An Open Letter to Will about Unschooling
OK, Will, here is my response to your querying post. Anytime you want I can chat about ‘unschooling’ your kids, I am available. I have been subverting public education for years if you would believe some of my colleagues/detractors in high school, but my actual bona fides are pretty simple. None of my three kids spent a single day in public school and only my daughter spent time at a private, boarding arts school. My son is 25 this year and while we have all made some missteps he is pretty much doing what he wants (hardware tech/history major), is happy, and has an intact bullshit detector of the first caliber. My eldest daughter is interested in nursing school and is about to be admitted into my university’s Honors College. She has never taken a standardized placement exam. My youngest daughter is a very fine dancer who is up against the horror of finding a place in our decimated arts communities. She will be a part of the University’s dance corp this spring. No one in either of our families supported a single decision we made in regards to our ‘unschooling’, a fact they conveniently forget as they acknowledge how much they enjoy being around our kids.
We did this when it took serious “stubbornness” to do so. I envy you the task now, Will. It is so much easier and more profoundly possible. The issues for parents are still the same and are summed up in one question: are the public/private schools doing the right thing by my kids? That question is probably a negative. The next question is even simpler to answer, “Can I do better for my kids myself?” Of course.
tellio :: Dec.31.2007 :: Educational Common Life, whats next :: No Comments »