when to claim unschooling
The Mowery Family
When I "found" unschooling, Dana was around 3 years old. Sometime between
when she was 3 and 5 a similar topic arose(I think on unschooling.com) and I
was a bit peeved when told I wasn't unschooling my child because she wasn't
school age. Now that she is 6.5, and learning on her own the same thing her
school peers are having drilled into their heads I understand. That said, I
don't think we would be at this point had I not labelled us as unschoolers
and allowed her the opportunity to go at her own speed. Just the philosophy
in my head gave me the freedom to deschool and let us live.
Having been on both sides of the fence, I think folks who have youngins
should be allowed to call themselves unschoolers and let them live out their
choices. When I found unschooling, I was actually searching for appropriate
preschool information, so "technically" she would have been school age. I
say, don't blow it by limiting the future unschoolers, let them claim the
label and help them grow. Just because we are/were young and lacking hands
on experience doesn't mean our potential experience is of less value.
sistakammi
who's yahoogroups belch finally worked its way to the top and I am finally
caught up with the gazillion messages from all my yahoogroups
when she was 3 and 5 a similar topic arose(I think on unschooling.com) and I
was a bit peeved when told I wasn't unschooling my child because she wasn't
school age. Now that she is 6.5, and learning on her own the same thing her
school peers are having drilled into their heads I understand. That said, I
don't think we would be at this point had I not labelled us as unschoolers
and allowed her the opportunity to go at her own speed. Just the philosophy
in my head gave me the freedom to deschool and let us live.
Having been on both sides of the fence, I think folks who have youngins
should be allowed to call themselves unschoolers and let them live out their
choices. When I found unschooling, I was actually searching for appropriate
preschool information, so "technically" she would have been school age. I
say, don't blow it by limiting the future unschoolers, let them claim the
label and help them grow. Just because we are/were young and lacking hands
on experience doesn't mean our potential experience is of less value.
sistakammi
who's yahoogroups belch finally worked its way to the top and I am finally
caught up with the gazillion messages from all my yahoogroups
>I
>
> > > Because until your child is old enough to attend
> > > school how can you UN
> > > school? You could adhere to unschooling
> > > philosophies/ child-led
> > > learning/attachment style parenting or
> > > whatever....but they aren't
> > > unschooling.
>
> I'm not so sure I agree with this. My daughter's neighbour was over when
> was visiting yesterday. She was delighted to tell my daughter that her
> daughter was learning her alphabet. This little girl, who is about 17
> months old is being taught to repeat the letters after her mother. She
> hasn't got a clue what it all means, but her mother thinks she's learning
> her alphabet. My grandson, at just about 16 months, isn't the least bit
> interested in the alphabet, though he's crazy about books. If he asked
> Heather what the letters were, she'd happily tell him. Otherwise, it just
> isn't an issue. Now I know that lots of people who end up sending their
> kids to school would have the same attitude when their kids are that
> little, but isn't my daughter unschooling Kaelin? Does it make a
> difference that she's also unschooling Skye, age 7? I've always told
> people who were worried that they wouldn't be able to do a good job of
> homeschooling that they've been doing it since their child was born. I
> think that if they've also been letting their child make any educational
> decisions during those "preschool" years, then they've been unschooling
> since birth. Obviously they aren't experienced unschoolers in the sense
> that people with older kids are, but I don't agree that they aren't
> unschooling.
>
> >I did not say it was all equal. My point was, and is,
> >and seems to have been missed and equated to mean
> >other things, that experience does not equal wisdom.
> >That youngness does not equal niaveness. That
> >prejudging based on those things can cause a person to
> >miss out on something important the person they are
> >judging has to offer.
>
> I have to agree with this. Too bad you probably don't live anywhere near
> us, Kitrina. You and my daughter would probably get along well.
> Tia
>
> No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
> Eleanor Roosevelt
> *********************************************
> Tia Leschke
> leschke@...
> On Vancouver Island
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/31/02 7:37:34 PM Pacific Standard Time,
jkkddmowery@... writes:
<< When I found unschooling, I was actually searching for appropriate
preschool information, so "technically" she would have been school age. I
say, don't blow it by limiting the future unschoolers, let them claim the
label and help them grow. >>
Many unschoolers say unschooling is a lifestyle. Some
might say that they are unschooling themselves (as adults-
when learning something--or here is an example. My dh
was in public high school. During his jr year he decided
that he was tired of the repetition that was taught in all
his other classes and spent all day in auto class until
they threw him out of school--was he unschooling? I
don't know, I may say that to define a certain mindset,
but technically he was in school--although he did take
charge of his education?? <shrugging shoulders>)
Guess you could be un-preschooling (there is even a folder
on unschooling message board named that).
