The term "unschooling" may confuse people who tend to associate schooling with learning or education. However, to be clear, unschooling is not unlearning or uneducating. It is simply learning without school.
The unschooling approach to life, in general, describes the way people learn naturally when left to pursue their own personal interests. Natural learning involves
- freely engaging in play,
- having fun,
- observing, and
- experimenting.
In this way, unschoolers own their interests – their passions, dreams, and goals – and also the responsibility for pursuing and attaining those goals. Unschooling parents give their children the gift of responsibility while remaining available to facilitate their children's learning.
Unschooling Philosophy
Unschooling may also be referred to as child-led, self-directed, interest-driven, whole life, or natural learning. It is not a new method of homeschooling, insomuch as it is a varied and flexible approach to learning that predates the establishment of conventional schooling methodology. Unschooling puts conventional methods to new uses and embraces new technologies. Fundamental to the unschooling approach are the acknowledgments that
- People learn all the time,
- All learning has value, and
- People learn by their own motivation in their own ways.
Unschooling philosophy warns that a child’s natural curiosity and love of learning can be harmed and inhibited through the use of coercive teaching strategies. Coercion is out of accord with unschooling practice. If, for example, a child resists learning a skill, the unschooling parent will not respond by pushing the child with bribes, threats, or other forms of coercion.
The free online course about unschooling, Un/Homeschooling, provides an overview of unschooling philosophy, as well as details of daily life, natural learning, homeschooling laws, educational requirements, and more.
Myths About Unschooling
A common misconception of unschooling practice is that the parent will not actively help the child learn. However, unschooling parents do help children learn useful skills and anything else they desire to learn. The multitude of ways unschooling parents help children learn things include
- Introducing new topics,
- Sharing and helping to seek knowledge,
- Initiating and participating in learning activities, and
- Providing guidance and instruction.
The differences between unschooling and more conventional approaches to homeschooling are most notable in philosophy rather than in practice. By outside observation, the activities of an unschooling family may appear similar to those of another homeschooling family. For example, unschooling children may enjoy using workbooks and other explicitly educational materials.
Radical Unschooling
The most holistic form of unschooling, radical unschooling, applies unschooling philosophy beyond academic learning to include all of life.
The unschooling lifestyle prompts families to embrace joy and it encourages families to actively maintain respectful, mindful attitudes in their interactions with others and in all that they do. Unschooling guides a family to make a priority of actively seeking a fulfilling, happy life in addition to more conventional parenting goals.
You might also enjoy: The Unschooling Collection
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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