Funniest explanations of unschooling by your kids
Julie Bogart
So my 17 yr old son and I visited a college this past weekend. He had an interview with
one of the admissions people and was asked about his educational background. This
school has admitted lots of homeschoolers so they were familiar with homeschooling.
My son, though, asks, "Have you ever heard of unschooling?"
Admissions lady says, "No."
So my son proceeds to explain it like this.
"My mom traditionally homeschooled me for most of my life. But then she started a
business a few years ago. She got overwhelmed with homeschool so she decided to
unschool where we can do whatever we want in order to learn whatever we want."
He was then asked what he had learned and he told her that he couldn't remember
anything.
What?!?!?
On the debrief with me, I reminded him that I've had my business for five years and that it
had nothing to do with changing to unschooling. Secondly I asked him what he meant
when he said he hadn't learned much or couldn't remember anything! This is the Klingon
speaking, guitar and piano playing, book reading, computer programming, Shakespeare
performing, sign language skilled kid.
Well, boiled down it turns out that when put in a "schoolish" context he just couldn't
understand how to explain us or his learning. He did say that once the conversation got
going, her found himself sharing lots of good that had come of our educational style citing
books and history we had studied together as well as mentioning some of the above. it's
just that he didn't think that was what she wanted to hear.
It made me conscious of how important it is to give our kids language to express what we
do when asked by school type people. I thought I had done that.
Apparently not.
Anyone else have stories like this one? How do your kids expalin unschooling? What have
you suggested they say?
Julie B
one of the admissions people and was asked about his educational background. This
school has admitted lots of homeschoolers so they were familiar with homeschooling.
My son, though, asks, "Have you ever heard of unschooling?"
Admissions lady says, "No."
So my son proceeds to explain it like this.
"My mom traditionally homeschooled me for most of my life. But then she started a
business a few years ago. She got overwhelmed with homeschool so she decided to
unschool where we can do whatever we want in order to learn whatever we want."
He was then asked what he had learned and he told her that he couldn't remember
anything.
What?!?!?
On the debrief with me, I reminded him that I've had my business for five years and that it
had nothing to do with changing to unschooling. Secondly I asked him what he meant
when he said he hadn't learned much or couldn't remember anything! This is the Klingon
speaking, guitar and piano playing, book reading, computer programming, Shakespeare
performing, sign language skilled kid.
Well, boiled down it turns out that when put in a "schoolish" context he just couldn't
understand how to explain us or his learning. He did say that once the conversation got
going, her found himself sharing lots of good that had come of our educational style citing
books and history we had studied together as well as mentioning some of the above. it's
just that he didn't think that was what she wanted to hear.
It made me conscious of how important it is to give our kids language to express what we
do when asked by school type people. I thought I had done that.
Apparently not.
Anyone else have stories like this one? How do your kids expalin unschooling? What have
you suggested they say?
Julie B
Danielle Conger
> Anyone else have stories like this one? How do your kids expalinunschooling? What have you suggested they say?
>============
> Julie B
Oooh, I'm very interested in hearing the responses to this. I was thinking
along these lines after reading Sandra's story about Marty's description--at
the dentist was it?
We were on vacation this past week up in New Hampshire, and while there, we
went to an American Indian Educational Center (non-profit, but still owned,
collected and described by non-Native people) and a Shaker Village. Both
times we had exchanges with the people there--both negative and relatively
positive.
At the American Indian Center, there was a very rigid tour given by a very
rigid tour guide who found herself very flustered by Emily's (7 yo) many
questions because it threw her off her very scripted talk. Towards the end,
Em asked about some stories and costumes that she'd seen the kids enjoying
in the introductory video. The tour guide told her that was the story room
only used for school groups and that Em should come back sometime with her
class. Well, Emily said that she didn't "do school" and that she was on
vacation. The tour guide launched into this whole, "Well, someday you'll
have to do school" yadda, yadda. Em responded that she would "never have to
do school!" to which the tour guide retorted, "Well, then, you'll never get
to try on those costumes then." Grrr! It was so mean-spirited, I was
floored. Later, I heard the tour guide remark to a co-worker that she was
going to have to quit because she just didn't have the energy to keep doing
this.
The next day, we went to the Canterbury Shaker Village and had a really
great experience. They just got a grant to begin some children's
programming, so we went on a tour geared towards families that is,
apparently, a modified version of the tour they give school groups. We were
the only family in the early tour, and the young gal was so friendly and
kind--she even mended Julia's purse strap after the tour because it broke
while we were there. She encouraged all kinds of questions, listened
attentively and kindly reminded them when they weren't allowed to touch
something. The tour ended in the schoolhouse, where she started asking Emily
how she learned in school, to which Em replied that we "unschool!" The gal
was so positive about homeschooling, "oh, it's so great you guys can do
that" kind of stuff. Then she asks what Emily learns about at home, and
Emily blurts out something along the lines of "nothing! Absolutely nothing!
I don't have to learn about anything!" It was a very defensive kind of
stance, left over, I think, from the day before. So, I said something along
the lines of, "No, you don't *have* to learn about anything, but you *like*
learning about lots of stuff--why don't you tell her what kinds of things
you're interested in and what you like to do." She still didn't have much to
say, so I ended up listing off topics like mythology, egypt, butterflies,
etc.
Now, who's being defensive, I wonder? *g* While in the first instance I was
glad Em stood her ground and declared that she did *not* have to go to
school, the second day with someone open and positive, I found myself
cringing at Em's description of us doing "nothing." I ended up talking about
how we do an awful lot of stuff just like the tour we were on that day and
that the kids learn things in hands-on, self-directed ways.
So, I'm really interested in hearing how others feel about how unschooling
gets described and whether we should "arm" our kids with responses and cues
that tell when people are looking for more traditional information about
what we do.
--Danielle
http://www.danielleconger.com/Homeschool/Welcomehome.html
Cheryl Carroll
My son's only 8 and doesn't really need to explain. But when asked why he's not in school, depending on the person asking, he sometimes responds with:
I am autodidact (said while assuming a karate type pose and pronounced as if he is about to do battle). It's hard to explain, but it is funny. People never understand it, even when he says the word correctly. He explains what we do as autodidactal learning. He made that word up and likes it better than autodidactic, so that's the one he uses. No one knows the difference.
We run into people all the time asking what grade he's in or what curriculum we use. He tells them we don't do grades and we use whatever we want.
It's when they ask me that there is a problem. I know what I'm doing, but can't seem to explain it for the life of me. I always come off sounding like an idiot, unless I can take time and describe some of the learning experiences that occur. When I can do that, people usually say things like 'Wow' and 'Awesome' and 'Good for you (or him)'. Still, they don't understand.
Cheryl
Julie Bogart <julie@...> wrote:
So my 17 yr old son and I visited a college this past weekend. He had an interview with
one of the admissions people and was asked about his educational background. This
school has admitted lots of homeschoolers so they were familiar with homeschooling.
