Tangie

The description on the home page for this group states "As discussed
on this list and at the Unschooling.com website, unschooling is *not*
defined as the free learning kids do outside of parent-directed
learning, nor is it done on a part-time basis. Everyone with an
interest in unschooling is welcome to join this discussion, but we
ask that you keep in mind the purpose of this list, which is to
discuss unschooling in ways designed to help each other become
unschoolers or become better at unschooling."

This list has, to me, appeared to be more of a general parenting
list. The volume of posts is remarkable, but few of them have
anything to do with unschooling. Maybe the name of the group should
be changed.

Tangie

Pam Hartley

----------
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 2548
>Date: Thu, Oct 24, 2002, 10:47 PM
>

> This list has, to me, appeared to be more of a general parenting
> list. The volume of posts is remarkable, but few of them have
> anything to do with unschooling. Maybe the name of the group should
> be changed.


So, Tangie, you come here often? :)

Seriously, if you've only been a member of the list a short time, I can tell
you that it fluctuates widely (and occasionally wildly :) in topics, but the
central core is unschooling and it always comes back around.

If you've been here awhile and still think parenting-in-general doesn't have
almost everything to do with unschooling, keep reading for a bit longer and
see if it starts to make sense.

It's hard to unschool if your parenting style is like that of many/most
American families, so we have to address the problems in parenting while
we're in the process of talking about unschooling.

Pam

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/25/02 7:26:46 AM !!!First Boot!!!,
pamhartley@... writes:


> It's hard to unschool if your parenting style is like that of many/most
> American families, so we have to address the problems in parenting while
> we're in the process of talking about unschooling.
>
> Pam
>

Pam - I've been reading the list for quite some time now and I love it! My
two oldest daughters went through public school - my son, who is 10, attended
kindergarten and has been homeschooled since!

How do we as parents, and maybe parents who got into the rut of "school at
home", become unschoolers - it seems that major thought process changes are
needed and I find that I'm having a hard time switching paradigms. I love
the idea of unschooling and I feel that it would be an ideal way for us to
live!

I have a really hard time just "being"....must be all those years "doing"
public school with my girls. Suggestions? Comments?

Beth (coming out of lurkdom)


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

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/24/02 11:05:02 PM, tangierenez@... writes:

<< This list has, to me, appeared to be more of a general parenting
list. The volume of posts is remarkable, but few of them have
anything to do with unschooling. Maybe the name of the group should
be changed. >>

Have you read at www.unschooling.com?

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/25/02 12:47:35 AM Central Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:

<< This list has, to me, appeared to be more of a general parenting
list. The volume of posts is remarkable, but few of them have
anything to do with unschooling. Maybe the name of the group should
be changed. >>

Unschooling in a nutshell, is good parenting.

What do you think unschooling is anyway? And I have read many posts about
how to let go of control, in order to unschool more effectively.
Maybe it's just not the right list for you.

Ren

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/25/02 7:23:31 AM, EBA7009@... writes:

<< How do we as parents, and maybe parents who got into the rut of "school at
home", become unschoolers - it seems that major thought process changes are
needed and I find that I'm having a hard time switching paradigms. >>

Beth,
If you can get to the internet, go to http://sandradodd.com/articles
and read deschooling and disposable checklists.

If you're e-mail only, write to me and I'll send you the texts.

Sandra

Pam Hartley

> How do we as parents, and maybe parents who got into the rut
of "school at
> home", become unschoolers - it seems that major thought
process changes are
> needed and I find that I'm having a hard time switching
paradigms. I love
> the idea of unschooling and I feel that it would be an ideal way
for us to
> live!
>
> I have a really hard time just "being"....must be all those years
"doing"
> public school with my girls. Suggestions? Comments?


I'm a doer. :) Mostly, I'm an over-doer, in fact. Unless I have 27
balls in the air, I'm not happy and I'm looking for something to
add.

What I try not to do is add my daughters to my list of projects that
I'm directing to my version of a successful completion. When I
get the urge to foist something on them, or "make" them the way
I want them to be, I redirect it.

So, I breed show rabbits and show guinea pigs. I train my dog. I
clean out a closet. I scrapbook. I do all sorts of things that my my
control freak flag fly if you will <g> and leave my daughters out of
my Type A machinations.

With them, I try very hard to remember that I want my role to be
their fan, supporter, confidant, helper. I pay attention to what they
are doing and try to think of things they might want to do, without
prejudice if they say "no thanks".

It's been easy for me, and I don't know why.

Pam

Betsy

Hi, Tangie --

I think the point is that unschooling isn't just something we do for a
few hours a day to replace school -- it's our whole lives with our children.

Betsy

**The description on the home page for this group states "As discussed
on this list and at the Unschooling.com website, unschooling is *not*
defined as the free learning kids do outside of parent-directed
learning, nor is it done on a part-time basis. Everyone with an
interest in unschooling is welcome to join this discussion, but we
ask that you keep in mind the purpose of this list, which is to
discuss unschooling in ways designed to help each other become
unschoolers or become better at unschooling."

This list has, to me, appeared to be more of a general parenting
list. The volume of posts is remarkable, but few of them have
anything to do with unschooling. Maybe the name of the group should
be changed.**

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/25/02 6:44:55 PM !!!First Boot!!!,
pamhartley@... writes:


> What I try not to do is add my daughters to my list of projects that
> I'm directing to my version of a successful completion. When I
> get the urge to foist something on them, or "make" them the way
> I want them to be, I redirect it.
>

Yeeeow....hadn't thought about it like that. Michael has become my
"project". Hmmm.

beth


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