Christian Unschooling site and book
[email protected]
http://www.inspirit.com.au/unschooling/
Here's an article from that really well-organized and extensive site:
Unschooling Fallacies
by Teri Brown
There are so many misconceptions about unschooling I thought I would devote
an entire article to those pesky notions that plague all unschoolers at some
point or another. If another person comes up to me and says that children
can't learn without being pushed, I will not only scream, I will run madly
into the night, which of course would only give rise to the misconception
that unschoolers love to run screaming into the night.
Part of the dilemma, as I see it, is people can judge a group by meeting one
person from that group. They might decide, for instance, after meeting a
family whose kids are playing Nintendo during “school hours” that video
games are all that family does and that video games are all unschoolers do,
period. They don't stop to think that possibly the children were taking a
break from designing a solar car, creating a replica of the Mona Lisa or
building a teepee in the back yard. Maybe Mom is not feeling so hot or maybe
the kids like to play video games and the wise mother, feeling that Nintendo
will help her son's poor hand eye coordination, lets them play on! Then the
person who finds them playing the video games, who probably was against
unschooling in the first place, tars all unschoolers with the same brush and
makes a blanket statement, “All unschoolers do is allow their children to
play video games and watch TV all day. That is, after all what children will
do if not pushed.”
Other Unschooling Fallacies:
Unschooled children are completely responsible for their own education and
parents never help their children learn.
This one not only makes me laugh, but really dishonors all those unschoolers
who run their children to classes, find mentors for them, help them when
their children ask for it, spend hours at the library, carefully choose books
for reading aloud, take countless field trips, and play tons of games with
their children. Unschooling parents are very involved with their children's
education...... they just don't run it.
Unschooling parents are too lazy to take the time to sit down and teach their
children.
See above answer.
Unschooling families have no discipline in their homes.
Some do have discipline in their homes and some don't. Just like any other
family. I think this misconception stems from the fact that many people think
if a child has choices in their education that they get to do whatever they
want whenever they want to and they will always make bad choices. Child
rearing techniques are as varied in unschoolers as they are in any other
group of people.
Unschoolers never use text books.
This is another totally false assumption. Unschooling children and teens use
text books quite a bit, it's the parents who don't use text books. The
difference being, of course, that parents do not use them to teach.....the
children use them to learn. Major difference.
You might be able to unschool young children successfully but you can't
unschool teens.
Teens are at the very best age to unschool. The possibilities for teenagers
in regard to volunteer opportunities, internships and focused learning is
endless. Younger children often have difficulties getting adults to take them
seriously in giving them jobs or volunteer positions. Teens generally don't
have that problem. The world opens up for them and this is a time when they
can really concentrate on their interests, taking advantage of the freedom
most adults don't have.
Unschoolers are hippies, eat granola and sprouts, and wear sandals.
Like any other people group unschoolers are diverse in both our dress and
eating habits. We are also diverse in where we live, our jobs, and our
various faiths.
Though I find these fallacies to be laughable, I also find them rather
frightening. Whenever you lump a group of people together and make
generalizations about them you are practicing bigotry. From bigotry you will
get discrimination. Unfortunately, much of the discrimination that
unschoolers receive is from within the homeschool movement itself and
espoused by some homeschool leaders. I care not whether these leaders agree
with how my children are educated, I care very much that I retain the right
to educate them as I feel best. Only by bursting these fallacies will people
begin to understand what unschoolers are trying to achieve.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's an article from that really well-organized and extensive site:
Unschooling Fallacies
by Teri Brown
There are so many misconceptions about unschooling I thought I would devote
an entire article to those pesky notions that plague all unschoolers at some
point or another. If another person comes up to me and says that children
can't learn without being pushed, I will not only scream, I will run madly
into the night, which of course would only give rise to the misconception
that unschoolers love to run screaming into the night.
Part of the dilemma, as I see it, is people can judge a group by meeting one
person from that group. They might decide, for instance, after meeting a
family whose kids are playing Nintendo during “school hours” that video
games are all that family does and that video games are all unschoolers do,
period. They don't stop to think that possibly the children were taking a
break from designing a solar car, creating a replica of the Mona Lisa or
building a teepee in the back yard. Maybe Mom is not feeling so hot or maybe
the kids like to play video games and the wise mother, feeling that Nintendo
will help her son's poor hand eye coordination, lets them play on! Then the
person who finds them playing the video games, who probably was against
unschooling in the first place, tars all unschoolers with the same brush and
makes a blanket statement, “All unschoolers do is allow their children to
play video games and watch TV all day. That is, after all what children will
do if not pushed.”
Other Unschooling Fallacies:
Unschooled children are completely responsible for their own education and
parents never help their children learn.
