What would be a good "poster family" for unschooling?
Sandra Dodd
I spoke with Rachael Profiloski for a long time this morning. It was a nice conversation. She's a TV producer, and they're looking into the possibility of interviewing an unschooling family. It's not for sure.
Mostly we talked about unschooling itself.
She asked me what kind of family I would like to see featured, if they do this show, and I said I thought they should be articulate, not too extreme, photogenic, and have a solid, joyful, peaceful family. She's interested in a family with children of different ages. A younger-than-12 plus a teen might be ideal, I think. More than two would be a bonus.
So. I told her I would ask for input or ideas here. Read below what she's looking at proposing, and if you have ideas about what kinds of families would be good or bad, we can discuss that here, but please don't name any family in a bad light. And if you want to recommend a particular family, either write to me and I can pass it on, or you can write directly to her if you would rather. rachael@...
Rachael emphasized that it's NOT "a reality show," and isn't intended to be exploitative or irritating. (not her exact words; I forget the exact words). Also that this story is all in the potential planning stages.
On this one, I'm glad to take mail on the side, because there might be things to say that might not be good for the whole list here. So the idea of what an ideal family would be is on topic for the list! More particulars of people and places aren't. And though some Canadian families came to mind while I was speaking with her, I think they're just going for U.S.
Thanks for thinking about it,
Sandra
========================
Dear Sandra,
My name is Rachael and I'm the story producer for a terrific series on the new Oprah Winfrey Network called OUR AMERICA with Lisa Ling. It's produced by part2 pictures, a documentary film and television company based in New York City. This series features one-hour episodes that explore the important social issues in America today. Our host, Lisa Ling, meets people, families or communities in unique circumstances and through her own personal exploration gains an understanding of their positions and their worlds.
I�m writing to you because my job here is to develop story ideas for new show episodes. A topic that is particularly timely and engaging is that of un-schooling. We�re considering exploring two divergent styles of parenting�on the one hand the �Tiger Moms� of the world who are perhaps very strict, pushing their children in school or sports or music and authoritative with the type of learning their children experience. On the other side are parents who do unschooling or other forms of non-traditional child rearing and education. We like to profile different sets of parents and their children to see how they live out and embrace these wildly different viewpoints of child rearing.
I see from your website that you are actively involved with unschooling, have written a book and have raised your three children with this philosophy. I would love to pick your brain! This is all exploratory at the moment and my goals in talking with you would be to learn more about unschooling and other child rearing elements that would fall under this umbrella and perhaps some advice as to finding the right family to profile for this story.
. . . .
Rachael Profiloski
part2 pictures
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Mostly we talked about unschooling itself.
She asked me what kind of family I would like to see featured, if they do this show, and I said I thought they should be articulate, not too extreme, photogenic, and have a solid, joyful, peaceful family. She's interested in a family with children of different ages. A younger-than-12 plus a teen might be ideal, I think. More than two would be a bonus.
So. I told her I would ask for input or ideas here. Read below what she's looking at proposing, and if you have ideas about what kinds of families would be good or bad, we can discuss that here, but please don't name any family in a bad light. And if you want to recommend a particular family, either write to me and I can pass it on, or you can write directly to her if you would rather. rachael@...
Rachael emphasized that it's NOT "a reality show," and isn't intended to be exploitative or irritating. (not her exact words; I forget the exact words). Also that this story is all in the potential planning stages.
On this one, I'm glad to take mail on the side, because there might be things to say that might not be good for the whole list here. So the idea of what an ideal family would be is on topic for the list! More particulars of people and places aren't. And though some Canadian families came to mind while I was speaking with her, I think they're just going for U.S.
Thanks for thinking about it,
Sandra
========================
Dear Sandra,
My name is Rachael and I'm the story producer for a terrific series on the new Oprah Winfrey Network called OUR AMERICA with Lisa Ling. It's produced by part2 pictures, a documentary film and television company based in New York City. This series features one-hour episodes that explore the important social issues in America today. Our host, Lisa Ling, meets people, families or communities in unique circumstances and through her own personal exploration gains an understanding of their positions and their worlds.
