Re: [UnschoolingDiscussion] deschooling/children deschooling
[email protected]
>>>>>If a child decides the tool she needs is a Swiss boarding school, Idon't
think that's unschooling in practice. If a child were to decide (which I
doubt
any child ever has, but if) that what they think will help is a strict diet
of Abeka with punishment for infractions, disobedience or bad grades on test
days, I don't think a practitioner of unschooling could really go
there.<<<<<<
I have a question for those that have taken children out of school. If a
teen comes out of school to unschool and feels that they aren't learning
anything, aren't doing anything and, if the child wants to start taking classes in
the community, art classes, science classes, they are fun classes but
organized in a very school type way, how would you deal with this?
I have seen this many times with older kids, especially, coming out of
school. I don't have that problem and think to myself, maybe they want the class
because that is where they feel comfortable after so many years of schooling.
Maybe that is where the child feels learning happens. Then I hear the
parents saying that their child likes that type of environment and they have
chosen to take the classes, the child was not forced.
Should the parent interfere and try to meet the needs of the child in other
ways, should they let the child experience these classes? For those of you
that have taken children out of school what has been the most helpful with
deschooling and the child? It is such a different ballgame with children coming
out of school and like my boys who have never had that experience in their
lives. Or maybe it just seems like a different ballgame, all I know is what
we do I don't have that other perspective.
I just wonder if taking the child to the classes would hinder the
deschooling process, would hinder them seeing that learning is everywhere. And it is
just a substitute for school. But then as an unschooler I say well if that
child wants to go to the classes the mother is being supportive of her child's
choice.
Just a question/thought.
Thanks,
Pam G
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/3/04 8:12:36 AM, Genant2@... writes:
<< If a
teen comes out of school to unschool and feels that they aren't learning
anything, aren't doing anything and, if the child wants to start taking
classes in
the community, art classes, science classes, they are fun classes but
organized in a very school type way, how would you deal with this? >>
I would encourage it, pay for it, and drive them over there.
<<I have seen this many times with older kids, especially, coming out of
school. I don't have that problem and think to myself, maybe they want the
class
because that is where they feel comfortable after so many years of
schooling. >>
Going to classes without coercion or compulsion is a whole different world,
and they're old enough to make those decisions.
<<I just wonder if taking the child to the classes would hinder the
deschooling process, would hinder them seeing that learning is everywhere. >>
I think some kids are too old to deschool in time for it to do them any real
good.
A teen who's been in school already knows how to read and write (probably)
and from that point their unschooling isn't going to be as much of a departure
from school-life as those who start younger or who never went to school.
Sandra
<< If a
teen comes out of school to unschool and feels that they aren't learning
anything, aren't doing anything and, if the child wants to start taking
classes in
the community, art classes, science classes, they are fun classes but
organized in a very school type way, how would you deal with this? >>
I would encourage it, pay for it, and drive them over there.
<<I have seen this many times with older kids, especially, coming out of
school. I don't have that problem and think to myself, maybe they want the
class
because that is where they feel comfortable after so many years of
schooling. >>
Going to classes without coercion or compulsion is a whole different world,
and they're old enough to make those decisions.
<<I just wonder if taking the child to the classes would hinder the
deschooling process, would hinder them seeing that learning is everywhere. >>
I think some kids are too old to deschool in time for it to do them any real
good.
A teen who's been in school already knows how to read and write (probably)
and from that point their unschooling isn't going to be as much of a departure
from school-life as those who start younger or who never went to school.
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/3/2004 11:58:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:
A teen who's been in school already knows how to read and write (probably)
and from that point their unschooling isn't going to be as much of a
departure
from school-life as those who start younger or who never went to school.<<<<
Maybe.
Cameron could read and write, but *didn't* for several years after leaving
school. He refused to take anything that remotely resembled a class.
He still has a few school tendencies----more when he's with his schooled
friends. But he's nothing like them when he's out in 'the real world'.
He's happily taken several classes lately and is very discriminating. He
knows what's valuable to him.
He came out of school at 12. Maybe that's the magic number?
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
SandraDodd@... writes:
A teen who's been in school already knows how to read and write (probably)
and from that point their unschooling isn't going to be as much of a
departure
from school-life as those who start younger or who never went to school.<<<<
Maybe.
Cameron could read and write, but *didn't* for several years after leaving
school. He refused to take anything that remotely resembled a class.
He still has a few school tendencies----more when he's with his schooled
friends. But he's nothing like them when he's out in 'the real world'.
He's happily taken several classes lately and is very discriminating. He
knows what's valuable to him.