This one not only makes me laugh, but really dishonors all those unschoolers
who run their children to classes, find mentors for them, help them when
their children ask for it, spend hours at the library, carefully choose books
for reading aloud, take countless field trips, and play tons of games with
their children. Unschooling parents are very involved with their children's
education...... they just don't run it.
Unschooling parents are too lazy to take the time to sit down and teach their
children.
See above answer.
Unschooling families have no discipline in their homes.
Some do have discipline in their homes and some don't. Just like any other
family. I think this misconception stems from the fact that many people think
if a child has choices in their education that they get to do whatever they
want whenever they want to and they will always make bad choices. Child
rearing techniques are as varied in unschoolers as they are in any other
group of people.
Unschoolers never use text books.
This is another totally false assumption. Unschooling children and teens use
text books quite a bit, it's the parents who don't use text books. The
difference being, of course, that parents do not use them to teach.....the
children use them to learn. Major difference.
You might be able to unschool young children successfully but you can't
unschool teens.
Teens are at the very best age to unschool. The possibilities for teenagers
in regard to volunteer opportunities, internships and focused learning is
endless. Younger children often have difficulties getting adults to take them
seriously in giving them jobs or volunteer positions. Teens generally don't
have that problem. The world opens up for them and this is a time when they
can really concentrate on their interests, taking advantage of the freedom
most adults don't have.
Unschoolers are hippies, eat granola and sprouts, and wear sandals.
Like any other people group unschoolers are diverse in both our dress and
eating habits. We are also diverse in where we live, our jobs, and our
various faiths.
Though I find these fallacies to be laughable, I also find them rather
frightening. Whenever you lump a group of people together and make
generalizations about them you are practicing bigotry. From bigotry you will
get discrimination. Unfortunately, much of the discrimination that
unschoolers receive is from within the homeschool movement itself and
espoused by some homeschool leaders. I care not whether these leaders agree
with how my children are educated, I care very much that I retain the right
to educate them as I feel best. Only by bursting these fallacies will people
begin to understand what unschoolers are trying to achieve.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bridget E Coffman
On Fri, 7 Sep 2001 17:31:36 EDT SandraDodd@... writes:
what I am doing is not unschooling even though the girls are totally and
one-hundred percent in charge of WHAT they learn. Just sort of sounds
like the pot calling the kettle black to me.
Bridget
~~~~If electricity comes from electrons...does that mean that morality
comes from morons?~~~~
I sent my Soul through the Invisible,
Some letter of that After-life to spell;
And by and by my Soul returned to me,
And answered, "I Myself am Heaven and Hell." -- The Rubaiyat
> Unfortunately, much of the discrimination thatI retain
> unschoolers receive is from within the homeschool movement itself
> and espoused by some homeschool leaders. I care not whether these
> leaders agree with how my children are educated, I care very much that
> the right to educate them as I feel best. Only by bursting thesefallacies
> will people begin to understand what unschoolers are trying toachieve.��
>I find it rather humorous to see this posted here after being told that
what I am doing is not unschooling even though the girls are totally and
one-hundred percent in charge of WHAT they learn. Just sort of sounds
like the pot calling the kettle black to me.
Bridget
~~~~If electricity comes from electrons...does that mean that morality
comes from morons?~~~~
I sent my Soul through the Invisible,
Some letter of that After-life to spell;
And by and by my Soul returned to me,
And answered, "I Myself am Heaven and Hell." -- The Rubaiyat
[email protected]
In a message dated 09/07/2001 4:00:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
rumpleteasermom@... writes:
<< On Fri, 7 Sep 2001 17:31:36 EDT SandraDodd@... writes:
what I am doing is not unschooling even though the girls are totally and
one-hundred percent in charge of WHAT they learn. Just sort of sounds
like the pot calling the kettle black to me.
Bridget >>
First off, Thanks Sandra, for thinking enough of this piece for posting
this:) And thanks for the compliment to our site!
Bridget, I don't know what is going on here as I havent been able to keep up
with this thread, but I didnt like my article being chopped without credit to
the correct person:) Not really upset, but when you did that, it began with
Sandradodd@... writes! LOL Then my comments can be tossed all over the
web without being in context... though I suppose that can happen at any time
anyway! Ah well, small price to pay for the web I guess.