My son, though, asks, "Have you ever heard of unschooling?"
Admissions lady says, "No."
So my son proceeds to explain it like this.
"My mom traditionally homeschooled me for most of my life. But then she started a
business a few years ago. She got overwhelmed with homeschool so she decided to
unschool where we can do whatever we want in order to learn whatever we want."
He was then asked what he had learned and he told her that he couldn't remember
anything.
What?!?!?
On the debrief with me, I reminded him that I've had my business for five years and that it
had nothing to do with changing to unschooling. Secondly I asked him what he meant
when he said he hadn't learned much or couldn't remember anything! This is the Klingon
speaking, guitar and piano playing, book reading, computer programming, Shakespeare
performing, sign language skilled kid.
Well, boiled down it turns out that when put in a "schoolish" context he just couldn't
understand how to explain us or his learning. He did say that once the conversation got
going, her found himself sharing lots of good that had come of our educational style citing
books and history we had studied together as well as mentioning some of the above. it's
just that he didn't think that was what she wanted to hear.
It made me conscious of how important it is to give our kids language to express what we
do when asked by school type people. I thought I had done that.
Apparently not.
Anyone else have stories like this one? How do your kids expalin unschooling? What have
you suggested they say?
Julie B
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I am autodidact (said while assuming a karate type pose and pronounced as if he is about to do battle). It's hard to explain, but it is funny. People never understand it, even when he says the word correctly. He explains what we do as autodidactal learning. He made that word up and likes it better than autodidactic, so that's the one he uses. No one knows the difference.
We run into people all the time asking what grade he's in or what curriculum we use. He tells them we don't do grades and we use whatever we want.
It's when they ask me that there is a problem. I know what I'm doing, but can't seem to explain it for the life of me. I always come off sounding like an idiot, unless I can take time and describe some of the learning experiences that occur. When I can do that, people usually say things like 'Wow' and 'Awesome' and 'Good for you (or him)'. Still, they don't understand.
Cheryl
Julie Bogart <julie@...> wrote:
So my 17 yr old son and I visited a college this past weekend. He had an interview with
one of the admissions people and was asked about his educational background. This
school has admitted lots of homeschoolers so they were familiar with homeschooling.
My son, though, asks, "Have you ever heard of unschooling?"
Admissions lady says, "No."
So my son proceeds to explain it like this.
"My mom traditionally homeschooled me for most of my life. But then she started a
business a few years ago. She got overwhelmed with homeschool so she decided to
unschool where we can do whatever we want in order to learn whatever we want."
He was then asked what he had learned and he told her that he couldn't remember
anything.
What?!?!?
On the debrief with me, I reminded him that I've had my business for five years and that it
had nothing to do with changing to unschooling. Secondly I asked him what he meant
when he said he hadn't learned much or couldn't remember anything! This is the Klingon
speaking, guitar and piano playing, book reading, computer programming, Shakespeare
performing, sign language skilled kid.
Well, boiled down it turns out that when put in a "schoolish" context he just couldn't
understand how to explain us or his learning. He did say that once the conversation got
going, her found himself sharing lots of good that had come of our educational style citing
books and history we had studied together as well as mentioning some of the above. it's
just that he didn't think that was what she wanted to hear.
It made me conscious of how important it is to give our kids language to express what we
do when asked by school type people. I thought I had done that.
Apparently not.
Anyone else have stories like this one? How do your kids expalin unschooling? What have
you suggested they say?
Julie B
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com
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Kelly Muzyczka
My son is 8 and only really talks about it with me. But I have talked to
him about the kinds of stuff he learns while playing video games, joked
about how to write it in educationalese for the annual evaluation, how I
explain to other people. And he's heard me talk about it.
So, at some point, I'm sure he'll be able to spout the "party
line." However, given how shy he is, I wonder if he'll clam up at the last
minute, too.
Kelly
him about the kinds of stuff he learns while playing video games, joked
about how to write it in educationalese for the annual evaluation, how I
explain to other people. And he's heard me talk about it.
So, at some point, I'm sure he'll be able to spout the "party
line." However, given how shy he is, I wonder if he'll clam up at the last
minute, too.
Kelly
Mary
From: "Danielle Conger" <danielle.conger@...>
<<So, I'm really interested in hearing how others feel about how unschooling
gets described and whether we should "arm" our kids with responses and cues
that tell when people are looking for more traditional information about
what we do.>>
My kids answer pretty much the same way. Sometimes with "we just have fun"
which usually translates for the other person into "we don't do anything."
It really doesn't bother me and I feel no need to defend the position by
telling people we actually do "something." I usually reply that while the
kids sit and do nothing, I sit and eat bon bons and watch TV all day!!!
Of course that's the wise ass in me. It's hard to get rid of.
Mary B
<<So, I'm really interested in hearing how others feel about how unschooling
gets described and whether we should "arm" our kids with responses and cues
that tell when people are looking for more traditional information about
what we do.>>
My kids answer pretty much the same way. Sometimes with "we just have fun"
which usually translates for the other person into "we don't do anything."
It really doesn't bother me and I feel no need to defend the position by
telling people we actually do "something." I usually reply that while the
kids sit and do nothing, I sit and eat bon bons and watch TV all day!!!
Of course that's the wise ass in me. It's hard to get rid of.
Mary B
Elizabeth Hill
Sometimes I tell people that I think most of what kids study in school
gets forgotten.
But I also like you discussing the inspiring things that your kid(s) are
doing. That's probably the most persuasive testimony that you can give.
Betsy
** It's when they ask me that there is a problem. I know what I'm doing,
but can't seem to explain it for the life of me. I always come off
sounding like an idiot, unless I can take time and describe some of the
learning experiences that occur. When I can do that, people usually say
things like 'Wow' and 'Awesome' and 'Good for you (or him)'. Still, they
don't understand.**
gets forgotten.
But I also like you discussing the inspiring things that your kid(s) are
doing. That's probably the most persuasive testimony that you can give.
Betsy
** It's when they ask me that there is a problem. I know what I'm doing,
but can't seem to explain it for the life of me. I always come off
sounding like an idiot, unless I can take time and describe some of the
learning experiences that occur. When I can do that, people usually say
things like 'Wow' and 'Awesome' and 'Good for you (or him)'. Still, they
don't understand.**
Julie
** Anyone else have stories like this one? How do your kids expalin
unschooling? What have you suggested they say?**
My kids usually respond to questions about what they do with comments like
"we play all day" or "we do whatever we want to do". I heard Jacob telling
one his friends (who is homeschooled) that he played all day and didn't have
to do schoolwork. His friend didn't believe him and came and questioned me.
I told him Jacob was telling the truth and his mouth dropped open and he
said "but how will he learn?".
If the questioning is about what or how they learn, they usually say "we
learn lots of things every day" and often include an example, like making
things or experimenting in the kitchen or something they saw on TV. My boys
are 10 and 8.
