Has anyone had a negative experience with unschooling? There are scores of positive testimonials that won't convince my parents to try it; perhaps an absence of horror stories may help. I don't mean you tried it for a month and you(r kid) just ate candy and watched TV all day; I mean did anyone NOT get over that stage and become less motivated, inspired or intelligent (or ultimately successful) afterwards?
2007-01-19 06:59:16 · 6 answers · asked by Jeff 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Home Schooling
Thanks to those who answered; I actually do have the book, and I'm reading it. If you want you can look at my other question in this topic, "Do you unschool." Thank you again
2007-01-20 07:29:45 · update #1
I am a homeschooling mom who has not personally done unschooling. However, a friend is doing it and is quite unsuccessful. This is mainly due to the fact she has no idea what homeschooling is about. She has four boys and seems to feel that unschooling means having her children use their Leap Pad. Her children are probably at least two grades behind their peers.
Unschooling can be successful with a parent/guardian who is well versed in what unschooling is about. When you don't traditionally school (homeschool or otherwise) it can be hard to facilitate the child's desire. How would you introduce math when they just do not want to do it. Regardless of how unschoolers feel, they do have to have some structure because at some point, if they wish to go to college, they will be tested.
It's a tricky, tricky balance.
2007-01-19 07:51:45 · answer #1 · answered by seriouslysanibel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My children age 14 and 17 tried an alternative school patterned on the Sudbury School last year. It should have been like unschooling in a relaxed self directed atmosphere. (Everything we read talked about how wonderful it was.)
We had homeschooled for 12 years prior to this (the 14 yo never went to any other kind of school). Our homeschool was very relaxed. Everyone did Saxon math, everyone read anything and everything as much as they wanted (no tests, lots of conversation), fun with science type experiments and art, an occasional (once a month) adult induced guilt trip and writing exercise.
The entire year at the alternative school was a loss. At first the students got acquainted and were very relaxed. But within 3 months it was obvious this system of waiting for the students to follow their own muse was failing. Inactivity seemed to be enforced. These kids played computer games, ate junk food, and played outside. My children took musical instruments, math (the older one was planning to take the SAT) and books to read. The level of disorder, noise, and disrespect for the needs of others made any sort of academic activity impossible to maintain.
In the spring the older child asked to leave this school. A month later the second child asked out.
They both returned home and tried to re-establish themselves and regain what they lost over the 5 or 6 months they- "unschooled." They both asked for more direction from me.
If you are very motivated and are able to stay focused without someone standing over you, unschooling can work. As an 11th grader you have this year and next to finish up and get yourself matriculated to college if that is what you are planning. If you tend to lose focus and meander about when it comes to schooling it might be better to stick with what you have been doing. One more year will likely not kill you.
My children did not sit and eat candy and watch TV all day...but they did become less motivated, less willing to try new things, and more prone to snappish angry behavior (they really were not happier). I would not say they were less intelligent or less successful. What they were was frustrated with having to do more to regain what they lost or spend an extra year so they did not have to hurry.
Think very carefully about it. If you really want to unschool, then in every free moment, start pursuing what you love with a single-minded-ness that makes everything else fade into the background. A passion for a topic can act as a catalyst for learning a very broad range of topics. Think of it as Educating Yourself as opposed to escaping from formal schooling. Then get busy as if your life and livelihood depend on your education...because they do.
By the way, if you are a Junior. or Senior. your local Community College may let you start now...even without a high school diploma. You can get a head-start on college and finish up high school simultaneously. 3 of 4 of my children have done this. It works very well.
Good luck.
By the way, the Grace Llewellyn books are good to read and full of good advice for teens. But keep in mind the following: she has no children, all her advice is from outside the family unit. She criticizes and tries to fix something she really has no first hand experience with fixing. In other words lots of theory, but not much practice. Think about it.
2007-01-20 14:37:55 · answer #2 · answered by Elizabeth 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
See if you can find a copy of Grace Llewellyn's book, "The Teenage Liberation Handbook". In it, she has strong arguments FOR unschooling in high school - how to do it, how to convince your parents, what to do when you finish, ... It is a complete guide to unschooling.
2007-01-19 08:02:42 · answer #3 · answered by homeschoolmom 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We tried unschooling, but my kids are not exactly motivated to learn on their own. My daughter is a sponge, and probably could do it successfully, but she really just wants to be on the computer all day. My son doesn't learn well, no matter what approach we use.
2007-01-23 11:29:43 · answer #4 · answered by Granny Haggedy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never had a bad experience in unschooling.
2007-01-20 14:20:02 · answer #5 · answered by mbox 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree %1000 to buy or somehow get yourself a copy of Grace Llewellyn's book "The Teenage Liberation Handbook". It really is a MUST READ BOOK!!!
She also has several other very good books.
2007-01-20 00:42:38 · answer #6 · answered by laurieanne72 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