[email protected]

In a message dated 11/19/02 2:21:51 PM Central Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:

<<
I guess the reason I wrote about this to the list is that now many people I
know are going to use my friend as an example of how unschooling doesn't
"work", and I'm trying to get my thoughts together so that I can respond
clearly when the topic comes up.
>>

I think it's great to ponder this ahead of time so as to give concise and
clear responses when/if it comes up.
I also think the answer is very clear in this case, she wasn't unschooling.
So how can she say it doesn't work? If the concern is all about fitting into
school at some point, then unschooling can't unfold in the beautiful way you
read about here.
She won't see that, but at least you can point out that she wasn't
unschooling.

Ren
Unschooling support at pensacolaunschoolers.com
And remember,
"A life lived in fear is a life half lived"

Betsy

**I think it's great to ponder this ahead of time so as to give concise
and
clear responses when/if it comes up.
I also think the answer is very clear in this case, she wasn't unschooling.**

(Maybe someone else can come up with a fairer way to phrase this without
losing its punch.)

If people lamented to me "Tsk, tsk, look at how Esmerelda's son didn't
learn anything when they were unschooling", I'd want to ask, firmly, --
"Did she unschool or did she just sit there?"

This can prompt a follow-up conversation about what unschooling involves
beyond just adopting a relaxed attitude and waiting to see results.

Betsy