Julie
unschooling? What have you suggested they say?**
My kids usually respond to questions about what they do with comments like
"we play all day" or "we do whatever we want to do". I heard Jacob telling
one his friends (who is homeschooled) that he played all day and didn't have
to do schoolwork. His friend didn't believe him and came and questioned me.
I told him Jacob was telling the truth and his mouth dropped open and he
said "but how will he learn?".
If the questioning is about what or how they learn, they usually say "we
learn lots of things every day" and often include an example, like making
things or experimenting in the kitchen or something they saw on TV. My boys
are 10 and 8.
Julie
Tosca
Hiyas all,
I think for me one of the best ways I have 'seen' that my daughter
knows and on some levels 'gets' why she is not in school "like
everyone one else" (her words) is this;
I was watching my friends kids one night a week while she and hubby
worked odd hours, he would bring them over around 9pm and they would
have to go right to bed so they could be up in the a.m. for school.
After a few weeks my daughter (who wants to goto school and feels she
is missing something there more often than not it seems) said to
me "Mom the little girl is jealous that I have no bed time and I feel
bad for her". I encouraged her to write a note to her friend (since
they don't get to talk much seeing as how the schedules were set up).
All along I have been telling my daughter why I continue along this
path called home/un schooling, what I enjoy about it, what it means
to me and us as a family, what I recall about going to school as a
child good and bad. But moment to moment she rejects my opinion
saying she wants to try school anyway.
That being said her note reads like this she wrote a nice little note.
After reading it I questioned her and she explained in depth how much
she understands all the things I tell her about what why we do what
we do, and how much she sees the truth of it in our daily life even
tho she tells me more often than not she'd rather we didn't.
She also said she understands that tho this is right for our family
it doesn't mean other families making different choices are making
wrong ones.
Which all speaks to the fact that I have given her those truths in
word and deed all along. It was the first time I had heard her
express it in a way I knew she really does believe it deep down. And
it came at a time when she could see someone she cared about outside
of the situation was worried that they were on the wrong side of
things.
It's not I guess ha ha funny but cute in a kid way which always makes
me smile.
In chance daily encounters I am most likely to be the one saying we
don't really do anything special just live our lives with the
learning as a goal and after thought simultaneously. Because it's
hard to explain in a sound byte and not all the truly great moments
or factual implants seem like all that in the moment.
Tosca
--- In [email protected], Cheryl Carroll
It's when they ask me that there is a problem. I know what I'm doing,
but can't seem to explain it for the life of me. ...sounding like an
idiot, unless I can take time and describe some of the learning
experiences that occur. ... people usually say things like 'Wow'
and 'Awesome' and 'Good for you (or him)'. Still, they don't
understand.
I think for me one of the best ways I have 'seen' that my daughter
knows and on some levels 'gets' why she is not in school "like
everyone one else" (her words) is this;
I was watching my friends kids one night a week while she and hubby
worked odd hours, he would bring them over around 9pm and they would
have to go right to bed so they could be up in the a.m. for school.
After a few weeks my daughter (who wants to goto school and feels she
is missing something there more often than not it seems) said to
me "Mom the little girl is jealous that I have no bed time and I feel
bad for her". I encouraged her to write a note to her friend (since
they don't get to talk much seeing as how the schedules were set up).
All along I have been telling my daughter why I continue along this
path called home/un schooling, what I enjoy about it, what it means
to me and us as a family, what I recall about going to school as a
child good and bad. But moment to moment she rejects my opinion
saying she wants to try school anyway.
That being said her note reads like this she wrote a nice little note.
After reading it I questioned her and she explained in depth how much
she understands all the things I tell her about what why we do what
we do, and how much she sees the truth of it in our daily life even
tho she tells me more often than not she'd rather we didn't.
She also said she understands that tho this is right for our family
it doesn't mean other families making different choices are making
wrong ones.
Which all speaks to the fact that I have given her those truths in
word and deed all along. It was the first time I had heard her
express it in a way I knew she really does believe it deep down. And
it came at a time when she could see someone she cared about outside
of the situation was worried that they were on the wrong side of
things.
It's not I guess ha ha funny but cute in a kid way which always makes
me smile.
In chance daily encounters I am most likely to be the one saying we
don't really do anything special just live our lives with the
learning as a goal and after thought simultaneously. Because it's
hard to explain in a sound byte and not all the truly great moments
or factual implants seem like all that in the moment.
Tosca
--- In [email protected], Cheryl Carroll
It's when they ask me that there is a problem. I know what I'm doing,
but can't seem to explain it for the life of me. ...sounding like an
idiot, unless I can take time and describe some of the learning
experiences that occur. ... people usually say things like 'Wow'
and 'Awesome' and 'Good for you (or him)'. Still, they don't
understand.
Kerrin or Ralph
My 16 yo daughter had a similar interview. We tackled it by writing a letter
in advance. At first she didn't know what to say in the letter, but I helped
her start with: "I have been home educated in an environment that encourages
self led learning. My parents' philosophy on education is that people learn
best when they are interested in the topic they are studying. So, my
learning has been interest based."
This opened the door for a long letter about her music, her reading &
writing, various computer programs she's used, how she learns about
different cultures from the Wwoofers we host (Willing Workers On Organic
Farms), her goals, etc, etc.
After doing this she was able to approach the interview feeling positive
about her learning, instead of fearful that she hadn't learned enough.
Kerrin.
in advance. At first she didn't know what to say in the letter, but I helped
her start with: "I have been home educated in an environment that encourages
self led learning. My parents' philosophy on education is that people learn
best when they are interested in the topic they are studying. So, my
learning has been interest based."
This opened the door for a long letter about her music, her reading &
writing, various computer programs she's used, how she learns about
different cultures from the Wwoofers we host (Willing Workers On Organic
Farms), her goals, etc, etc.
After doing this she was able to approach the interview feeling positive
about her learning, instead of fearful that she hadn't learned enough.
Kerrin.
> So my 17 yr old son and I visited a college this past weekend. He had aninterview with
> one of the admissions people and was asked about his educationalbackground. This
> school has admitted lots of homeschoolers so they were familiar withhomeschooling.
>started a
> My son, though, asks, "Have you ever heard of unschooling?"
>
> Admissions lady says, "No."
>
> So my son proceeds to explain it like this.
>
> "My mom traditionally homeschooled me for most of my life. But then she
> business a few years ago. She got overwhelmed with homeschool so shedecided to
> unschool where we can do whatever we want in order to learn whatever wewant."
>remember
> He was then asked what he had learned and he told her that he couldn't
> anything.
>
> What?!?!?
>
Sylvia Toyama
Andy (8yo) regularly says something like, "I don't do any school. I just go to playgroup and play and watch TV whenever I want!" Uh, yeah -- that's just what I want my mil to hear when she visits this fall!