Gosh now with some states pushing to lower the mandatory
education law to preschool I don't think that you could be far off
from calling yourself an unschooler.
I knew that I was going to
hs when my dd was one. In fact I knew that I was going to unschool.
I didn't call myself an unschooler until my firstborn was of school
age. But I have been known to say we have always unschooled
and for me that would encompass their early years, because
honestly we didnt' do anything different when they hit school age,
except instead of LLL meetings we went to hs support group
park days.
Yesterday my four yr old was asked about school if it was a day
off. Before I could say anything he said "we homeschool". I
smiled and said, besides he's only four. But funny, he "thinks"
he is hsing and he isn't even of school age. Should I burst his
bubble? Me thinks he might have a melt down if I did so (those
of you who know Jared know what I am talking about LOL).
He would be furious to think he wasn't just like his siblings
regardless of his age. He has been going to field trips and park
days since he was a baby. Is he unschooling. Not technically,
not yet. I just thought it was pretty darn cute how quickly he
answered <g>.
Kathy
jkkddmowery@... writes:
<< When I found unschooling, I was actually searching for appropriate
preschool information, so "technically" she would have been school age. I
say, don't blow it by limiting the future unschoolers, let them claim the
label and help them grow. >>
Many unschoolers say unschooling is a lifestyle. Some
might say that they are unschooling themselves (as adults-
when learning something--or here is an example. My dh
was in public high school. During his jr year he decided
that he was tired of the repetition that was taught in all
his other classes and spent all day in auto class until
they threw him out of school--was he unschooling? I
don't know, I may say that to define a certain mindset,
but technically he was in school--although he did take
charge of his education?? <shrugging shoulders>)
Guess you could be un-preschooling (there is even a folder
on unschooling message board named that).
Gosh now with some states pushing to lower the mandatory
education law to preschool I don't think that you could be far off
from calling yourself an unschooler.
I knew that I was going to
hs when my dd was one. In fact I knew that I was going to unschool.
I didn't call myself an unschooler until my firstborn was of school
age. But I have been known to say we have always unschooled
and for me that would encompass their early years, because
honestly we didnt' do anything different when they hit school age,
except instead of LLL meetings we went to hs support group
park days.
Yesterday my four yr old was asked about school if it was a day
off. Before I could say anything he said "we homeschool". I
smiled and said, besides he's only four. But funny, he "thinks"
he is hsing and he isn't even of school age. Should I burst his
bubble? Me thinks he might have a melt down if I did so (those
of you who know Jared know what I am talking about LOL).
He would be furious to think he wasn't just like his siblings
regardless of his age. He has been going to field trips and park
days since he was a baby. Is he unschooling. Not technically,
not yet. I just thought it was pretty darn cute how quickly he
answered <g>.
Kathy
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/31/02 7:37:34 PM Pacific Standard Time,
jkkddmowery@... writes:
<< When I found unschooling, I was actually searching for appropriate
preschool information, so "technically" she would have been school age. I
say, don't blow it by limiting the future unschoolers, let them claim the
label and help them grow. >>
Many unschoolers say unschooling is a lifestyle. Some
might say that they are unschooling themselves (as adults-
when learning something--or here is an example. My dh
was in public high school. During his jr year he decided
that he was tired of the repetition that was taught in all
his other classes and spent all day in auto class until
they threw him out of school--was he unschooling? I
don't know, I may say that to define a certain mindset,
but technically he was in school--although he did take
charge of his education?? <shrugging shoulders>)
Guess you could be un-preschooling (there is even a folder
on unschooling message board named that).
Gosh now with some states pushing to lower the mandatory
education law to preschool I don't think that you could be far off
from calling yourself an unschooler.
I knew that I was going to
hs when my dd was one. In fact I knew that I was going to unschool.
I didn't call myself an unschooler until my firstborn was of school
age. But I have been known to say we have always unschooled
and for me that would encompass their early years, because
honestly we didnt' do anything different when they hit school age,
except instead of LLL meetings we went to hs support group
park days.
