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Another Brick in the Wall; Learning without Schooling
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From Charms class at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
to Bart Simpson’s humorous weekly chalk board lines, references to
formal education are staples of our pop culture. Hollywood has
immortalized the conflict between jocks and nerds, while tales of
detention garnering high-jinks become family legend. In short,
education with all its trappings is an important element of our social
fabric; on screen and the radio, in books, and around the dinner table.
While for most, formal education is synonymous with growing up, for a
small few the experience of going to school is unfamiliar. Detentions,
prom, hall passes and exams all remain foreign to families who
subscribe to an unorthodox philosophy on education: unschooling. |
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| Unschooling is a method of education that became popular in the
United States in the 1970s. Educator and author John Holt became known
as the ‘father of unschooling’ when he began publishing a newsletter in
1977 entitled Growing Without Schooling. Holt arrived at the
conclusion that children do better outside of school after years
working as an elementary school teacher. Holt was a prominent figure in
media outlets at the time, and in the beginning his lectures and
writing centered on school reform. As time went on, Holt came to view
schooling as fundamentally flawed; not just as it was carried out in
the United States, but the very idea of formal education. |
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| In response to Holt’s books and newsletter, families began stepping
forward. Together, they formed a movement which became known as
Unschooling. Unlike Homeschoolers, who aim to recreate a conventional
school environment at home, with emphasis on lessons, a curriculum,
teaching, and assignments, unschoolers rejected all the trappings of
formal education. Unschoolers believe a child’s natural curiosity will
drive their learning. A student does not need a teacher – these roles
as they exist in conventional education are completely absent from
unschooling. Rather, students direct their own learning, with parents
acting as facilitators. As facilitators to learning, parents are
responsible for responding to talents and interests expressed by their
children. Provided with the right tools (a good home library, access to
the outdoors, basic art supplies and musical instruments) children will
find their interests. From there, parents respond when their children
reach out for direction, information, or tools. |
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| With its emphasis on child-driven education, unschooling places a
lot of responsibility on the shoulders of children. They could very
well sit in front of the TV all day, or play video games, or just do
nothing. Many unschooled children agree that they spend time doing all
these things, but this is part of the process. Left to their own
devices, unschooled children will, like conventionally schooled kids,
often gravitate towards TV. But they also make solar powered cars,
discover a passion for writing or painting, spend hours at the piano,
and learn all they can about the solar system by the age of six. |
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| As they mature, many unschoolers choose to go on and enter
prestigious post-secondary institutions, or to fulfilling careers.
Parents who unschool their children say they see them developing into
happy, well adjusted, high- achieving individuals because of, not in
spite of, unschooling. A self-directed education gives children the
motivation to succeed and true learning, supporters say, can only
happen when one wants to learn. Like all parents, those who decide to
unschool have their children’s best interests at heart - it is their
belief that a child’s natural curiosity is the best driver of an
education that encourages them that unschooling is the best option for
their family. |
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| It is to be expected that the unschooling movement would have its
share of detractors. A major criticism is that children lack the
maturity and foresight to predict what tools and knowledge they will
need in their adult lives. Without the direction of adults who have the
experience to know what skills will be necessary, children may have
large gaps in their learning which will stunt them in their adult life
or hinder them in finding a career. While it would be nice if everyone
could curate their passions and focus on what they are good at and
interested in at the exclusion of all else - and go on to find
fulfilling employment based on these interests - the reality of the
working world presents challenges to this ideal. Commonly, unschooled
children attain professional advancement through unconventional routes,
in which they can find great success. Others become entrepreneurs.
Still many opponents fear that even an incredibly motivated unschooled
child dedicated to the study of dinosaurs or animals will reach the
limit of what they can achieve on their own without acquiring the
necessary qualifications to be employed as a paleontologist or
veterinarian. An unschooled childhood followed by entrance to a post
secondary institution could be one solution to this situation. |
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| In any event, unschooled children continue to defy conventional
wisdom as they mature into successful, well educated adults. While the
unschooling method might not be one you aspire to use with your own
children, its philosophy deserves consideration. Its central tenant of
learner-driven education and vision of the world as the best classroom
are principles that could enrich any education. The unschooling
philosophy challenges us to examine conventional educational methods
and encourages us to actively engage in learning – two activities that
will benefit anyone in their search for knowledge. |
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