Syl
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Syl
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Marie
My oldest daughter (when she was 8) told my MIL we homeschool so we can
sleep late.
Marie
-----Original Message-----
From: Sylvia Toyama [mailto:sylgt04@...]
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 11:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Funniest explanations of
unschooling by your kids
Andy (8yo) regularly says something like, "I don't do any school. I just go
to playgroup and play and watch TV whenever I want!" Uh, yeah -- that's
just what I want my mil to hear when she visits this fall!
Syl
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
sleep late.
Marie
-----Original Message-----
From: Sylvia Toyama [mailto:sylgt04@...]
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 11:55 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Funniest explanations of
unschooling by your kids
Andy (8yo) regularly says something like, "I don't do any school. I just go
to playgroup and play and watch TV whenever I want!" Uh, yeah -- that's
just what I want my mil to hear when she visits this fall!
Syl
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
stancland
--- In [email protected], "Julie" <mjsolich@i...> wrote>
past and that past was not an "unschooling" per say model since I have just recently
become commited and really aware of what that means.
My son has sort of quoted me in that I have heard him explain to questioning people
that "everything we do every day is school work". "We are learning all the time with
everything we do."
What I didn't understand when I said that and he repeated it, was the true meaning of
unschooling. I am glad that we at least had those sentiments from the start. I think
as we continue along, it will help. I have always explained to inquiring people that
everything in every day life can be a learning experience, from cooking to cleaning to
grocery shopping to playing games and visiting the zoo. What's funny is that I didn't
really internalize it until now. I always believed in the concept but was fearful to let
go of the "curriculum."
Arlee
> >>>>** Anyone else have stories like this one? How do your kids expalinWhile I can't quote my child exactly, I can give you the gist of what he has said in the
> unschooling? What have you suggested they say?**<<<<<<
past and that past was not an "unschooling" per say model since I have just recently
become commited and really aware of what that means.
My son has sort of quoted me in that I have heard him explain to questioning people
that "everything we do every day is school work". "We are learning all the time with
everything we do."
What I didn't understand when I said that and he repeated it, was the true meaning of
unschooling. I am glad that we at least had those sentiments from the start. I think
as we continue along, it will help. I have always explained to inquiring people that
everything in every day life can be a learning experience, from cooking to cleaning to
grocery shopping to playing games and visiting the zoo. What's funny is that I didn't
really internalize it until now. I always believed in the concept but was fearful to let
go of the "curriculum."
Arlee
stancland
--- In [email protected], "Tosca" <toscasac@y...>
wrote:
depth how much.......<<<<<
What did her note say? I am really interested and I don't know if I
am reading your post wrong or if the quote just didn't get pasted.
Arlee
wrote:
>>>>>>That being said her note reads like this she wrote a nicelittle note. After reading it I questioned her and she explained in
depth how much.......<<<<<
What did her note say? I am really interested and I don't know if I
am reading your post wrong or if the quote just didn't get pasted.
Arlee
Jon and Rue Kream
Rowan, Dagny and I have great conversations about unschooling. Dagny
(who's 11) reads the dotcom message boards - the 'adult' sections - every
day and has read most of the books about unschooling/peaceful parenting that
I have. Does anyone else have kids who are interested in parenting
philosophies and unschooling?
She was asked a lot of questions about it at a sleepover recently. From
what I heard later, it sounds like she gave answers that a regular poster on
dotcom would have given. She's pretty cool :0). ~Rue
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
(who's 11) reads the dotcom message boards - the 'adult' sections - every
day and has read most of the books about unschooling/peaceful parenting that
I have. Does anyone else have kids who are interested in parenting
philosophies and unschooling?
She was asked a lot of questions about it at a sleepover recently. From
what I heard later, it sounds like she gave answers that a regular poster on
dotcom would have given. She's pretty cool :0). ~Rue
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
pam sorooshian
Wes Beach is well known in the California homeschool community - he
runs Beach High School in Santa Cruz, with students from all over the
country -
"Beach High School offers you, if you're a teenager, an opportunity to
gain the freedom to pursue your authentic interests and develop your
natural talents outside of a traditional high school."
Wes gives kids a diploma - sometimes within a week or two of enrollment
- more often a year or two after enrollment. He has no particular
academic requirements for graduation - just that they are ready to move
on. One of the ways they can earn a diploma is to write an essay.
I wanted to post his description of what he suggests including in the
essay, because Julie's post about her son and the college admissions
questions made me think that these might be very useful points for
unschoolers to prepare to talk about for college admissions. Wes's
website has more information - he is a STRONG supporter of unschooling
and has been an amazing source of inspiration and strength to countless
teenagers and their parents.
<http://members.cruzio.com/~beachhi/home.html>
Here are his essay instructions:
Include in your essay the following:
• Your past educational experience. This can begin with the utterance
of your first word, with a description of your wonderful fifth grade
teacher or your terrible eighth grade English teacher, with an account
of a trip to Australia, or at any other point in your life. It should
include those parts of your education that you think are the important
ones; they can be experiences in school and/or outside of it, they
certainly don't have to be limited to the narrow academic areas that
school deals with, and they can be positive and/or negative.
• Your goals for the next few years. You do not have to have a lot of
specific plans, but to the extent you do I'd like to read about them.
• Your skills. There used to be sections here on reading and math,
but I've come to the point where I believe there are more important
skills. To successfully get on with your life, you need to be able to
seek out necessary information, deal with people you encounter, and set
up opportunities for yourself through planning, job interviews, college
applications, and so on. Reading and arithmetic at a very basic level
are important for everyone, but only as two skills among many. As I was
thinking about writing this section, it occurred to me that food
handling is more important than math; if you don't know which foods to
put in the refrigerator, you might kill yourself. Reading and
mathematics--especially reading--do take on added importance if you
want a lot of formal academic education. Please write something about
the degree to which you possess each skill listed above in bold type,
and any special difficulties you may have (learning "disabilities,"
etc.). Also, write about any special skills you believe you have.
• Your emotional sturdiness. Of all the characteristics that will
make you successful, I believe that emotional sturdiness is most
important, and that self-knowledge and confidence are two vital
components of this. If you are clear about what you are capable of
doing and are confident of your success in your chosen endeavors, you
will be successful. Do you feel you do know your own capabilities well?
Are you confident in yourself? Are there any emotional issues in your
life that are problematic? Can you deal with these issues?
• Your passions. What do you do that allows you to concentrate fully,
to become completely absorbed, to lose track of time and all your
worries? Sing? Hike alone in the woods? Volunteer at an animal shelter?
Play chess? Throw pots? Write poems?
• Your intelligences. Read the section titled Seeing Your
Intelligence before you write about this. What activities do you engage
in that allow you most fully to express yourself? The same question can
be asked this way: How do you demonstrate your strongest intelligences?
Are they related to your passions? Did you get to use them fully in
school? Did the fact that school typically focuses only on the use of
words and numbers cause problems for you?
