DJ250

Ok, been talking this over with fellow unschooling friends and I've come to my own realization of what unschooling means to me:

I think we shouldn't even be bothering with whether or not they are learning math, science, or any subjects. (I know some of us have to keep track of such nonsense for the county--I know I do). I used to think that they should be, just like schooled children. But, now, I truly feel that is robbing them of their childhoods! Children were given this amazing ability to play, to enter a dream-like state and be nourished by it. Our society is so hell-bent on taking this away from them, truly. So, allowing them to do what is natural--play! and explore!--is what unschooling means to me. I am simply allowing my children to be children!

Just my 2 cents. :)

~Melissa

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

Sandra Dodd

-=-I think we shouldn't even be bothering with whether or not they
are learning math, science, or any subjects. (I know some of us have
to keep track of such nonsense for the county-=-

If you think math and science are nonsense, unschooling isn't going
to work very well. If, on the other hand, you hadn't gotten past
thinking of them as "subjects" instead of as the kinds of tools
people need to be able to think and function, I can see your point.
It's not quite the point you thought you were making, though, I don't
think.

-=-So, allowing them to do what is natural--play! and explore!--is
what unschooling means to me. I am simply allowing my children to be
children!-=-

The word "simply" put the brakes on it for me.
Many people think that "being children" is what kids used to do after
school in 1955 or something. Their vision of "being children" might
involve tadpoles and jump ropes.

Being children in an unschooling context is going to quickly become
being people in the real world. The real world is made of things
that are sometimes distilled into parts that are science, math,
history, language, music, art, sports, theatre, etc.

It's a good start, to move toward playing and exploring, and away
from subjects. It's one of the first steps. There are lots more!

http://sandradodd.com/nest
http://sandradodd.com/help

Sandra

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

guideforthree

=====what unschooling means to me. I am simply allowing my children to
be children!====

This is why we unschool. Charles, my dh, and I both think that
childhood is a precious and limited time. We often find ourselves
using the phrase "they're kids" with other well intentioned adults
whose comments imply that children should be miniature adults with
responsiblilties.

Earlier this week I was talking to my mom about my daughter who doesn't
clean up the toys she gets out, but does very politely ask, "Will you
please clean this up for me? I am done playing with it now." My mom
started, once again, to bring up the whole personal responibility
arguement. I relplied with "She's three!"

If all goes well, they will have approximately 60 years to be adults,
and only roughly 20 years to be kids. I have no intention of expanding
their adulthood into their childhood.

Tina

k

>>>We often find ourselves using the phrase "they're kids" with other well
intentioned adults
>>>whose comments imply that children should be miniature adults with
responsiblilties.

Which is why there are so many adults who begrudge a child their childhoods
and press on them what was probably inappropriately pressed onto
themselves.... responsibility at too young an age, which rightfully and more
ably belongs to adults. Children need the time to develop into the ability
to respond ably to situations that require decisions sometimes far beyond
the skills they have to make them.

My sister was 4 when my parents charged her with the responsibility to look
out for me since I had been fitted with a hearing aid. She couldn't
realistically do this but she took it very seriously and for the longest
time, that was our relationship. She wasn't my sister so much as my
keeper. Often what she really needed was that extra year's worth of ability
from me to help *her* with.

~Katherine


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

DJ250

Yes! I think at least you and I are on the same page, which is why I wrote my initial email--to see if anyone else felt the same way. :)

~Melissa

----- Original Message -----
From: guideforthree
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:43 PM
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Re: unschooling: my version


=====what unschooling means to me. I am simply allowing my children to
be children!====

This is why we unschool. Charles, my dh, and I both think that
childhood is a precious and limited time. We often find ourselves
using the phrase "they're kids" with other well intentioned adults
whose comments imply that children should be miniature adults with
responsiblilties.

Earlier this week I was talking to my mom about my daughter who doesn't
clean up the toys she gets out, but does very politely ask, "Will you
please clean this up for me? I am done playing with it now." My mom
started, once again, to bring up the whole personal responibility
arguement. I relplied with "She's three!"

If all goes well, they will have approximately 60 years to be adults,
and only roughly 20 years to be kids. I have no intention of expanding
their adulthood into their childhood.

Tina






------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.6/1716 - Release Date: 10/9/2008 9:44 AM


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