT, a lot of us are quieter around those that don't understand and
don't want to understand. With other homeschoolers, I'm very bold. I
don't care what anyone thinks anymore. I'm also fortunate to have had
several unschooling families surrounding me in real life for the past
few years. Our closest friends are radical unschoolers....oh yeah, and
my SISTER too. Many of them are right here at this list.

What area are you in? Maybe we can help you find some radicals to hang
out with...it really helps.


Ren

thetaberskifamily

--- In [email protected], "Ren Allen"
<starsuncloud@n...> wrote:
>

> several unschooling families surrounding me in real life for the past
> few years. Our closest friends are radical unschoolers....oh yeah, and
> my SISTER too. Many of them are right here at this list.
>
> What area are you in? Maybe we can help you find some radicals to hang
> out with...it really helps.
>
Ren,

We are in Indiana..I found an Indiana Unschoolers List and posted a
while back but there doesn't appear to be a lot of activity or anyone
real close to where we are. And I guess "closet" depends on who
we're "closeted" around. All of my family and friends know exactly how
we homeschool...may not know there is a specific term for it. My
dad "gets it" and we have many, many conversations. He has taken to
preaching on homeschooling and discipleship from an interest-led
perspective - using real book, using real life experiences, sparking an
interest, etc. It's been very exciting for me to have this connection
with my dad. So I guess I just feel all closety around the homeschool
group that we've met with (meet monthly with moms and starting a
monthly get together for the kids - AFTER 1/2:00 so everyone can tidy
up school). These moms are really nice and I do think there is one who
at least takes a more relaxed approach but she keeps shooting me the "I
wouldn't say anything here" looks whenever I ask how everyone
homeschools, what do they do, do they do everything in one big block of
time or do they break it up into their daily routine, etc. I need to
get her alone so we can have a heart to heart.

We did meet a family at the library a few weeks ago that we've been
getting together with now for 2 weeks and they are great! She only
uses something for language arts and math and does "school" in under an
hour. So she's a lot more flexible with her time and we've stayed out
together all day. Her 2 older girls are exactly the ages of the my
two. She asks how we do it and I tell her...just don't use the term
unschool. She's borrowed my Ruth Beechick books so I am kind of hoping
(since she was open to it) that she'll get an idea or two of how to
break away from the curriculum and see how to use their routine,
interests and daily life. When we were together last week she asked if
we were going to go home and do Allie's schoolwork...I said that we
would definitely read (me aloud and Allie practicing her reading)before
she went to bed but that that WAS our "school".

Besides, she'd been playing at the library (reading, computer, theme
boxes, puzzles) the whole time we'd been there. Mass amounts of
learning....right there.

Well, off to church...


Rebecca

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/30/2005 4:36:11 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:

We are in Indiana..I found an Indiana Unschoolers List and posted a
while back but there doesn't appear to be a lot of activity or anyone
real close to where we are. And I guess "closet" depends on who
we're "closeted" around.


*************************************
Are you anywhere near Indianapolis? I have a friend who is new to
unschooling in Indianapolis and having a heckuva time finding people...because in
addition to the unschooling thing, they are also a lesbian family! One group
actually changed on their site from being "inclusive" to "traditional
heterosexual family" after they visited!!!!

Kathryn


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

thetaberskifamily

--- In [email protected], KathrynJB@a... wrote:
>
>
> >
> *************************************
> Are you anywhere near Indianapolis? I have a friend who is new to
> unschooling in Indianapolis and having a heckuva time finding
people...because in
> addition to the unschooling thing, they are also a lesbian family!
One group
> actually changed on their site from being "inclusive"
to "traditional
> heterosexual family" after they visited!!!!
>
> Kathryn

We're about 2 1/2 to 3 hours from Indy by South Bend and Notre Dame.
The closest we've found have been about an hour away towards Michigan
City.

And they actually CHANGED their site like that...well that was a
pretty rude and not so subtle hint. I'm having a hard time fitting
in at moments and we are rather consertative Christiany...just not
with the way we homeschool. I can't even imagine the difficulty they
are having.

Rebecca

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/30/2005 4:45:39 PM Eastern Standard Time,
KathrynJB@... writes:

I have a friend who is new to
unschooling in Indianapolis and having a heckuva time finding
people...because in
addition to the unschooling thing, they are also a lesbian family! One
group
actually changed on their site from being "inclusive" to "traditional
heterosexual family" after they visited!!!!

Kathryn



~~~~~~~~~~
That is just down-right cruel! Geesh, talk about having an "open" mind.
Discrimination just leaves such a sour taste.... I've been the brunt of way too
much of it. But to blatantly change a group like that is pitiful... My husband
was raised by two moms and he's probably the most sensitive, in-tune with his
feminine side guy. AND he was a semi-pro football player. Nothing wrong with
him.
UGH... sorry, that just really fired me up LOL

Jenny
Homeschooling in Greenfield, MA
Danny (12-1-99), Kelsey (11-1-01) and Evelyn (5-19-04)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Education is not filling a pail but the lighting of a fire. ~William Butler
Yeats



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]