• Any specific life experiences you've had that have enabled you to
grow into a more mature, stronger, wiser, more knowledgeable, and more
accomplished person: working, learning to set tile, traveling, living
through a divorce, caring for a sick family member, becoming an
accomplished dancer, facing a tough life issue, etc. Again, don't limit
yourself to the narrow academic concerns of traditional schooling.
• And, finally, why you deserve a diploma. Be very specific and
detailed about this. Make it very clear why you're finished with high
school and, in a concrete way, tell me what you're going to do next and
how you're going to get started. You don't have to have elaborate
plans--just a direction and a starting point.
It isn't appropriate to write, “I deserve a diploma because I want
one.” You deserve a diploma if you have the interests, talents, skills,
and confidence to move on with your life beyond high school.
Do not believe that your life isn't interesting or valuable enough to
write about. There will never be a valedictorian at Beach High School
because I don't believe there is any possible way to decide that one
set of accomplishments is more significant than another. Many BHS
students who have written essays have won awards and scholarships,
traveled extensively, or reached high goals at a young age. But you can
write a wonderful essay too, even if you've never won any contest or
been publicly recognized in any way and all your friends live within
six blocks. A single moment in your life when you've recognized a
humble but important truth can be just as important to you as anything
else that anyone has ever done. "Any life explored in depth is unique,
even extraordinary, and if told at all well anyone's story is unusual."
(Charles B. Strozier, Apocalypse,p. 23.)
Now that I've rambled on for a while, I'll say that what all this comes
down to is, Who are you, where are you headed, and why do you believe
you'll succeed?
******************
runs Beach High School in Santa Cruz, with students from all over the
country -
"Beach High School offers you, if you're a teenager, an opportunity to
gain the freedom to pursue your authentic interests and develop your
natural talents outside of a traditional high school."
Wes gives kids a diploma - sometimes within a week or two of enrollment
- more often a year or two after enrollment. He has no particular
academic requirements for graduation - just that they are ready to move
on. One of the ways they can earn a diploma is to write an essay.
I wanted to post his description of what he suggests including in the
essay, because Julie's post about her son and the college admissions
questions made me think that these might be very useful points for
unschoolers to prepare to talk about for college admissions. Wes's
website has more information - he is a STRONG supporter of unschooling
and has been an amazing source of inspiration and strength to countless
teenagers and their parents.
<http://members.cruzio.com/~beachhi/home.html>
Here are his essay instructions:
Include in your essay the following:
• Your past educational experience. This can begin with the utterance
of your first word, with a description of your wonderful fifth grade
teacher or your terrible eighth grade English teacher, with an account
of a trip to Australia, or at any other point in your life. It should
include those parts of your education that you think are the important
ones; they can be experiences in school and/or outside of it, they
certainly don't have to be limited to the narrow academic areas that
school deals with, and they can be positive and/or negative.
• Your goals for the next few years. You do not have to have a lot of
specific plans, but to the extent you do I'd like to read about them.
• Your skills. There used to be sections here on reading and math,
but I've come to the point where I believe there are more important
skills. To successfully get on with your life, you need to be able to
seek out necessary information, deal with people you encounter, and set
up opportunities for yourself through planning, job interviews, college
applications, and so on. Reading and arithmetic at a very basic level
are important for everyone, but only as two skills among many. As I was
thinking about writing this section, it occurred to me that food
handling is more important than math; if you don't know which foods to
put in the refrigerator, you might kill yourself. Reading and
mathematics--especially reading--do take on added importance if you
want a lot of formal academic education. Please write something about
the degree to which you possess each skill listed above in bold type,
and any special difficulties you may have (learning "disabilities,"
etc.). Also, write about any special skills you believe you have.
• Your emotional sturdiness. Of all the characteristics that will
make you successful, I believe that emotional sturdiness is most
important, and that self-knowledge and confidence are two vital
components of this. If you are clear about what you are capable of
doing and are confident of your success in your chosen endeavors, you
will be successful. Do you feel you do know your own capabilities well?
Are you confident in yourself? Are there any emotional issues in your
life that are problematic? Can you deal with these issues?
• Your passions. What do you do that allows you to concentrate fully,
to become completely absorbed, to lose track of time and all your
worries? Sing? Hike alone in the woods? Volunteer at an animal shelter?
Play chess? Throw pots? Write poems?
• Your intelligences. Read the section titled Seeing Your
Intelligence before you write about this. What activities do you engage
in that allow you most fully to express yourself? The same question can
be asked this way: How do you demonstrate your strongest intelligences?
Are they related to your passions? Did you get to use them fully in
school? Did the fact that school typically focuses only on the use of
words and numbers cause problems for you?
• Any specific life experiences you've had that have enabled you to
grow into a more mature, stronger, wiser, more knowledgeable, and more
accomplished person: working, learning to set tile, traveling, living
through a divorce, caring for a sick family member, becoming an
accomplished dancer, facing a tough life issue, etc. Again, don't limit
yourself to the narrow academic concerns of traditional schooling.
• And, finally, why you deserve a diploma. Be very specific and
detailed about this. Make it very clear why you're finished with high
school and, in a concrete way, tell me what you're going to do next and
how you're going to get started. You don't have to have elaborate
plans--just a direction and a starting point.
It isn't appropriate to write, “I deserve a diploma because I want
one.” You deserve a diploma if you have the interests, talents, skills,
and confidence to move on with your life beyond high school.
Do not believe that your life isn't interesting or valuable enough to
write about. There will never be a valedictorian at Beach High School
because I don't believe there is any possible way to decide that one
set of accomplishments is more significant than another. Many BHS
students who have written essays have won awards and scholarships,
traveled extensively, or reached high goals at a young age. But you can
write a wonderful essay too, even if you've never won any contest or
been publicly recognized in any way and all your friends live within
six blocks. A single moment in your life when you've recognized a
humble but important truth can be just as important to you as anything
else that anyone has ever done. "Any life explored in depth is unique,
even extraordinary, and if told at all well anyone's story is unusual."
(Charles B. Strozier, Apocalypse,p. 23.)
Now that I've rambled on for a while, I'll say that what all this comes
down to is, Who are you, where are you headed, and why do you believe
you'll succeed?
******************
Dawn Adams
> >>>>** Anyone else have stories like this one? How do your kids expalinCatherine ( now 6!!!) went to the dentist in June and had a conversation that went some thing like this...
> unschooling?
Dentist: "So you must be excited about going into grade one Catherine."
Catherine "I'm not going into grade one."
D - "Oh! I'm sorry. About Primary."
C - "I'm not in Primary. I'm..."(about to say homeschooled)
D - "Of course! You're going on summer vacation! Must love that, no homework."
C - "I don't do homework, I'm..."
D - "No homework? I guess not, in Primary."
C - "I'm homeschooled!!! I don't do homework."
