unschooling as a discreet and separate thing (long)
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In a message dated 2/16/05 7:39:56 AM, lgbryk@... writes:
<< She now proudly tells people about unschooling, and tries very hard to
explain that it is nothing like homeschooling. >>
It IS homeschooling.
It's homeschooling in a way that rejects the school's model of prescribed
sets of facts presented with pretest/intro/review/measures/reinforcement.
It's not school at home, but it's an alternative to the "compulsory
education" the governnt schools are providing free (and then requiring except for par
Zticular exceptions).
On unschooling.com a while back when I was really busy and distracted,
someone had gushed about unschooling being wonderful (which it is! I agree!) and
said "I can't believe this is legal!"
Unschooling "as a thing" is not legal. There's no state or province I know
of where one can say "We're unschooling," and say no more. Its up to each
unschooler to figure out how to follow state law in her own instance with her own
kids in her own state, or up to her/them to figure out how far they want to
go to bend the law or avoid it.
When it leans more toward "Do nothing" than "Provide tons of input and
experiences," it moves from the realm of the parents really understanding what
they're doing to (I fear, sometimes) parents seeing others partying and joining the
party without personal knowledge or responsibility.
(I have a story I'll post separately.)
We're homeschooling. When I talk to anyone outside other homeschoolers, I
say "homeschooling," because that's all that exists, legally, other than putting
kids in school.
Among other homeschoolers I talk about unschooling (duh! You all know I do!
I do it every single day, and the only days I don't post at all are when I'm
off talking about it in person somewhere). But unschooling, for all it's
glorious wholeness and far-reaching life-changing effects, is homeschooling.
The only way it could NOT be that would be for there to be no compulsory
education laws. But there are a buttload of those, and I don't think anyone on this
list lives where there are not compulsory education laws (by that very name or
some other similar). It's no longer a thing the government offers free as
an optional service, but a thing the government requires. Our alternative is
private school or homeschooling.
Unschooling is legal only when and if the parents know enough and do enough
to justify it themselves if and when they are called to report or explain.
None of us can defend other unschoolers. Each family has to be strong enough in
and of itself to be doing this. It's not an organization one joins, it's a
way one can learn to live and think and be.
Not doing is insufficient.
There is a whole lot of *do*ing.
Sandra
<< She now proudly tells people about unschooling, and tries very hard to
explain that it is nothing like homeschooling. >>
It IS homeschooling.
It's homeschooling in a way that rejects the school's model of prescribed
sets of facts presented with pretest/intro/review/measures/reinforcement.
It's not school at home, but it's an alternative to the "compulsory
education" the governnt schools are providing free (and then requiring except for par
Zticular exceptions).
On unschooling.com a while back when I was really busy and distracted,
someone had gushed about unschooling being wonderful (which it is! I agree!) and
said "I can't believe this is legal!"
Unschooling "as a thing" is not legal. There's no state or province I know
of where one can say "We're unschooling," and say no more. Its up to each
unschooler to figure out how to follow state law in her own instance with her own
kids in her own state, or up to her/them to figure out how far they want to
go to bend the law or avoid it.
When it leans more toward "Do nothing" than "Provide tons of input and
experiences," it moves from the realm of the parents really understanding what
they're doing to (I fear, sometimes) parents seeing others partying and joining the
party without personal knowledge or responsibility.
(I have a story I'll post separately.)
We're homeschooling. When I talk to anyone outside other homeschoolers, I
say "homeschooling," because that's all that exists, legally, other than putting
kids in school.
Among other homeschoolers I talk about unschooling (duh! You all know I do!
I do it every single day, and the only days I don't post at all are when I'm
off talking about it in person somewhere). But unschooling, for all it's
glorious wholeness and far-reaching life-changing effects, is homeschooling.
The only way it could NOT be that would be for there to be no compulsory
education laws. But there are a buttload of those, and I don't think anyone on this
list lives where there are not compulsory education laws (by that very name or
some other similar). It's no longer a thing the government offers free as
an optional service, but a thing the government requires. Our alternative is
private school or homeschooling.
Unschooling is legal only when and if the parents know enough and do enough
to justify it themselves if and when they are called to report or explain.
None of us can defend other unschoolers. Each family has to be strong enough in
and of itself to be doing this. It's not an organization one joins, it's a
way one can learn to live and think and be.
Not doing is insufficient.
There is a whole lot of *do*ing.
Sandra
jimpetersonl
You may legally unschool in:
Idaho: "Provide an alternate educational experience for the child that
"is otherwise comparably instructed"
Alaska: "Establish and operate a home school"
Indiana: "Operate a home school as a private school"
No subjects specified.
~Sue
Its up to each > unschooler to figure out how to follow state law in
her own instance with her own > kids in her own state, or up to
her/them to figure out how far they want to > go to bend the law or
avoid it.
Idaho: "Provide an alternate educational experience for the child that
"is otherwise comparably instructed"
Alaska: "Establish and operate a home school"
Indiana: "Operate a home school as a private school"
No subjects specified.
~Sue
> Unschooling "as a thing" is not legal. There's no state or provinceI know > of where one can say "We're unschooling," and say no more.
Its up to each > unschooler to figure out how to follow state law in
her own instance with her own > kids in her own state, or up to
her/them to figure out how far they want to > go to bend the law or
avoid it.
>we1225ap
> Sandra
lgbryk
You may legally unschool in:
Idaho: "Provide an alternate educational experience for the child that
"is otherwise comparably instructed"
Alaska: "Establish and operate a home school"
Indiana: "Operate a home school as a private school"
No subjects specified.
~Sue
It is also the same for New Jersey. If the state chooses to challenge, the burden of proof is on them. I asked my daughter why use the word unschooling, her response was that her education is self guided. And it is such a marvel to watch and be a part of.
Linda
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Idaho: "Provide an alternate educational experience for the child that
"is otherwise comparably instructed"
Alaska: "Establish and operate a home school"
Indiana: "Operate a home school as a private school"
No subjects specified.
~Sue
It is also the same for New Jersey. If the state chooses to challenge, the burden of proof is on them. I asked my daughter why use the word unschooling, her response was that her education is self guided. And it is such a marvel to watch and be a part of.
Linda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Pam Sorooshian
On Feb 16, 2005, at 9:59 AM, SandraDodd@... wrote:
"We're schooling." Legally, homeschooling doesn't exist in our state.
So that sometimes leads to confusing conversations.
-pam
>The problem with this reason is that it means some of us have to say,
> We're homeschooling. When I talk to anyone outside other
> homeschoolers, I
> say "homeschooling," because that's all that exists, legally, other
> than putting
> kids in school.
"We're schooling." Legally, homeschooling doesn't exist in our state.
So that sometimes leads to confusing conversations.
-pam
nellebelle
>>>Legally, homeschooling doesn't exist in our state>>>True in Washington state too.
Homeschoolers can be enrolled full time as public school alternative education students. The state has created public school/homeschool hybrids.
My neighbor sends her kid to regular old school, but feels that she "homeschools" him as well, since she spends so much time contributing to his education outside of school hours.
Legally, I am "providing" my children with "home-based instruction".
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]