The Unschooling Debate

The Unschooling Debate
Those who have chosen the path of homeschooling have many choices and decisions ahead of them. One of the methods for consideration is that of unschooling. Before going into the pros and cons of this idea, what exactly is unschooling? Some brief definitions are:

· Unschooling is a belief system rather than a method.

· The radical idea of learning without "doing" school.

· The only true "free" education.

Unschooling parents believe that all people have a desire to learn and children should be encouraged to follow his/her interests in order to gain knowledge. They also think that kids are naturally curious (which they are) and will learn continually in the right environment. Kids should be free to choose exploration of what interests them in their own way on their own timeline. In this method, the adult is the facilitator and the child is the guide. Therefore the child sets the goals for each day.

The naysayers to this particular movement offer many cons to unschooling. Some of the more common arguments against unschooling are:

· Children are given entirely too much power.

· Children are taught the "center of the universe" mentality and don't learn that disappointment or the word "no" are a part of the real world.

· Children, in their power of always choosing their path, don't learn discipline, always get what they want, and do not gain coping skills necessary to deal with many parts of real life.

· There is little to no structure. Many believe that kids need routine as well as learning a respect for authority figures. There also seems to be little discipline enforced in this model.

· In the wrong environment, with less than dedicated "teachers," children will not necessarily show the enthusiasm for learning or the initiative needed for success.

True believers in the homeschooling movement also put forth valid points in support of the method.

· First, and foremost, children learn independence, decision making and problem solving skills, and learn to take responsibility for their own learning and education.

· Students learn through a desire to learn rather than because they are being forced to learn.

· In a truly dedicated, nurturing environment, unschooled kids most likely love to learn and will develop into life-long learners.

· There are no deadlines, no time limits. If learning is honestly flowing, there is no reason to screech to a halt in order to move on to something else.

· Kids will learn things in their own time such as when they learned to walk or talk. They learned these things through observation and a natural desire to master a skill.

Whether you have chosen a side on this issue or still on the fence, this author thinks that one last thought must be taken into consideration. I acknowledge that with this method children will learn a great deal about things that they are truly interested in. My question is: What about those things that they have absolutely no interest in but are absolutely necessary in order to survive in this society? You decide.

If you are looking into more information on homeschooling or would like to visit some great Homeschool conventions visit Great Homeschool Conventions

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By Dave Buckley