[email protected]

Unschoolers,
My wife, Kim Jansen, and I recently moved to the woods were I work
as a Challenge Course Manager. We live on site at an Environmental
Education Center that serves about 20,000 people a year. We choose
the green land for our three boys; Tristan (4 years old), Chase and
Devon (2 year old twins). For the last two months we've been
discussing the idea of home schooling and this is our first inquiries
to people who are doing the do. Our question is this: Why did you
choose to unschool?
We've read information about benefits and other reasons to go this
route but we're eager to hear from people involved right this moment.
If you have any other advice or suggested reading please feel free to
contact us. Please e-mail me directly. Be well,

Vincent Perez

P.S. We've been interested in the writings of Daniel Quinn and others
like him. We're choosing a different way to live but aside from ideas
and words we're very concerned about the practical application of
these ideas.

Tracy Oldfield

Unschoolers,
My wife, Kim Jansen, and I recently moved to the woods
were I work 
as a Challenge Course Manager. We live on site at an
Environmental 
Education Center that serves about 20,000 people a
year. We choose 
the green land for our three boys; Tristan (4 years
old), Chase and 
Devon (2 year old twins). For the last two months we've
been 
discussing the idea of home schooling and this is our
first inquiries 
to people who are doing the do. Our question is this:
Why did you 
choose to unschool?
We've read information about benefits and other reasons
to go this 
route but we're eager to hear from people involved
right this moment. 
If you have any other advice or suggested reading
please feel free to 
contact us. Please e-mail me directly. Be well,

Vincent Perez

Sounds idyllic! I'd like to live more 'country' but dh
wouldn't... still, gotta love him, he's really 'come
around' to pro-home-ed now...

We unschool because we think it's right that our kids
have the choice of what to do with their time, within
whatever time/money restrictions are on our family. We
have that choice and struggle to come to terms with it,
and I for one don't want that for my children.
Educationally, physically and last but by no means
least emotionally imposing school simply isn't good
enough, IMO.

Well, you asked ;-)

Tracy

Jon and Rue Kream

We unschool because we want to choose the lives we lead, instead of having
them decided for us. We want our children to have the opportunity to do the
same. To badly paraphrase Thoreau, there are no philosophers anymore, only
philosophy teachers. I think that's true, and I'd rather be and raise a
philosopher.
Do your children currently go to pre-school? If not, and they're spending
their days with you, you are already doing what we do here. If it feels
right now, there's no reason to believe it won't feel right when they turn
the magic kindergarten age :). Good luck! ~Rue

-----Original Message-----
From: hobosoul@... [mailto:hobosoul@...]
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 2:52 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Just Curious


Unschoolers,
My wife, Kim Jansen, and I recently moved to the woods were I work
as a Challenge Course Manager. We live on site at an Environmental
Education Center that serves about 20,000 people a year. We choose
the green land for our three boys; Tristan (4 years old), Chase and
Devon (2 year old twins). For the last two months we've been
discussing the idea of home schooling and this is our first inquiries
to people who are doing the do. Our question is this: Why did you
choose to unschool?
We've read information about benefits and other reasons to go this
route but we're eager to hear from people involved right this moment.
If you have any other advice or suggested reading please feel free to
contact us. Please e-mail me directly. Be well,

Vincent Perez

P.S. We've been interested in the writings of Daniel Quinn and others
like him. We're choosing a different way to live but aside from ideas
and words we're very concerned about the practical application of
these ideas.


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[email protected]

In a message dated 6/20/01 9:41:32 PM, hobosoul@... writes:

<< We're choosing a different way to live but aside from ideas
and words we're very concerned about the practical application of
these ideas. >>

Ideas and words are all you get.

If you saw statistics that wouldn't necessarily apply to your family. How
many people live in the situation you do? The skills and interests you and
your wife have will interact with your children's temperaments and interests
in ways unique on the planet.

We know lots about the problems of school. Of unschooling, you will get
ideas and words.

There are few endeavors which so many people have shared so freely. I think
the best resource (perhaps stating the obvious again, but it's not obvious to
everyone here) is to read the library and archives at www.unschooling.com, at
HEM's site, at NHEN's site. There is a wealth of current information added
to daily.

Read John Holt if you haven't already. Teach Your Own is my recommendation
if you're only going to read one. Learning all the Time and Never Too Late
inspired me too.

Sandra

[email protected]

<<For the last two months we've been
discussing the idea of home schooling and this is our first inquiries
to people who are doing the do. Our question is this: Why did you
choose to unschool?
We've read information about benefits and other reasons to go this
route but we're eager to hear from people involved right this moment.
If you have any other advice or suggested reading please feel free to
contact us. Please e-mail me directly. Be well,

Vincent Perez

P.S. We've been interested in the writings of Daniel Quinn and others
like him. We're choosing a different way to live but aside from ideas
and words we're very concerned about the practical application of
these ideas. >>

When we read about unschooling it was a "Duh" moment, finally I
understood why all of the "education" methods didn't fit. Learning can't
be cut up into bits that fit into a curriculum or schedule, it's like
breathing and it's unavoidable. I don't think there is anything more
important that I can give my children than the understanding that they
have complete control of their learning. Every time we tell children
they must learn this or that and assign a "time" to that learning we tell
them they are not capable of learning on their own or even knowing what
they need to learn.

Kris


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A

Hi Vincent and Kim,
I always hesitate a bit before answering this question....here is why....
I did not choose to nor do I, homeschool for educational reasons. Ha! That
usually gets me some strange looks...
I remember precisely when I decided I would homeschool. My oldest son (now8)
was 2 at the time. He was running down the hill to the barn laughing and
laughing. It suddenly hit me that he would be going to school in 3 short
years possibly earlier! My heart just collapsed and I couldn't even think of
the possibility of him going away for the whole day. I would miss him
terribly, he would miss me, and there is always something interesting to do
on a farm. He would miss so much life! That did it, I started researching
right then. I read and read and read ect.... I read John Holt, old Growing
Without Schooling Magazines, Old Home Education Magazines, and every book I
saw mentioned in the back of other books. I specifically drawn to John Holt
and Grace Llewellyn. I learned from everything I read though. It made me
see how diverse homeschooling can be.
I also researched the laws for my state during this time.
I also looked into support groups, and made contact with a local one. It was
interesting to talk to everyone but my sons (we had added one during this
time) were much too young to do much. I then renewed contact later when all
three of my kids were older.
I still read and read.... I still talk and talk.... It helps to share.
I hope this helps you...and enjoy your family. That is what we do mostly.
Ann