Mary Bianco

I was recently talking to another homeschooler. I mentioned being on this
list again. She was asking me something I couldn't answer. She said she
either was on a list or heard about, not sure which one, about unschoolers
that sounded a bit different than what I see here. It was to the degree of
if a child wants to write on the walls with crayons, to let them because
they obviously have a 'need' to do so. She said there was a word for it. I
thought maybe radical unschoolers but she said no. Just wondering if anyone
is familiar with this?

Mary B




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In a message dated 10/12/02 10:53:45 PM Central Daylight Time,
mummyone24@... writes:


> a list or heard about, not sure which one, about unschoolers
> that sounded a bit different than what I see here. It was to the degree of
> if a child wants to write on the walls with crayons, to let them because
> they obviously have a 'need' to do so. She said there was a word for it. I
> thought maybe radical unschoolers but she said no. Just wondering if anyone
>
> is familiar with this?
>
> Mary B
>

I don't know where or how the term *Radical Unschooler* came about, most of
us here are either unschoolers, or in search of unschooling. I would guess
that a radical unschooler is one that extends unschooling into a way of life.
One that sees unschooling as more than just a way to educate but as a way of
life, a philosophy. (anyone who has a better explanation....) One thing I
have never, ever heard an unschooler, radical or not, say is that they *let*
their children be destructive in the name of unschooling because it is "what
the child needs to do." I do know of a family who has a very artistic
daughter. She has decorated her room in her own way. The walls are painted by
her, in an ever-changing mural. Her Mom has said on many occasions that, if
need be, she can just paint it all over, its good that her dd can express
herself and they encourage it. In my own home, the attic accesses are in my
kids rooms. They are little doors close to the floor. I have painted those
with blackboard paint, and my kids color away on those little doors. Coloring
on the walls in the name of doing what you want to do because you need to do
it isn't unschooling. Giving your children the freedom to express themselves
in their own space isn't a bad thing. Is this contradictory? I don't think
so, but some might.
~Nancy clear as mud right? <bwg>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Peggy

Sounds like TCS, which taken out of context can be seen as "out of control" to
outsiders. Those who want to explore the TCS viewpoint should check out their
website. Debating it without understanding where they are coming from is
pretty senseless. It does seem pretty extreme to those who think they have a
right to tell their children how to live their lives. [ I am not TCS and am
not affiliate with the site. ;) ]

Radical unschoolers are *us*. On other lists the term is used to distinguish
those who unschool from those relaxed homeschoolers who follow some kind of
prescribed curriculum guides, like math or english of some sort on a regular
schedule. Guess it is just so much fun to call oneself an unschooler than
everyone wants to whether they do or not. Letting go of control seems
important.

Peggy


Mary Bianco wrote:
>
> I was recently talking to another homeschooler. I mentioned being on this
> list again. She was asking me something I couldn't answer. She said she
> either was on a list or heard about, not sure which one, about unschoolers
> that sounded a bit different than what I see here. It was to the degree of
> if a child wants to write on the walls with crayons, to let them because
> they obviously have a 'need' to do so. She said there was a word for it. I
> thought maybe radical unschoolers but she said no. Just wondering if anyone
> is familiar with this?
>
> Mary B
>
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Mary Bianco

>From: Dnowens@...

<<I don't know where or how the term *Radical Unschooler* came about, most
of us here are either unschoolers, or in search of unschooling. I would
guess that a radical unschooler is one that extends unschooling into a way
of life. One that sees unschooling as more than just a way to educate but as
a way of life, a philosophy. (anyone who has a better explanation....) One
thing I have never, ever heard an unschooler, radical or not, say is that
they *let* their children be destructive in the name of unschooling because
it is "what the child needs to do." I do know of a family who has a very
artistic daughter. She has decorated her room in her own way. The walls are
painted by her, in an ever-changing mural. Her Mom has said on many
occasions that, if need be, she can just paint it all over, its good that
her dd can express
herself and they encourage it. In my own home, the attic accesses are in my
kids rooms. They are little doors close to the floor. I have painted those
with blackboard paint, and my kids color away on those little doors.
Coloring on the walls in the name of doing what you want to do because you
need to do it isn't unschooling. Giving your children the freedom to express
themselves in their own space isn't a bad thing. Is this contradictory? I
don't think so, but some might.
~Nancy clear as mud right? <bwg>>


Actually Nancy, to me it is clear. I was just wondering about it and was
only relaying the thought as it was conveyed to me. I was the one that
mentioned radical unschoolers only because my friend said they had a name
for their beliefs. Radical was the only term I had heard of but not used as
she mentioned. I was on a radical unschoolers list years ago and didn't see
mention of letting kids destroy things. It was a just a word I thought maybe
she was thinking of. I have no problem with kids decorating their own rooms.
You should see my kids walls!!!!! The oldest just recently pulled off her
naked Abercrombie and Fitch models to substitute Eminem. I like the naked
guys better!!

But again my friend said this particular group would actually let the kids
draw where they wanted with no thought as to paint the walls with blackboard
paint or even hang paper up. Just let them at it wherever.
Again, not sure how accurate her account of all this is.

Mary B

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