total newbie...what's "unschooling"

[LoveBaby]

That pretty much sums it up. I spend most of my time over at the diapering and babywearing boards, but as I lurk around the rest of the forums...I'm intrigued by this totally different parenting philosophy that I'm reading about. I was raised about as mainstream as you can get, and while my tendency's still tend to be, I'd like to learn more to change that.

So tell me all about "unschooling". Why do you think it's necessary...what does it entail if anything and what you see as the benefits to it? And anything else you can think of I need to know.

[SagMom]

If you do a search for "unschooling" within MDC, you'll get lots of reading material on this! Also, check out unschooling.com. There are essays there and bulletin boards as well.

Basically, it's a philosophy that trusts children to direct their own learning and follow their own interests. Neither parents, nor the school system, nor anyone would have a list of expectations or requirements about what the child should learn.

As with anything, the more finely one tries to define it, the more disagreement there is, so I'll leave it at that.

[UnschoolnMa]

Yep, unschoolers believe (generally) that children are born with an instinctive desire to learn naturally and without imposed lessons, assignments and shedules. It is learning from life, experience, need, desire, and wonder I second checking out www.unschooling.com.

[LoveBaby]

wow...very interesting

i really like the philosophy

thanks for the link

nak

[barbara]

We have been unschooling since the mid 80's, and I have 3 grown children who have gone on to do very well in college and life. We still have 4 at home and each one's education is directed and geared by their unique interests. They really do learn what they need when they need to know it. It is an amazing, wonderful, relaxed and exciting way of life!

Here are a couple more links to check out.

http://www.naturalchild.com/guest/earl_stevens.html

http://www.home-educate.com/unschooling/index.shtml

http://www.sandradodd.com/unschooling

http://www.unschooling.org/

And my favorite:
http://www.holtgws.com/index.html