Teri
Co-author of Christian Unschooling;Raising Your Child in the Freedom of
Christ. Now available at Amazon.com! <A
HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891400223/o/qid=993307267/sr=2-1
/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/002-0292323-9457613">Amazon.com: buying info: Christian
Unschooling : Growing Your Children in the F</A>
Check out our website at <A HREF="http://www.inspirit.com.au/unschooling/">
Homeschooling - Christian Unschooling - Natural Learning</A>
rumpleteasermom@... writes:
<< On Fri, 7 Sep 2001 17:31:36 EDT SandraDodd@... writes:
> Unfortunately, much of the discrimination thatI retain
> unschoolers receive is from within the homeschool movement itself
> and espoused by some homeschool leaders. I care not whether these
> leaders agree with how my children are educated, I care very much that
> the right to educate them as I feel best. Only by bursting thesefallacies
> will people begin to understand what unschoolers are trying toachieve.Â
>I find it rather humorous to see this posted here after being told that
what I am doing is not unschooling even though the girls are totally and
one-hundred percent in charge of WHAT they learn. Just sort of sounds
like the pot calling the kettle black to me.
Bridget >>
First off, Thanks Sandra, for thinking enough of this piece for posting
this:) And thanks for the compliment to our site!
Bridget, I don't know what is going on here as I havent been able to keep up
with this thread, but I didnt like my article being chopped without credit to
the correct person:) Not really upset, but when you did that, it began with
Sandradodd@... writes! LOL Then my comments can be tossed all over the
web without being in context... though I suppose that can happen at any time
anyway! Ah well, small price to pay for the web I guess.
Teri
Co-author of Christian Unschooling;Raising Your Child in the Freedom of
Christ. Now available at Amazon.com! <A
HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891400223/o/qid=993307267/sr=2-1
/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/002-0292323-9457613">Amazon.com: buying info: Christian
Unschooling : Growing Your Children in the F</A>
Check out our website at <A HREF="http://www.inspirit.com.au/unschooling/">
Homeschooling - Christian Unschooling - Natural Learning</A>
M and L Hand
Teri -
You're here? Oh, my goodness! I can't believe you can put up with this stuff!
Laurie
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
You're here? Oh, my goodness! I can't believe you can put up with this stuff!
Laurie
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
I have been wanting to write to the authors of this book soon after I read
the first few pages. This book is excellent and has reinforced so much of
what I believe in for homeschooling. I want to thank the authors from the
bottom of my heart for their inspiration to a mom in need of support in her
efforts to unschool. I read the book in two sittings staying up to 3 o'clock
in the morning each night. I could not put the book down!
Thank you again for this excellent book and I hope that I can come to know
you through writing on the internet also.
Sincerely,
Mary
the first few pages. This book is excellent and has reinforced so much of
what I believe in for homeschooling. I want to thank the authors from the
bottom of my heart for their inspiration to a mom in need of support in her
efforts to unschool. I read the book in two sittings staying up to 3 o'clock
in the morning each night. I could not put the book down!
Thank you again for this excellent book and I hope that I can come to know
you through writing on the internet also.
Sincerely,
Mary
Dawn
--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "M and L Hand" <mandlhand@y...> wrote:
called not being polite but it's ok to say "I can't believe you can
put with this stuff"... I see one rule for you and another for
everyone else. that's interesting.
Dawn
> Teri -this stuff!
>
> You're here? Oh, my goodness! I can't believe you can put up with
> LaurieSo it's not ok for me to express an opinion about something. It's
called not being polite but it's ok to say "I can't believe you can
put with this stuff"... I see one rule for you and another for
everyone else. that's interesting.
Dawn
M and L Hand
No, it is just that I know Teri and I'm surprised that she can stomach this any more than I can. You are free to express whatever you want, which you know better than I can say. I am also free to disagree. But apparently not to say so.
Laurie
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Laurie
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
<< Just sort of sounds
like the pot calling the kettle black to me. >>
It was providing information someone had requested about Christian
unschooling.
Instead of just giving a URL (which is kind of rude to do all by itself
without comment, especially since some people can just get e-mail but can't
get to the internet), I quoted their lead article.
Sandra
like the pot calling the kettle black to me. >>
It was providing information someone had requested about Christian
unschooling.
Instead of just giving a URL (which is kind of rude to do all by itself
without comment, especially since some people can just get e-mail but can't
get to the internet), I quoted their lead article.
Sandra
M and L Hand
Cindy - that was a comment for Teri, not you. And I'm trying to leave. Really.
Laurie
This comment is uncalled for. No one is *making* you or anyone else stay
on this list. If you don't want to "put up with this stuff" to use your
own words, then don't.
--
Cindy Ferguson
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Laurie
This comment is uncalled for. No one is *making* you or anyone else stay
on this list. If you don't want to "put up with this stuff" to use your
own words, then don't.
--
Cindy Ferguson
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Bridget E Coffman
On Fri, 7 Sep 2001 19:38:54 EDT unschoolr2@... writes:
the end was Sandra's words in response or summing up the other parts she
had posted.