Yesterday my four yr old was asked about school if it was a day
off. Before I could say anything he said "we homeschool". I
smiled and said, besides he's only four. But funny, he "thinks"
he is hsing and he isn't even of school age. Should I burst his
bubble? Me thinks he might have a melt down if I did so (those
of you who know Jared know what I am talking about LOL).
He would be furious to think he wasn't just like his siblings
regardless of his age. He has been going to field trips and park
days since he was a baby. Is he unschooling. Not technically,
not yet. I just thought it was pretty darn cute how quickly he
answered <g>.
Kathy
jkkddmowery@... writes:
<< When I found unschooling, I was actually searching for appropriate
preschool information, so "technically" she would have been school age. I
say, don't blow it by limiting the future unschoolers, let them claim the
label and help them grow. >>
Many unschoolers say unschooling is a lifestyle. Some
might say that they are unschooling themselves (as adults-
when learning something--or here is an example. My dh
was in public high school. During his jr year he decided
that he was tired of the repetition that was taught in all
his other classes and spent all day in auto class until
they threw him out of school--was he unschooling? I
don't know, I may say that to define a certain mindset,
but technically he was in school--although he did take
charge of his education?? <shrugging shoulders>)
Guess you could be un-preschooling (there is even a folder
on unschooling message board named that).
Gosh now with some states pushing to lower the mandatory
education law to preschool I don't think that you could be far off
from calling yourself an unschooler.
I knew that I was going to
hs when my dd was one. In fact I knew that I was going to unschool.
I didn't call myself an unschooler until my firstborn was of school
age. But I have been known to say we have always unschooled
and for me that would encompass their early years, because
honestly we didnt' do anything different when they hit school age,
except instead of LLL meetings we went to hs support group
park days.
Yesterday my four yr old was asked about school if it was a day
off. Before I could say anything he said "we homeschool". I
smiled and said, besides he's only four. But funny, he "thinks"
he is hsing and he isn't even of school age. Should I burst his
bubble? Me thinks he might have a melt down if I did so (those
of you who know Jared know what I am talking about LOL).
He would be furious to think he wasn't just like his siblings
regardless of his age. He has been going to field trips and park
days since he was a baby. Is he unschooling. Not technically,
not yet. I just thought it was pretty darn cute how quickly he
answered <g>.
Kathy
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/1/02 12:13:48 AM, Natrlmama@... writes:
<< we didnt' do anything different when they hit school age,
except instead of LLL meetings we went to hs support group
park days. >>
Our LLL-outgrowth weekly playgroup evolved without missing a week into a
homeschooling group. It morphed.
<<<< He would be furious to think he wasn't just like his siblings
regardless of his age. He has been going to field trips and park
days since he was a baby. Is he unschooling. Not technically,
not yet. I just thought it was pretty darn cute how quickly he
answered <g>. >>
There's a good point, though. If someone's third child can be "unschooled
early" because the whole family is heavily involved in it, then a family with
one single child should be acknowledged for same beliefs and methods and
conviction. And it's true the NEA has been pushing for five years or so for
compulsive attendance, or at least fee option (head start) to start at three
(there's talk of 18 months, behind the scenes, I've heard). They started
accelerated masters' programs several years ago--I know someone who got a
master's degree in early childhood education in one year, immediately
following a BA in early childhood education, without ever having taught. She
taught one year. Then she got a job overseeing other preschool teachers, and
certifying others. (Another goal is to squeeze out the daycare workers now
existing, or become their professional supervisors.)
They don't plan to be paid with parental tuition, but with the same sort of
educational funding schools have now (PLUS whatever federal programs they can
drum up). And gosh, there are MANY un- and under-employed people with
degrees in early childhood education who NEED jobs to pay off their student
loans.
Some people who switch to homeschooling (or to unschooling) have said it's
easy because their children had the basics from school (i.e. they can read
and write and multiply, I guess).
I wonder if things will evolve to the point that some kids who do go to sch
ool at five or six will be described as having done better in school because
they had good unschooling basics for years before that. (It couldn't hurt!)
People in Maryland and Delaware have described great inflexibility in the
consideration of whether kids will go to preschol or not. Kids do.
Someone I've known since we both were childless lives in Maryland, works in
Washington (for the dept of education, reviewing proposals or contracts or
something), and she is at the furthest point of anyone I know from
understanding and accepting what we're doing. Her one son is schooled within
an inch of his life. But they do pay a lot of good attention to him when the
parents are home with him. He has a pretty cushy life.