He came out of school at 12. Maybe that's the magic number?
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Crystal
Erica came out of school at 11 not knowing how to read. She spent a
month in 6th grade but no one knew she couldn't read because she
could sound out the words. It turned out, when you put the words
into a sentence she had no clue what the sentence meant. She
deschooled almost immediately, I think because she never really fit
into the school mold anyway.
Sean, on the other hand, is just beginning to deschool after 3 years
of being home. He was 12 and supposed to be starting 7th grade when
he came out. He's been back twice and he's left again twice because
he didn't like the way he was treated by the teachers but he likes
taking classes with a teacher and other students. I always did
too. In a class you have others to talk to about what you are
learning and a teacher to help you when you just don't get it.
As for deschooling, I don't think Sean'll ever completely deschool
in the way that kids who've never been to school are or in the way
that Erica has, but he still has gotten a lot of benefits from being
home that have changed his life for the better. He knows he doesn't
have to stay where he isn't being treated well. He knows he can
choose what he wants to do and that he doesn't have to finish stuff
just because he started it.
I wouldn't worry so much about the deschooling. It'll come in it's
own time and it's own way.
~ Crystal
month in 6th grade but no one knew she couldn't read because she
could sound out the words. It turned out, when you put the words
into a sentence she had no clue what the sentence meant. She
deschooled almost immediately, I think because she never really fit
into the school mold anyway.
Sean, on the other hand, is just beginning to deschool after 3 years
of being home. He was 12 and supposed to be starting 7th grade when
he came out. He's been back twice and he's left again twice because
he didn't like the way he was treated by the teachers but he likes
taking classes with a teacher and other students. I always did
too. In a class you have others to talk to about what you are
learning and a teacher to help you when you just don't get it.
As for deschooling, I don't think Sean'll ever completely deschool
in the way that kids who've never been to school are or in the way
that Erica has, but he still has gotten a lot of benefits from being
home that have changed his life for the better. He knows he doesn't
have to stay where he isn't being treated well. He knows he can
choose what he wants to do and that he doesn't have to finish stuff
just because he started it.
I wouldn't worry so much about the deschooling. It'll come in it's
own time and it's own way.
~ Crystal
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/3/2004 10:12:35 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Genant2@... writes:
think that's unschooling in practice. If a child were to decide (which I
doubt
any child ever has, but if) that what they think will help is a strict diet
of Abeka with punishment for infractions, disobedience or bad grades on test
days, I don't think a practitioner of unschooling could really go
there.<<<<<<
I have a question for those that have taken children out of school. If a
teen comes out of school to unschool and feels that they aren't learning
anything, aren't doing anything and, if the child wants to start taking
classes in
the community, art classes, science classes, they are fun classes but
organized in a very school type way, how would you deal with this?
* I'm an unschooler who just got out of highschool at 16, and I've chosen to
take classes at the community collage, this helps me a lot. I feel like I'm
still progressing in life and not getting antsy, and helping meet new and more
intelligent people who I am also learning from. I would suggest it as long as
the course load was small enough for your child to still enjoy life. I don't
think it will affect them realizing that you learn every single moment of life.
I have been doing unschooling for about a month and a half now, and all the
stuff that I have experienced just out of the class room makes me feel as if I
know a lot more about life, and that I'll be much more prepared to get out on
my own when the time comes.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Genant2@... writes:
>>>>>If a child decides the tool she needs is a Swiss boarding school, Idon't
think that's unschooling in practice. If a child were to decide (which I
doubt
any child ever has, but if) that what they think will help is a strict diet
of Abeka with punishment for infractions, disobedience or bad grades on test
days, I don't think a practitioner of unschooling could really go
there.<<<<<<
I have a question for those that have taken children out of school. If a
teen comes out of school to unschool and feels that they aren't learning
anything, aren't doing anything and, if the child wants to start taking
classes in
the community, art classes, science classes, they are fun classes but
organized in a very school type way, how would you deal with this?
* I'm an unschooler who just got out of highschool at 16, and I've chosen to
take classes at the community collage, this helps me a lot. I feel like I'm
still progressing in life and not getting antsy, and helping meet new and more
intelligent people who I am also learning from. I would suggest it as long as
the course load was small enough for your child to still enjoy life. I don't
think it will affect them realizing that you learn every single moment of life.
I have been doing unschooling for about a month and a half now, and all the
stuff that I have experienced just out of the class room makes me feel as if I
know a lot more about life, and that I'll be much more prepared to get out on
my own when the time comes.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]