Do any of you hide USing and call it homeschooling? - Page 2

[annakiss]

I find myself saying "unschooling" a lot of the time, but I run in peculiar circles. If I don't want to discuss it, I use "homeschooling." I'm a loudmouth though and often want to discuss it. :

[nathansmum]

Another who just says homeschooling and not from a "hiding" it pov. Just that your regular non-homeschooler has no idea what unschooling is anyway. I have told a few non-homeschoolers who seem to be into AP ideas and read AP magazines or internet that they have heard the term. Otherwise, nope, just doesn't come up. With family and close friends who are genuinely interested and supportive I will help them fully understand what unschooling means to our family (even sent them through my exemption that I submitted to the Ministry of Education to help them see how we learn).

When I get asked if I follow the school curriculum and who do I report to I just say that we don't, but even then don't generally call it unschooling coz it just confuses people.

To other homeschoolers, if pressed, I will say that we unschool.

[cottonwood]

Well, we're not homeschoolers. We're not "schooling" at all. If people ask why the kids aren't in school, I say that they don't go to school. If they ask if they're homeschooling, I usually just say 'yes' because that question usually comes in a situation where I'm not interested in attracting attention or taking the time to have a debate about educational philosophy. I do feel that it's important to clarify the difference, just not if it's going to be at my expense. If there is time to talk and I'm comfortable with it I'll clarify that we don't do school at home but learn in a more organic way (I don't like the term 'unschooling' so try to avoid it unless the other person is already familiar with it and wants to use it) and elaborate from there if the person I'm talking to is interested and not hostile.

[flower01]

Originally Posted by Dar

Ah. Well, that would explain it... consider the source

Right. Which is exactly why I asked. My assumption is that anybody outside of this forum, if they have heard of unschooling at all, it would have been from a source like Dr. Phil...and so wouldn't have a positive view of it.

Thanks though for all of your answers. I just wanted to hear how you all actually refer to it, considering you'd either have to explain the term or defend it in every conversation.