by Kira Stann

Created on: August 01, 2010

The Meaning of the Term Unschooling

Unschooling is a term that is given to a way of learning that involves giving children the opportunity to learn in an informal, natural environment. John Holt  initiated the term unschooling in 1977 and first introduced it in Growing Without Schooling magazine. John was originally a traditional classroom teacher but believed that learning had not achieved its full potential in

traditional classrooms or in a homeschooled atmosphere.

Unschooling is a freestyle way of learning that involves children learning by exposure and example versus structure. Children take on the responsibility for their actions and unschoolers tailor their venue personally for their own family. This involves exposing children to various hands on learning activities, which may be something as simple as helping a parent put in a garden, to a major field trip to a historical event.

Unschooling means that the child is in charge of when, how and what they learn with no curriculum to practice. There are no boundaries or rules to follow which can enable children to make decisions they are too immature to make. This way of learning defends renouncing decisions from parent to child. Unschooling is considered a form of homeschooling, therefore legal in the United States.  

Unschooling Explained by Example

Unschooling brings the opportunity  for a child to discover their own learning style without the frustration of regimented traditional classroom structure and opens the door for uninhibited learning and creative freedom, fostering self confidence and achievement. It allows children to learn at a personal rate of speed eliminating peer competition.

This way of learning is more of a trial and error style. For example, if a child is not given a regimented bedtime, then after a few nights of staying up and feeling bad the next day, the child would logically choose to go to bed at a personally decent hour. This self teaches him/herself that the positive benefits of getting a good night of sleep outweigh staying up until all hours. This eliminates parental frustration at not being able to get their child to adhere to a strict eight o’clock bedtime regiment.

The Difference between Homeschooling and Unschooling

Unschoolers have the opportunity of fun and experimental exposure instead of negative peer run environments that are tedious or difficult. Unschooling is a growing movement that is gaining followers as homeschooling has. The difference between unschooling and homeschooling is that homeschooling is calibrated to follow lesson plans that must be adhered to for success. Unschooling has no learning plan, and is a spontaneous learn-as-you-live type of education.

Some Thoughts to Consider

Unschooling is considered a form of homeschooling, therefore legal in the United States.  A question arises as to the benefit of unschooling when the child is grown and entering the workforce. Will they be able to conform to the rigidity of structure that almost every employment opportunity involves, and be able to work with pressure from peers?

Persons considering the unschooling technique need to look beyond immediacy and weigh the long-term ramifications of this learning style against the short-term benefits afforded to children in this type of environment. Any type of teaching will have impacts on a child’s future as an adult.  If the child wishes to attend college at some point, homeschoolers have a greater chance of being accepted into a college to further their education due to their lesson plans that adhere to the state education standards required to enter most universities.

Source:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/...ry?id=1041086 7

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