D - "That's right. I'd forgotten. You wouldn't have homework because all your work would be at home!" *chuckles*
C - " No, I don't do any work, I just learn."
But I don't think the dentist really heard the last bit. Catherine and I talked and laughed about it later. She was quite frustrated but managed to brush it off. She knows I think that we're doing something most folks just don't get.
dawn (in NS)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
J. Stauffer
<<<< How do your kids expalin unschooling? >>>>
Stranger: So how do you like homeschooling?
Kids: We don't homeschool. We don't do school at all.
Stranger: So you just sit around and watch tv all day?!?
Kids: Yes.
<sigh>
Julie S.---mom to a state goat-showing champion, a national skeet and
sporting clays champion, a competitive gymnast, kids that stay up all night
discussing the effects of the Patriot Act on the Constitution, a budding
artist, a budding actress, etc..
Stranger: So how do you like homeschooling?
Kids: We don't homeschool. We don't do school at all.
Stranger: So you just sit around and watch tv all day?!?
Kids: Yes.
<sigh>
Julie S.---mom to a state goat-showing champion, a national skeet and
sporting clays champion, a competitive gymnast, kids that stay up all night
discussing the effects of the Patriot Act on the Constitution, a budding
artist, a budding actress, etc..
----- Original Message -----
From: "Julie Bogart" <julie@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 4:01 PM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Funniest explanations of unschooling by
your kids
> So my 17 yr old son and I visited a college this past weekend. He had an
interview with
> one of the admissions people and was asked about his educational
background. This
> school has admitted lots of homeschoolers so they were familiar with
homeschooling.
>
> My son, though, asks, "Have you ever heard of unschooling?"
>
> Admissions lady says, "No."
>
> So my son proceeds to explain it like this.
>
> "My mom traditionally homeschooled me for most of my life. But then she
started a
> business a few years ago. She got overwhelmed with homeschool so she
decided to
> unschool where we can do whatever we want in order to learn whatever we
want."
>
> He was then asked what he had learned and he told her that he couldn't
remember
> anything.
>
> What?!?!?
>
> On the debrief with me, I reminded him that I've had my business for five
years and that it
> had nothing to do with changing to unschooling. Secondly I asked him what
he meant
> when he said he hadn't learned much or couldn't remember anything! This is
the Klingon
> speaking, guitar and piano playing, book reading, computer programming,
Shakespeare
> performing, sign language skilled kid.
>
> Well, boiled down it turns out that when put in a "schoolish" context he
just couldn't
> understand how to explain us or his learning. He did say that once the
conversation got
> going, her found himself sharing lots of good that had come of our
educational style citing
> books and history we had studied together as well as mentioning some of
the above. it's
> just that he didn't think that was what she wanted to hear.
>
> It made me conscious of how important it is to give our kids language to
express what we
> do when asked by school type people. I thought I had done that.
>
> Apparently not.
>
> Anyone else have stories like this one? How do your kids expalin
unschooling? What have
> you suggested they say?
>
> Julie B
>
>
>
>
> "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
>
> Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
http://www.unschooling.com
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/26/04 10:04:07 PM, sylgt04@... writes:
<< Andy (8yo) regularly says something like, "I don't do any school. I just
go to playgroup and play and watch TV whenever I want!" Uh, yeah -- that's
just what I want my mil to hear when she visits this fall! >>
Holly (12) was helping with a Q&A session at the convention in Las Vegas, and
when asked what she does with her days said "I sleep a lot and watch TV."
She didn't know the bad response that would make in some of the undecided. <g>
Had they asked her about particular things, talked to her about the world,
they would've been impressed, but she doesn't know "the right answers" and they
didn't know the right questions.
Sandra
<< Andy (8yo) regularly says something like, "I don't do any school. I just
go to playgroup and play and watch TV whenever I want!" Uh, yeah -- that's
just what I want my mil to hear when she visits this fall! >>
Holly (12) was helping with a Q&A session at the convention in Las Vegas, and
when asked what she does with her days said "I sleep a lot and watch TV."
She didn't know the bad response that would make in some of the undecided. <g>
Had they asked her about particular things, talked to her about the world,
they would've been impressed, but she doesn't know "the right answers" and they
didn't know the right questions.
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/27/04 5:16:31 AM, Wishbone@... writes:
<< Dentist: "So you must be excited about going into grade one Catherine."
Catherine "I'm not going into grade one."
D - "Oh! I'm sorry. About Primary."
C - "I'm not in Primary. I'm..."(about to say homeschooled)
D - "Of course! You're going on summer vacation! Must love that, no
homework."
C - "I don't do homework, I'm..."
D - "No homework? I guess not, in Primary."
C - "I'm homeschooled!!! I don't do homework."
D - "That's right. I'd forgotten. You wouldn't have homework because all
your work would be at home!" *chuckles*
C - " No, I don't do any work, I just learn." >>
Those kinds of conversations are SO FUNNY (in a sad funny way), and that was
a gem.
Catherine just didn't know it's a traditional dialog with another traditional
part ('yes') and then short answers to what school, who's your teacher, do
you like her, and what's your favorite subject?
After a hundred years of that being the conversation older people have with
younger people, I wonder how long it will take for it to be amended and the
older people to really listen to what the kids are saying?
Sandra
<< Dentist: "So you must be excited about going into grade one Catherine."
Catherine "I'm not going into grade one."
D - "Oh! I'm sorry. About Primary."
C - "I'm not in Primary. I'm..."(about to say homeschooled)
D - "Of course! You're going on summer vacation! Must love that, no
homework."
C - "I don't do homework, I'm..."
D - "No homework? I guess not, in Primary."
C - "I'm homeschooled!!! I don't do homework."
D - "That's right. I'd forgotten. You wouldn't have homework because all
your work would be at home!" *chuckles*
C - " No, I don't do any work, I just learn." >>
Those kinds of conversations are SO FUNNY (in a sad funny way), and that was
a gem.
Catherine just didn't know it's a traditional dialog with another traditional
part ('yes') and then short answers to what school, who's your teacher, do
you like her, and what's your favorite subject?
After a hundred years of that being the conversation older people have with
younger people, I wonder how long it will take for it to be amended and the
older people to really listen to what the kids are saying?
Sandra
pam sorooshian
On Jul 27, 2004, at 9:01 AM, SandraDodd@... wrote:
you go to school?"
It happened when we joined the 4H club (it is not a homeschool 4H club,
but the people there are very aware of homeschooling). It happened once
at the ice rink - where homeschoolers have one day a month special
rates. So - that will probably replace the other traditional start-up
conversation.
We saw Bill Cosby live the other night. He brought a 10 yo up from the
audience and asked her, "Do you like school?" She said, "Yes." "What do
you like about it?" "Everything." "Even math?" "Yes." "Go sit down."
BIG laugh from audience.