Bridget
~~~~If electricity comes from electrons...does that mean that morality
comes from morons?~~~~
I sent my Soul through the Invisible,
Some letter of that After-life to spell;
And by and by my Soul returned to me,
And answered, "I Myself am Heaven and Hell." -- The Rubaiyat
>I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was yours. I thought that paragragh at
> Bridget, I don't know what is going on here as I havent been able to
> keep up
> with this thread, but I didnt like my article being chopped without
> credit to
> the correct person:)
> Teri
>
the end was Sandra's words in response or summing up the other parts she
had posted.
Bridget
~~~~If electricity comes from electrons...does that mean that morality
comes from morons?~~~~
I sent my Soul through the Invisible,
Some letter of that After-life to spell;
And by and by my Soul returned to me,
And answered, "I Myself am Heaven and Hell." -- The Rubaiyat
[email protected]
I can't even tell you how much I needed to hear this right now. I am so glad
that we were able to encourage you. There is so little support for the
unschooler for the Christian faith, which is why we wrote the book in the
first place. My suite101 site was taken down after I couldn't keep up with it
any more ... made me very upset as I had about 20 articles on unschooling up
there and a lot of links. I am in the process of getting them up at our site
now:)
Thanks again!
Teri
that we were able to encourage you. There is so little support for the
unschooler for the Christian faith, which is why we wrote the book in the
first place. My suite101 site was taken down after I couldn't keep up with it
any more ... made me very upset as I had about 20 articles on unschooling up
there and a lot of links. I am in the process of getting them up at our site
now:)
Thanks again!
Teri
[email protected]
In a message dated 09/07/2001 9:10:37 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
mandlhand@... writes:
<< Teri -
You're here? Oh, my goodness! I can't believe you can put up with this
stuff!
Laurie
disagree with! It seems to be more strident on here lately.... usually it is
just run of the mill opinionated!
Teri
Co-author of Christian Unschooling; Raising Your Child in the Freedom of
Christ. Now available at Amazon.com! <A
HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891400223/o/qid=993307267/sr=2-1
/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/002-0292323-9457613">Amazon.com: buying info: Christian
Unschooling : Growing Your Children in the F</A>
Check out our website at <A HREF="http://www.inspirit.com.au/unschooling/">
Homeschooling - Christian Unschooling - Natural Learning</A>
mandlhand@... writes:
<< Teri -
You're here? Oh, my goodness! I can't believe you can put up with this
stuff!
Laurie
>>LOL! It doesn't matter what list I belong to, there will always be people I
disagree with! It seems to be more strident on here lately.... usually it is
just run of the mill opinionated!
Teri
Co-author of Christian Unschooling; Raising Your Child in the Freedom of
Christ. Now available at Amazon.com! <A
HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891400223/o/qid=993307267/sr=2-1
/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/002-0292323-9457613">Amazon.com: buying info: Christian
Unschooling : Growing Your Children in the F</A>
Check out our website at <A HREF="http://www.inspirit.com.au/unschooling/">
Homeschooling - Christian Unschooling - Natural Learning</A>
Helen Hegener
At 10:46 AM -0400 9/8/01, unschoolr2@... wrote:
on CNN that unschoolers and Christianity don't mix?
Helen
>I can't even tell you how much I needed to hear this right now. I am so gladTeri, I've been curious what you thought about Mike Farris' comments
>that we were able to encourage you. There is so little support for the
>unschooler for the Christian faith, which is why we wrote the book in the
>first place.
on CNN that unschoolers and Christianity don't mix?
Helen
[email protected]
I didn't hear the comments ... any transcript anywhere? I am sending you the
book this week, Helen... I address it in there several times as do the people
who wrote some of the essays included in the book. If I knew what comments
were being made I can give my five cents worth.
Teri
Co-author of Christian Unschooling; Raising Your Child in the Freedom of
Christ. Now available at Amazon.com! <A
HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891400223/o/qid=993307267/sr=2-1
/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/002-0292323-9457613">Amazon.com: buying info: Christian
Unschooling : Growing Your Children in the F</A>
Check out our website at <A HREF="http://www.inspirit.com.au/unschooling/">
Homeschooling - Christian Unschooling - Natural Learning</A>
book this week, Helen... I address it in there several times as do the people
who wrote some of the essays included in the book. If I knew what comments
were being made I can give my five cents worth.
Teri
Co-author of Christian Unschooling; Raising Your Child in the Freedom of
Christ. Now available at Amazon.com! <A
HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891400223/o/qid=993307267/sr=2-1
/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/002-0292323-9457613">Amazon.com: buying info: Christian
Unschooling : Growing Your Children in the F</A>
Check out our website at <A HREF="http://www.inspirit.com.au/unschooling/">
Homeschooling - Christian Unschooling - Natural Learning</A>