Day 9
15th October 2021
The Fearless
As these days pass by, I have been wondering what home school is all about.
I joined a heap of online home school communities, & have been listening in this last week.
There are some FAR OUT lifestyles going on.
The unschooling approach, keeps coming back to my mind.
So I’ve been asking the mums, “If we completely give up control & let the children lead, how do they learn things like decimals for example?
I mean, when would that stuff naturally come up?”
One mum spoke about how their learning is very individual. She says;
“To question why we need to learn certain things – like decimals. If we need them, we’ll learn. If we don’t, I guess we could go through life without ever learning that, and is that a bad thing, if we never needed it,”
Just re read that for a sec.
It’s a very good point.
My argument to that would be, surely knowledge however practical or not in everyday life, enriches our understanding of the world at large, & therefore enriches our life?
Maybe it doesn’t.
Maybe I was taught that at school?
One mum says her children were unschooled until college!
“They learned everything they needed to know, and had no trouble getting into college.” She said, “In their late teens they chose to take some formal online classes to help them fill in any gaps, to prepare for college. They have since graduated and are working in their chosen professions now, & are self supporting and happy.”
Ah, that sounds pretty good to me.
Sometimes, on some days, I feel like we quit the school system only to turn our house into the school system. By selecting curriculum, setting schedules, & becoming stressed if we don’t hit all the marks.
In that way, we haven’t actually changed that much.
So, what’s it all for?
Because I’m pretty sure that’s why we left school.
As we move further and further into these days, the mood around here is so nice. Although we’re busy and do lots of things, it feels really slow and really good.
Like, really good time.
So, why is it so hard to concieve that the good times, and the ‘things’ we do together, are the things they should be learning?
And at the right time, too.
Maybe school is simply trying to replicate all of that stuff by way of reading topics, studying facts, regurgitating writing, & occasionally doing a cool experiment.
The people who wrote the books actually did those things. That’s why they wrote the books, because they learnt those things.
So shouldn’t children, go out and get dirty, feel fear, conquer & fail, succeed and run & breath, & feel it all every single day!?
Forcing them to sit still & finish their homework after you haven’t even seen them all day, is a massive drag.
The meltdowns & the attitude & the tension & drama regular school causes sucks, & it grinds away at your family bond.
The school term is a f*cking drag!
HOWEVER!
This topic has me completely divided. 🙄 🙄🙄
On one hand.
“We have so much fun as a family, & discuss many things, ethics, music, travel. Everything. We share experiences & information with them everyday.”
And the more I read up on unschooling, the more I genuinely believe this is the truest, most natural way to educate & nurture.
So why, can’t I throw away all the curriculum I just carefully sourced & purchased?
I can’t do it.
It feels like a sin & I’m not even Christian!
Why can’t we Iet them fully explore and lead their lives? Let them seek out their own interests & learning.
Who cares if they take a year off, or more?
Completely off textbooks of any kind, & be truly free to spend every waking minute of the day however they want?
Right?
It sounds wonderful!!
Think how harmonious life would be? Really think about that!
Let them completely unravel everything they’ve ever known…get up, get dressed, march here, sit there.
Who are they really? Under all of that?
I find parents that can do that for their children, are the bravest & most fearless people alive.
The trust that they have in their child & in their own parenting has me in awe.
Going against everything you’ve known. The society norm.
Even the idea of explaining this concept to my parents makes me want to hurl. And Christmas is coming up.
So I ask you. What would happen if your child never did another maths question for a whole year….what would happen?
Will they fall that far behind their peers?
Is falling behind a real thing?
Considering that every day is a learning experience for a home schooled child.
And if they return to school, will teachers call me into the office & yell at me?
I mean, is it negligent?
Did you know that in 2011, Sweden made it illegal to home school your child.
Illegal!
BIG SIGH.
So, these are the thoughts that go through my mind as we move further away from traditional school & we begin to teach & live closer with our children.
Here are some snaps from another beautiful day our two kiddos.
Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzdLyBSioNo