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
>I've been happily surprised to hear my children asked, by adults, "Do
> After a hundred years of that being the conversation older people have
> with
> younger people, I wonder how long it will take for it to be amended
> and the
> older people to really listen to what the kids are saying?
you go to school?"
It happened when we joined the 4H club (it is not a homeschool 4H club,
but the people there are very aware of homeschooling). It happened once
at the ice rink - where homeschoolers have one day a month special
rates. So - that will probably replace the other traditional start-up
conversation.
We saw Bill Cosby live the other night. He brought a 10 yo up from the
audience and asked her, "Do you like school?" She said, "Yes." "What do
you like about it?" "Everything." "Even math?" "Yes." "Go sit down."
BIG laugh from audience.
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
Dawn Adams
Sandra writes:
After a hundred years of that being the conversation older people have with
younger people, I wonder how long it will take for it to be amended and the
older people to really listen to what the kids are saying?
Dawn (in NS)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
After a hundred years of that being the conversation older people have with
younger people, I wonder how long it will take for it to be amended and the
older people to really listen to what the kids are saying?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I wish it were tommorrow. I kept my mouth shut because I didn't want to step on Catherine's toes but I was getting a little steamed myself at the dentist and her half distracted conversation. If she didn't want answers why ask the questions? Imagine how interesting it could have been for her if she'd just listened. Oh well...Her loss.
Dawn (in NS)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Julie Bogart
This is brilliant and helpful. He's about to write a personal essay for admissions and this
starter phrase will be an immense help. Thank you.
Julie B
starter phrase will be an immense help. Thank you.
Julie B
--- In [email protected], "Kerrin or Ralph" <kerrin@x> wrote:
> "I have been home educated in an environment that encourages
> self led learning. My parents' philosophy on education is that people learn
> best when they are interested in the topic they are studying. So, my
> learning has been interest based."
>
joylyn
I think the funniest thing that happened to us in regards to unschooling
was when we were at the state tournament for Destination Imagination.
At the end of the day, the team manager and three of the kids, and two
more parents (lexie included) all went to see the score the kids earned
on their central challenge. The name of our group is "Dragontree
Homelearners" so I thought it was pretty obvious we were homeschoolers,
but the judge just didn't get it. He said to the kids "ok, you guys
know when you are in school and you only get 50 out of 100 points on a
test, and that's bad in school?" The kids just looked at him with blank
expressions. The guy tried again "you know in school, if you only get
half the points on a test, then you failed the test..." The kids were
still looking at him as though he was talking a strange language. The
team leader finally said "they don't go to school, they don't take
tests, they are homeschooled." The man looked really confused and then
said "they don't take tests?" This was obviously an amazing fact to
him, how could any child reach age 9 and not understand or take tests?
So he then tried again with the kids "ok, on a test, if you only get 50
questions right out of 100, then..." I spoke up and said something like
"they don't take tests, they are homeschooled." If he had just said
"normally 50% is not good but in DI it is very good" the kids would have
gotten that immediately, but instead he was trying to relate this to
school and testing and none of the three kids involved had ever been to
school, besides preschool, and didn't understand at all. He finally did
explain the scores to the kids and to us, but every few minutes he would
look at the adults with a very strange look and say something like "they
don't take tests?" or "they don't have to go to school?" On the way
back to the hotel the kids and I discussed percentages, and all three of
them very much understood percentages, but didn't understand 50% being
bad or failing. A percentage was just a portion of something based on
100.
Lexie just says "The world is my classroom and life is my teacher."
Joylyn
pam sorooshian wrote:
was when we were at the state tournament for Destination Imagination.
At the end of the day, the team manager and three of the kids, and two
more parents (lexie included) all went to see the score the kids earned
on their central challenge. The name of our group is "Dragontree
Homelearners" so I thought it was pretty obvious we were homeschoolers,
but the judge just didn't get it. He said to the kids "ok, you guys
know when you are in school and you only get 50 out of 100 points on a
test, and that's bad in school?" The kids just looked at him with blank
expressions. The guy tried again "you know in school, if you only get
half the points on a test, then you failed the test..." The kids were
still looking at him as though he was talking a strange language. The
team leader finally said "they don't go to school, they don't take
tests, they are homeschooled." The man looked really confused and then
said "they don't take tests?" This was obviously an amazing fact to
him, how could any child reach age 9 and not understand or take tests?
So he then tried again with the kids "ok, on a test, if you only get 50
questions right out of 100, then..." I spoke up and said something like
"they don't take tests, they are homeschooled." If he had just said
"normally 50% is not good but in DI it is very good" the kids would have
gotten that immediately, but instead he was trying to relate this to
school and testing and none of the three kids involved had ever been to
school, besides preschool, and didn't understand at all. He finally did
explain the scores to the kids and to us, but every few minutes he would
look at the adults with a very strange look and say something like "they
don't take tests?" or "they don't have to go to school?" On the way
back to the hotel the kids and I discussed percentages, and all three of
them very much understood percentages, but didn't understand 50% being
bad or failing. A percentage was just a portion of something based on
100.
Lexie just says "The world is my classroom and life is my teacher."
Joylyn
pam sorooshian wrote:
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> On Jul 27, 2004, at 9:01 AM, SandraDodd@... wrote:
>
> >
> > After a hundred years of that being the conversation older people have
> > with
> > younger people, I wonder how long it will take for it to be amended
> > and the
> > older people to really listen to what the kids are saying?
>
> I've been happily surprised to hear my children asked, by adults, "Do
> you go to school?"
>
> It happened when we joined the 4H club (it is not a homeschool 4H club,
> but the people there are very aware of homeschooling). It happened once
> at the ice rink - where homeschoolers have one day a month special
> rates. So - that will probably replace the other traditional start-up
> conversation.
>
> We saw Bill Cosby live the other night. He brought a 10 yo up from the
> audience and asked her, "Do you like school?" She said, "Yes." "What do
> you like about it?" "Everything." "Even math?" "Yes." "Go sit down."
> BIG laugh from audience.
>
> -pam
> National Home Education Network
> <www.NHEN.org>
> Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
> through information, networking and public relations.
>
>
>
> "List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
>
> Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
> http://www.unschooling.com
>
>
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kayb85
Someone sent me an email telling me about a telephone homeschooling
conference going on during the next few days. It's interesting you
mention Wes Beach, because he's the guest tomorrow morning. I guess
you call the number and can ask a personal question of different
homeschooling people, who will answer questions on specific topics.
Tomorrow is Pat Farenga talking about unschooling.
http://www.homeschool.com/articles/Marathon/default.asp
Sheila
conference going on during the next few days. It's interesting you
mention Wes Beach, because he's the guest tomorrow morning. I guess
you call the number and can ask a personal question of different
homeschooling people, who will answer questions on specific topics.
Tomorrow is Pat Farenga talking about unschooling.
http://www.homeschool.com/articles/Marathon/default.asp
Sheila
> Wes Beach is well known in the California homeschool community -he
> runs Beach High School in Santa Cruz, with students from all overthe
> country -
Kerrin or Ralph
She just told me that they streamed her into the top english class based on
her writing in this letter!
Kerrin.
her writing in this letter!
Kerrin.
> This is brilliant and helpful. He's about to write a personal essay foradmissions and this
> starter phrase will be an immense help. Thank you.wrote:
>
> Julie B
>
> --- In [email protected], "Kerrin or Ralph" <kerrin@x>
> > "I have been home educated in an environment that encourageslearn
> > self led learning. My parents' philosophy on education is that people
> > best when they are interested in the topic they are studying. So, my
> > learning has been interest based."
Julie
** Holly (12) was helping with a Q&A session at the convention in Las Vegas,
and when asked what she does with her days said "I sleep a lot and watch
TV."
She didn't know the bad response that would make in some of the undecided.
<g>
Had they asked her about particular things, talked to her about the world,
they would've been impressed, but she doesn't know "the right answers" and
they didn't know the right questions.**
You know, it's really cool that many unschooled kids don't know those right
answers isn't it. There's no need to perform for others to gain approval or
worth. One experience can have as much value as another, ie watching TV then
reading a book or discussing politics. There is no pressure to meet outside
expectations of "productivity" so they can be honest and real about who they
are and what they do. Reminds me of something Jacob (8yos) said two days
ago--learning free. Very cool!
Julie
and when asked what she does with her days said "I sleep a lot and watch
TV."
She didn't know the bad response that would make in some of the undecided.
<g>
Had they asked her about particular things, talked to her about the world,
they would've been impressed, but she doesn't know "the right answers" and
they didn't know the right questions.**
You know, it's really cool that many unschooled kids don't know those right
answers isn't it. There's no need to perform for others to gain approval or
worth. One experience can have as much value as another, ie watching TV then
reading a book or discussing politics. There is no pressure to meet outside
expectations of "productivity" so they can be honest and real about who they
are and what they do. Reminds me of something Jacob (8yos) said two days
ago--learning free. Very cool!
Julie
Kerrin or Ralph
I have found that when schooled kids are asked "what did you do at school
today?", the answer is usually "Nothing."
Kerrin.
today?", the answer is usually "Nothing."
Kerrin.
>Vegas,
> ** Holly (12) was helping with a Q&A session at the convention in Las
> and when asked what she does with her days said "I sleep a lot and watchundecided.
> TV."
> She didn't know the bad response that would make in some of the
> <g>world,
> Had they asked her about particular things, talked to her about the
> they would've been impressed, but she doesn't know "the right answers" andright
> they didn't know the right questions.**
>
> You know, it's really cool that many unschooled kids don't know those
> answers isn't it.
Julie Bogart
--- In [email protected], "Julie" <mjsolich@i...> wrote:
He told me that he had had good experiences with most homeschooled kids. Maybe 4 out
of 100 weren't prepared for their school (St. John's college).
He went on to say that the reason their particular college doesn't trust SAT tests is that
they rely more on testing a student's cunning than their aptitude to learn. He said that
their college, otoh, preferred students without guile.
Without guile
Guileless.
I realized that that was what happened with my son. He responded without guile or
cunning. He told the truth as he understood it. And he even got around to sharing things
that did explain his "education."
Perhaps we underappreciate that quality of guilessness... Perhaps I do.
Julie B
> You know, it's really cool that many unschooled kids don't know those rightJulie, this reminded me of the admissions advisor I met at the college this last weekend.
> answers isn't it. There's no need to perform for others to gain approval or
> worth.
He told me that he had had good experiences with most homeschooled kids. Maybe 4 out
of 100 weren't prepared for their school (St. John's college).
He went on to say that the reason their particular college doesn't trust SAT tests is that
they rely more on testing a student's cunning than their aptitude to learn. He said that
their college, otoh, preferred students without guile.
Without guile
Guileless.
I realized that that was what happened with my son. He responded without guile or
cunning. He told the truth as he understood it. And he even got around to sharing things
that did explain his "education."
Perhaps we underappreciate that quality of guilessness... Perhaps I do.
Julie B
[email protected]
In a message dated 7/28/04 4:47:46 AM, kerrin@... writes:
<< I have found that when schooled kids are asked "what did you do at school
today?", the answer is usually "Nothing." >>
That's what I always said. And the answer to "What did you do today?" was
usually "nothing" too, until I thought about it.
The things I learned at school that were exciting and worth reporting to my
mom were things like whose parents were getting a divorce, or who ran away or
wrecked a car or got pregnant.
Then years and years later I read Howard Gardner and figured I just was an
interpersonal intelligence kind of person. At school, that meant sometimes I'd
get a report card with lots of As and a C in conduct. "Too much talking."
"Not here to socialize." Often, bad conduct grades. It 'bout drove me crazy to
sit in that desk quietly for half an hour after I'd finished my work. And
often the only reward was we started other work without me getting to even get
up and stretch and wiggle and squeal or sing; still in the same desk for the
next fifteen minute exercise after which I'd have to sit still for another
thirty minutes. YUCK!
Every day there was WAY more "nothing" than something, unless there was
interpersonal news.
Sandra
<< I have found that when schooled kids are asked "what did you do at school
today?", the answer is usually "Nothing." >>
That's what I always said. And the answer to "What did you do today?" was
usually "nothing" too, until I thought about it.
The things I learned at school that were exciting and worth reporting to my
mom were things like whose parents were getting a divorce, or who ran away or
wrecked a car or got pregnant.
Then years and years later I read Howard Gardner and figured I just was an
interpersonal intelligence kind of person. At school, that meant sometimes I'd
get a report card with lots of As and a C in conduct. "Too much talking."
"Not here to socialize." Often, bad conduct grades. It 'bout drove me crazy to
sit in that desk quietly for half an hour after I'd finished my work. And
often the only reward was we started other work without me getting to even get
up and stretch and wiggle and squeal or sing; still in the same desk for the
next fifteen minute exercise after which I'd have to sit still for another
thirty minutes. YUCK!
Every day there was WAY more "nothing" than something, unless there was
interpersonal news.
Sandra
diana
Hayden (age 5) came to me after a discussion on automatic vs standard
transmissions and announced, "I figured this out on my own, so I
don't want to be homeschooled anymore!" I asked, "Do you think that
going to school means you get to figure it out on your own?" I got
the BIG eye roll and a sigh, "HOMEschool is when mom is your teacher,
UNschool is when you figure it out on your own. I'm not
homeschooled, I'm unschooled!"
~diana :)
transmissions and announced, "I figured this out on my own, so I
don't want to be homeschooled anymore!" I asked, "Do you think that
going to school means you get to figure it out on your own?" I got
the BIG eye roll and a sigh, "HOMEschool is when mom is your teacher,
UNschool is when you figure it out on your own. I'm not
homeschooled, I'm unschooled!"
~diana :)