I�m writing to you because my job here is to develop story ideas for new show episodes. A topic that is particularly timely and engaging is that of un-schooling. We�re considering exploring two divergent styles of parenting�on the one hand the �Tiger Moms� of the world who are perhaps very strict, pushing their children in school or sports or music and authoritative with the type of learning their children experience. On the other side are parents who do unschooling or other forms of non-traditional child rearing and education. We like to profile different sets of parents and their children to see how they live out and embrace these wildly different viewpoints of child rearing.
I see from your website that you are actively involved with unschooling, have written a book and have raised your three children with this philosophy. I would love to pick your brain! This is all exploratory at the moment and my goals in talking with you would be to learn more about unschooling and other child rearing elements that would fall under this umbrella and perhaps some advice as to finding the right family to profile for this story.
. . . .
Rachael Profiloski
part2 pictures
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Button Rios-Sherman
:::::: My name is Rachael and I'm the story producer for a terrific series
on the new Oprah Winfrey Network called OUR AMERICA with Lisa Ling. It's
produced by part2 pictures, a documentary film and television company based
in New York City. This series features one-hour episodes that explore the
important social issues in America today. Our host, Lisa Ling, meets
people, families or communities in unique circumstances and through her own
personal exploration gains an understanding of their positions and their
worlds.:::::
This would be great if they could do this. I have seen a lot of the episodes
and it is really interesting. I don't see though how long they plan on
following the family. I know some of the stories they have done have lasted
about two years, follow up and such.
--
Peace and Blessings,
Button
Wife to Jimmy
Momma to 5 home learners and thinkers
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
on the new Oprah Winfrey Network called OUR AMERICA with Lisa Ling. It's
produced by part2 pictures, a documentary film and television company based
in New York City. This series features one-hour episodes that explore the
important social issues in America today. Our host, Lisa Ling, meets
people, families or communities in unique circumstances and through her own
personal exploration gains an understanding of their positions and their
worlds.:::::
This would be great if they could do this. I have seen a lot of the episodes
and it is really interesting. I don't see though how long they plan on
following the family. I know some of the stories they have done have lasted
about two years, follow up and such.
--
Peace and Blessings,
Button
Wife to Jimmy
Momma to 5 home learners and thinkers
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra Dodd
-=-This would be great if they could do this. I have seen a lot of the episodes
and it is really interesting. I don't see though how long they plan on
following the family. I know some of the stories they have done have lasted
about two years, follow up and such.-=-
I'm glad you've seen it and like it.
Two and half days, I think she said. Just to find out why they're unschooling and how it works.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
and it is really interesting. I don't see though how long they plan on
following the family. I know some of the stories they have done have lasted
about two years, follow up and such.-=-
I'm glad you've seen it and like it.
Two and half days, I think she said. Just to find out why they're unschooling and how it works.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Button Rios-Sherman
> =I'm glad you've seen it and like it.The show runs like and hour long documentary. It is worth watching is you
>
> Two and half days, I think she said. Just to find out why they're
> unschooling and how it works.=
>
like sociology, semiotics and the like. 2.5 days is not so bad. Just hope an
accurate view is made.
Button
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
catfish_friend
On May 5, 2011, at 11:03 AM, Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
As someone who has become interested in Unschooling within the past year, and as an avid researcher trying to really understand Unschooling, this moderated list, along with read-try-wait-watch has been key to growing my understanding and living a more Unschooling life.