So is it getting that way in California too? Just cities? Just middle and
upper class?
Meanwhile there are states whose compulsory education doesn't kick in until 7
or 8.
New Mexico added kindergarten a dozen or so years ago to the required lineup.
Some other states had it required before that.
Sandra
<< we didnt' do anything different when they hit school age,
except instead of LLL meetings we went to hs support group
park days. >>
Our LLL-outgrowth weekly playgroup evolved without missing a week into a
homeschooling group. It morphed.
<<<< He would be furious to think he wasn't just like his siblings
regardless of his age. He has been going to field trips and park
days since he was a baby. Is he unschooling. Not technically,
not yet. I just thought it was pretty darn cute how quickly he
answered <g>. >>
There's a good point, though. If someone's third child can be "unschooled
early" because the whole family is heavily involved in it, then a family with
one single child should be acknowledged for same beliefs and methods and
conviction. And it's true the NEA has been pushing for five years or so for
compulsive attendance, or at least fee option (head start) to start at three
(there's talk of 18 months, behind the scenes, I've heard). They started
accelerated masters' programs several years ago--I know someone who got a
master's degree in early childhood education in one year, immediately
following a BA in early childhood education, without ever having taught. She
taught one year. Then she got a job overseeing other preschool teachers, and
certifying others. (Another goal is to squeeze out the daycare workers now
existing, or become their professional supervisors.)
They don't plan to be paid with parental tuition, but with the same sort of
educational funding schools have now (PLUS whatever federal programs they can
drum up). And gosh, there are MANY un- and under-employed people with
degrees in early childhood education who NEED jobs to pay off their student
loans.
Some people who switch to homeschooling (or to unschooling) have said it's
easy because their children had the basics from school (i.e. they can read
and write and multiply, I guess).
I wonder if things will evolve to the point that some kids who do go to sch
ool at five or six will be described as having done better in school because
they had good unschooling basics for years before that. (It couldn't hurt!)
People in Maryland and Delaware have described great inflexibility in the
consideration of whether kids will go to preschol or not. Kids do.
Someone I've known since we both were childless lives in Maryland, works in
Washington (for the dept of education, reviewing proposals or contracts or
something), and she is at the furthest point of anyone I know from
understanding and accepting what we're doing. Her one son is schooled within
an inch of his life. But they do pay a lot of good attention to him when the
parents are home with him. He has a pretty cushy life.
So is it getting that way in California too? Just cities? Just middle and
upper class?
Meanwhile there are states whose compulsory education doesn't kick in until 7
or 8.
New Mexico added kindergarten a dozen or so years ago to the required lineup.
Some other states had it required before that.
Sandra
Fetteroll
on 1/31/02 10:31 PM, The Mowery Family at jkkddmowery@... wrote:
else much thinks about it. Until Sandra mentions it. ;-) Some people get it.
Some people don't. Some people it takes years of experience -- and then
thought on it -- to see that there *is* a different mental state between
experience with a child learning the things he's supposed to need school to
teach him and being certain it can happen.
Perhaps the only time it's helpful to ponder it is when a less experienced
person is speaking philosophically and telling an experienced person her
experience isn't valid.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> Having been on both sides of the fence, I think folks who have younginsAnd I think the only unschooler who brings this point up is Sandra. No one
> should be allowed to call themselves unschoolers and let them live out their
> choices.
else much thinks about it. Until Sandra mentions it. ;-) Some people get it.
Some people don't. Some people it takes years of experience -- and then
thought on it -- to see that there *is* a different mental state between
experience with a child learning the things he's supposed to need school to
teach him and being certain it can happen.
Perhaps the only time it's helpful to ponder it is when a less experienced
person is speaking philosophically and telling an experienced person her
experience isn't valid.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
kayb85
> Meanwhile there are states whose compulsory education doesn't kickin until 7
> or 8.In PA, compulsory education age is 8 and kindergarden is mandatory.
There is a push to make K mandatory and to make compulsory school age
6, which of course homeschoolers don't like because then we'd have to
start filing affidavits and jumping through ridiculous legal hoops at
age 6 instead of 8.
However, just because comp. education begins at 8, no one except
homeschoolers really even realizes that. EVERYONE signs their kids
up for kindergarden at age 5, and more recently, for K4 at age 4.
When I tell most people that comp. age is 8 they are shocked. Most
people don't even know they have a choice to not send their age 5
kids to kindergarden.