[email protected]

In a message dated 6/25/2003 11:50:20 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:

> I'm new to this group, although not new to unschooling. I have two
> grown unschoolers. I have an almost 5-year-old that I would love to
> homeschool in the unschooling way, but I'm a single mom and I have a
> job that I love now. So, I've been thinking about starting
> an "unschool" for my son and other children whose parents would like
> to homeschool, but cannot do so on their own.
>
> Has anyone else tried to do this? Sudbury Valley Schools seem to be
> the closest, but I don't want to do anything that big and there are
> none in my area. I just want to create an unschooling community
> learning center for a small number of children.
>
> If you have any suggestions, ideas, or warnings for me, let me know.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sue
>

My best friend's family has been involved in a Sudbury school near Hartford,
CT (which is desperately looking for students, by the way, in case you know of
anyone!), which started up last fall. They would tell you it's the most
wonderful and horrific thing they've ever done.

It's wonderful because they have a small group of kids who were sad that
school ended last week. Nick (my friend's son) is the happiest he's ever been.
When my friend, Melissa, was talking about the school possibly having to close,
her reaction to the possiblity of Nick's having to go back to public school (he
doesn't want to homeschool) was "When will he have time to learn anything?"

The horrific part is that it's really HARD to start a school or program. (By
the way, apparently most of the Sudbury schools across the country, other than
the first, are small and always scraping by looking for students.) It's hard
to find kids, it's hard to work out money issues, it's just hard!

If you like I can connect you with my friend and she'll be able to answer
more questions.

Kathryn


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