An unschooling article.
Bad Parent - Unschooling ~ Why My Kid Won't Attend School This Fall - Or Maybe Ever
The flexibility and freedom described in this article is why unschooling fits my educational philosophy. My life. Our life. Why I choose to be a small business owner, run a Kumon Education centre instead of going back to teaching, to fixed hours, while homeschooling my kids.
Spontaneity. A choose-your-own schedule. Having freedom to do many things, if we choose, not have our lives tailored by school and work schedules. Learning suited to the learner.
As we talk, I realize that Benny is not at "real" kindergarten today, because it is what suits my family at this moment. I'm not against school. Not by any means. After all, Brad and I fared pretty nicely after a regular school education. With two PhDs between us and a couple of published books, our desire to learn clearly wasn't quashed.
But un-kindergarten for us means Benny can sleep late so I can write. It means we don't have to worry about bedtimes and can go out on the town with friends any night of the week. We can go to Europe and visit my family when the flights are cheap. Un-kindergarten also means we can pick and choose how we spend our days and who we spend them with. Benny can go to free classes at the Metropolitan Museum in the week when it's less crowded. He can read a book on sharks when he feels like it. He can experiment with bungee cords while eating his breakfast at noon.
So, is unschooling bad parenting? Or is it really, really good parenting, providing a good education, a good life?
What Makes A Good or Bad Parent?
Bad Parent - Unschooling ~ Why My Kid Won't Attend School This Fall - Or Maybe Ever
The flexibility and freedom described in this article is why unschooling fits my educational philosophy. My life. Our life. Why I choose to be a small business owner, run a Kumon Education centre instead of going back to teaching, to fixed hours, while homeschooling my kids.
Spontaneity. A choose-your-own schedule. Having freedom to do many things, if we choose, not have our lives tailored by school and work schedules. Learning suited to the learner.
As we talk, I realize that Benny is not at "real" kindergarten today, because it is what suits my family at this moment. I'm not against school. Not by any means. After all, Brad and I fared pretty nicely after a regular school education. With two PhDs between us and a couple of published books, our desire to learn clearly wasn't quashed.
But un-kindergarten for us means Benny can sleep late so I can write. It means we don't have to worry about bedtimes and can go out on the town with friends any night of the week. We can go to Europe and visit my family when the flights are cheap. Un-kindergarten also means we can pick and choose how we spend our days and who we spend them with. Benny can go to free classes at the Metropolitan Museum in the week when it's less crowded. He can read a book on sharks when he feels like it. He can experiment with bungee cords while eating his breakfast at noon.
So, is unschooling bad parenting? Or is it really, really good parenting, providing a good education, a good life?
What Makes A Good or Bad Parent?
2 comments:
I liked those two articles. A lot. Particuarly the bit about having an afternoon drink while children played. Maybe I'll end up being a parent after all... :)
Seriously though was very interested. Liked the fact that the first didn't feel the need to commit wholeheartedly to unschooling, and that the second talked about individual psychological needs. It's true after all that nobody is the same, truism though that's become.
lol Greg re the drink!
And agree re the truism - parenting, being, is ab out different needs, it is not a do-this-and -this -will- happen sort of thing.
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