Two metaphors that have evolved to reflect the workings of the human mind are “a child’s brain is like a sponge” and “the brain is like a computer.” Although well-intentioned, the limitations of these models have resulted in educational practices that fail to address the true nature of how children learn, and subsequently lend themselves [...]
The Unschooler’s Emporium is having a drawing for $50 worth of products from their site. They sell unschooling related Tshirts, paintings, books, eBooks, and other products made by unschoolers, for unschoolers. To enter the drawing, submit an original article, to be published on their blog, using one of the following topics: – What does Unschooling [...]
If you haven’t read Erica Goldson’s Valedictorian speech, go check it out. Basically, she “calls out” the insane practice of institutionalized education, as she experienced it. SIDE NOTE- Kelly Hallordson, an unschooling mom and blogger, was able to sit down with Erica shortly after this speech hit the interwebs and recorded their conversation, at a [...]
Are you the one who breaks the conventional parenting wisdom and just lets your kids be kids? You’re in good company. When Flo Gascon confessed that she’s the mom who let her kids eat ice cream for breakfast, unschoolers from all over the world fought over who got the “That mom” title. Soon, I imagine [...]
I know a lot of people have been passing around The Public School Nightmare: Why fix a system designed to destroy individual thought? It’s a good thing, the post is informative and enlightening. But it’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s part of John Taylor Gatto’s The Underground History of American Education, which is [...]
I used to tease my husband because when he shops, it’s like he’s paying a social visit to the salesman. He actually gets to know them a bit. While I’m trying to compare features, specifications and energy usage he’ll be chatting away with the salesman. I, on the other hand, don’t trust salesmen. I think [...]
by John Taylor Gatto from The Underground History of American Education I want you to consider the frightening possibility that we are spending far too much money on schooling, not too little. I want you to consider that we have too many people employed in interfering with the way children grow up – and that [...]
In Dayna Martin’s “Don’t Kill your TV” she makes an excellent case for TV’s benign existence, as a tool rather than a menace: This window into possibility and potential is an such an amazing tool in our lives and one that I can’t imagine living without. There is a lot of anger surrounding television in [...]
The following is quoted from a response that Maisha Khalfani gave when a new unschooler asked for a definition of the conceptt: Can I offer another perspective on what you are looking for? Many of us come to unschooling wanting to “do it right”. We have been conditioned to find the right answer – in [...]
I can’t even count how many times I heard this as a child. The underlying message was: 1- you’re not smart enough to know what’s good for you 2- the things that make you happy are bad for you 3- the things you want will end up hurting you because 4- you have no self [...]
PNW Unschoolers on Twitter