Unschooling?

[Dragonfly]

I wouldnt!

i understand a parents logic behind it.

BUT here its about qualifications ect......... unschooling may make them feel different to others and make it impossible to compete for a job in the workplace.
i want my child not to be sheltered i want her to socially interact. learn different boundaries in society.

Even I know that home schoolers dont do that they socialise their kids with all ages and all situations outside of school. Society is outside of the school not in it. Just a different location. I dont home school but I done a lot of research in to it and works for some people but certainly the horrible myths that come out of it are a tad offensive to parents who do home school.

 

[Lara310809]

The myths, sadly, are perpetuated by shows like Wife Swap, where the parents keep their kids indoors for the majority of the day, don't care about their kids getting qualifications, and do little to actually teach their kids. Home schooling isn't shown much in the media, so those that don't research it make assumptions from what they see, and when everything you see is the same way, of course you assume that that's the way it works.

I live in a place that is publicised (by the British media) as something resembling the Costa Del Sol, but the reality couldn't be further from the truth. It's a multicultural, historical and family-friendly place; so I know about generalisations, assumptions, and feeling disappointed knowing that your country has been terribly represented to millions of people. I'm just saying that unfortunately these things happen and it's down to those that know the truth to set the record straight.

 

[emyandpotato]

Random question for home/unschoolers; are you planning on getting your kids to sit GCSEs etc? If they're still relevant in 15 years that is. Just because I love the idea of unschooling (granted it probably won't be possible as I'll no doubt have to work for money/sanity) and wondered how things like that work. Do you switch to more traditional home schooling around age 13?

 

[Dragonfly]

Here you can do GCSEs in the local tech, just a few quid or maybe free depending on age and if you qualify for help. Most my friends went back there to gain their gcses when they failed them in school, or where not allowed to pass as some where in lower banded classes. My friend left school with nothing, now has everything she needs to get her in to uni.

 

[freckleonear]

Random question for home/unschoolers; are you planning on getting your kids to sit GCSEs etc? If they're still relevant in 15 years that is. Just because I love the idea of unschooling (granted it probably won't be possible as I'll no doubt have to work for money/sanity) and wondered how things like that work. Do you switch to more traditional home schooling around age 13?

Lots of home educators choose to sit GCSEs/iGCSEs. They often start taking them at a younger age and spread them out across several years. Other home educators produce a portfolio of evidence and are accepted into college or university without any formal qualifications. Personally I chose to skip GCSEs and move straight on to A levels at home. No idea what my children will do because the education system will have changed so much by the time they are older, but they will certainly have the opportunity to gain some formal qualifications.

 

[noon_child]

Prior to the National Curriculum in UK, teachers and LEA's chose what to teach children, so some got one thing and some got another and it was like that between ens of WWII and 1988(?). Humanist schools also opperate on the basis of children leading the way and teachers facilitating the learning that the child is ready for. It sound very hippy dippy if you are just thinking of kids bowling up and saying I just want to stare at the sky all day but actually it originates in developmental psychology where it was recognised that we aren't always ready or able to learn what others can (learning difficulties/physical disabilities/age/home life barriers etc.).

I'm not saying I'm for it as I like the socialisation that school gives and the "non-curriculum" learning about friendships etc. and we can't get away from the qualification driven world) but the idea isn't new or radical really.

(Excuse typos etc. in a rush - makes me look poorly educated!)

 

[summer rain]

Random question for home/unschoolers; are you planning on getting your kids to sit GCSEs etc? If they're still relevant in 15 years that is. Just because I love the idea of unschooling (granted it probably won't be possible as I'll no doubt have to work for money/sanity) and wondered how things like that work. Do you switch to more traditional home schooling around age 13?

Yes and there are numerous ways to do them. Most unschoolers I know offer their teenage kids the chance to do GCSEs, A levels (there are some ways of going straight into a levels without GCSEs) and then onto uni or work. I know a lady whose children were completely autonomous/unschooled and have special needs yet they all did GCSEs between the ages of 11 and 13, A levels immediately after and one of here started uni at just turned 17, he could have started earlier but her and his dad felt he was too emotionally immature before then to handle the type of social pressures you find at uni. At secondary level I am considering a virtual high school for my eldest as well as him going to scouts, other groups and sporting activities. He is the type who likes predictability and routine and 'proper' school work, when my others reach secondary age I don't think I will go for that though as they have different personalities but its a while off yet and they might change in the meantime xx

 

[emyandpotato]

Then to answer the OP's question I think unschooling sounds absolutely amazing so long as it's done responsibly and by parents with enough basic intelligence to teach English and maths and general knowledge, awareness, and values. Ironically, what draws me to teaching is the state of education at the moment; I think a lot of unschooling values can be transferred to a classroom, not least simply respecting pupils as people with rights of their own.