A.Y.

Hi everyone,
I'm so glad things have slowed down a bit. I was struggling to keep up,
and wasn't able to read everything.
Was thinking yesterday, and had a sudden realization.
I was thinking about my doubts about unschooling. I am the only one in
our very eclectic group of homeschoolers that is a complete "do nothing"
( mean curriculum, workbooks ect...) unschooler. Very often this
causes me to have doubts about what I am doing. I find that I start
comparing my children and my style to others...not a good thing :).....

Well, I started thinking about why I unschool. My reasons I realized
have nothing to do with academics. What are my goals?
It is not to have super academic children. I don't care where they are
according to the public school system ect... I'm not trying to
academically surpass their public counterparts.
I guess my primary goals would be to have well rounded, content
individuals. I want them to be content with who they are as people. I
want them to love life and all that that entails. I want them to have
fun and be happy.
This has helped me so much to realize that unschooling my way fits those
goals perfectly. Now when I have doubts ect... I will try to think of
this.
Just thought I'd share.
I'd like to hear what others goals are.
Ann

[email protected]

In a message dated 6/14/99 11:24:05 AM Central Daylight Time,
hooperck@... writes:

<< I'd like to hear what others goals are. >>

Hello Ann,

Here are some of my goals of unschooling my children and myself.

1. For my children to have a love of learning which lasts a lifetime.

2. The freedom to choose which activities that want to do.

3. That it is perfectly o.k. to be different from the norm.

4. That it is o.k. not the know the answer. But to know how to find
answer.

There are a few of our goals for our children. As the years pass we update
and modifying them.

Asmaa

Brown

Ann and all

Ann wrote:

> I guess my primary goals would be to have well rounded, content
> individuals. I want them to be content with who they are as people.
> I want them to love life and all that that entails. I want them to
> have fun and be happy.

Having two late readers brought me to that conclusion. My 12 yo has only
this year learned to read, in spite of wanting to, and trying really
hard. It has been hard enough on him, let alone if we had had a program
that he was failing at. Because we don't use a curriculum he has
continued to explore his world and knows that he is a scientist and a
musician and a mathematician ...... and is confident in his very real
abilities. But if his science etc. was curriculum / textbook / workbook
based....? His 'failure' to read, would have extended to all the other
areas of learning.

We only have to look out at the world to find very successful people who
'failed' to pass the 'necessary' requirements for their careers when at
school, but went on to surpass their peers. There are a lot more who
don't - I believe the difference is in self-esteem - the ones who
succeed somehow managed to stay 'well-rounded, content individuals'. As
unschoolers, we have a much better chance of producing such people.

I was talking to one of our 'Education Review Officers' (the people who
visit us about every 2-3 years here in New Zealand to check on our
homeschooling) and told him I would prefer that my homeschooling
produced a happy, psychologically healthy illiterate, than a neurotic
PhD. He was somewhat taken aback <vbg>

Carol

Lois Hoover

I would only add that I want to see my children be happy now and as adults.
If they are happy with their lives then they will have more than most ever
could dream.

Lois
>From: UmMuhammad@...
>
>Here are some of my goals of unschooling my children and myself.
>
>1. For my children to have a love of learning which lasts a lifetime.
>
>2. The freedom to choose which activities that want to do.
>
>3. That it is perfectly o.k. to be different from the norm.
>
>4. That it is o.k. not the know the answer. But to know how to find
> answer.
>
>There are a few of our goals for our children. As the years pass we update
>and modifying them.
>
>Asmaa
>

[email protected]

In a message dated 6/14/99 9:24:14 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
hooperck@... writes:

<< I guess my primary goals would be to have well rounded, content
individuals. I want them to be content with who they are as people. I
want them to love life and all that that entails. I want them to have
fun and be happy. >>

I totally agree! I couldn't have said it better. It's not the academics that
are important to me, but joy. I want my children to be happy to be alive. I
also want my children to be kind and helpful to others. And not afraid to ask
questions. And I also want them to think that learning new things is FUN.
Gosh, I could go on and on and on....
Mary Ellen(thanks, that was fun.)

[email protected]

In a message dated 6/14/99 11:24:17 AM Central Daylight Time,
hooperck@... writes:

<< I guess my primary goals would be to have well rounded, content
individuals. I want them to be content with who they are as people. I
want them to love life and all that that entails. I want them to have
fun and be happy. >>


Ann,
My goals are very similar. I would like my kids to be able to know how
to learn, so that anytime in their life, if a desire to learn something comes
up, they will know how to pursue it. I also would like them to find their
"nic" in life. I want them to find jobs or careers that fit who they are as
people, so that they enjoy and love what they do. I also want them to love
God and others, and to be able to made their own decisions in life, instead
of having other people tell them what to do. I want them to be able to stop,
think, ponder, weigh all options and opinions, and then make their own
decision (instead of being led by the nose, like so many other poeple
are-----including myself, at times). Wellrounded, loving, intelligent adults
that are wonderful spouses and parents---that is my dream for my children.
Tami