A one hour TV show spotlighting a single "Tiger Mother" family and one Unschooling family might seem on the surface to be a fair and solid approach to share Unschooling with a general TV audience, but here are my thoughts on this kind of model -- and I work in film editing, so i think a lot about storytelling and audience:
- the audience already knows and understands the "Tiger Mother" because most people have already heard of or come across one in real life
- Unschooling is counter-cultural, and even someone like me who *wants* to understand Unschooling, finds that wrapping one's head around it is challenging because it is a paradigm shift that really requires an active re-training of one's traditionally-raised brain
- TV shows based in reality are looking for interesting (dramatic) moments and I think a tiger mother family might easily provide that whereas an Unschooling family that is successfully Unschooling is likely relatively peaceful (not dramatic) and i'd be concerned that where the camera and editing may find interest could be in misconstruing Unschooling by taking things out of context and showing observer bias
- an hour show is really only 45 minutes and spending 2.5 days with an Unschooling family, using 23 minutes to accurately and objectively show Unschooling sounds like a huge challenge
What I think might be better:
- Unschooling is a lifestyle and a process, not easily turned into sound bites -- ask if they can show multiple families at different stages of Unschooling: exploring Unschooling, deschooling, Unschooling for a few years, many years and "graduated"
- if they insist on a single model family, have an experienced, articulate unschooler like Sandra, Joyce, Pam be interviewed in addition to or even alongside the model family to 'point out' Unschooling happening
- if it must be a single family, be willing to spend more than 2.5 days with them because 'seeing' Unschooling may take more than 2.5 days for the observer to 'see'
- interview the kids of all the families
- allow the kids to keep a video log for a week (or more) to share their Unschooling or traditionally schooled lives to give the kids their own voice in relating their experience rather than only through the lens of the producer, videographer
- while it would be a departure from what the TV producer proposed, I think an entire show about Unschooling would convey Unschooling to a general audience more successfully than a compare and contrast show against a "tiger mother" family. The traditionally-schooled bias of the observer would be more likely to comprehend the Unschooling paradigm shift if it were presented singly.
Ceci
> //////////////////////
> She asked me what kind of family I would like to see featured, if they do this show, and I said I thought they should be articulate, not too extreme, photogenic, and have a solid, joyful, peaceful family. She's interested in a family with children of different ages. A younger-than-12 plus a teen might be ideal, I think. More than two would be a bonus.
As someone who has become interested in Unschooling within the past year, and as an avid researcher trying to really understand Unschooling, this moderated list, along with read-try-wait-watch has been key to growing my understanding and living a more Unschooling life.
A one hour TV show spotlighting a single "Tiger Mother" family and one Unschooling family might seem on the surface to be a fair and solid approach to share Unschooling with a general TV audience, but here are my thoughts on this kind of model -- and I work in film editing, so i think a lot about storytelling and audience:
- the audience already knows and understands the "Tiger Mother" because most people have already heard of or come across one in real life
- Unschooling is counter-cultural, and even someone like me who *wants* to understand Unschooling, finds that wrapping one's head around it is challenging because it is a paradigm shift that really requires an active re-training of one's traditionally-raised brain
- TV shows based in reality are looking for interesting (dramatic) moments and I think a tiger mother family might easily provide that whereas an Unschooling family that is successfully Unschooling is likely relatively peaceful (not dramatic) and i'd be concerned that where the camera and editing may find interest could be in misconstruing Unschooling by taking things out of context and showing observer bias
- an hour show is really only 45 minutes and spending 2.5 days with an Unschooling family, using 23 minutes to accurately and objectively show Unschooling sounds like a huge challenge
What I think might be better:
- Unschooling is a lifestyle and a process, not easily turned into sound bites -- ask if they can show multiple families at different stages of Unschooling: exploring Unschooling, deschooling, Unschooling for a few years, many years and "graduated"
- if they insist on a single model family, have an experienced, articulate unschooler like Sandra, Joyce, Pam be interviewed in addition to or even alongside the model family to 'point out' Unschooling happening
- if it must be a single family, be willing to spend more than 2.5 days with them because 'seeing' Unschooling may take more than 2.5 days for the observer to 'see'
- interview the kids of all the families
- allow the kids to keep a video log for a week (or more) to share their Unschooling or traditionally schooled lives to give the kids their own voice in relating their experience rather than only through the lens of the producer, videographer
- while it would be a departure from what the TV producer proposed, I think an entire show about Unschooling would convey Unschooling to a general audience more successfully than a compare and contrast show against a "tiger mother" family. The traditionally-schooled bias of the observer would be more likely to comprehend the Unschooling paradigm shift if it were presented singly.
Ceci