Here we go again.

[crazychicknlady]

I went back to try to read some more of those comments from the unschooling discussion on The Pioneer Woman's website and I ran across a comment bashing the alternative schools that cropped up around forty years ago, and I had to respond. After finishing, I figured why waste a good comment, lost in over 400 posts, when I could also put it here.

At this rate (there are 178 comments and 137 replies, so it's something that is going to take me a while) I may get a lot of livejournal fodder out this (thanks again, sis!).

So here goes (the italics are the other commenter):

"Back in the hippie era there was a huge movement to un-school children in the public and private schools."

I know that a lot of alternative schools cropped up during the late sixties/early seventies, so this statement may be true.

"The result of schools that educated in this way led to adults that were unable to find jobs or handle their own affairs responsibly."

This statement, however, I could not leave without challenge.

The freest free school I know of (started in 1968) has had very successful (many college bound - even without grades, since the school will not issue any) people come out of it, even after being free to do whatever they like (even fish all day long) all day, for their entire school careers.

Sudbury Valley School ( http://www.sudval.org/ ) is where I direct people for a gentle introduction to some of the concepts of unschooling. They embrace the philosophy that everyone has an innate desire to learn, and each person is his own best judge of what should be learned at any given moment (this actually ends up with a much more hands off attitude than most unschoolers at home, because the staff will not suggest something for a child to learn, but most unschoolers strew materials around and introduce ideas and concepts they think their child might be interested in).

On a more personal note, my brother graduated from one of those hippie alternative schools, where there was more structure than Sudbury, but he wasn't made to learn anything he didn't want to. He now has a PHD in Math and is a successful Father, Husband and College Professor. No damage done to his ability to function in society, even with all that lack of structure and discipline.

Comments

[fionn320.livejournal.com]

"The result of schools that educated in this way led to adults that were unable to find jobs or handle their own affairs responsibly."

Perhaps unwilling to accept jobs on an assembly line doing mindless repetitive tasks all day.

Thank you for pointing us to Sudbury Valley all those years ago.

[(Anonymous)]

Way to stick up for our bro! :0) What's odd to me is how I failed to thrive in the same environment. I thrive under a challenge. Unfortunately, a self proposed challenge is so easy for me to step away from, make excuses. One that is presented externally sends adrenaline through me and I rise up. That's probably why M and D pulled me after 2nd grade. I don't know. I appreciate your kind comment in your first post appreciating all homeschooling families.

[crazychicknlady.livejournal.com]

"I appreciate your kind comment in your first post appreciating all homeschooling families."

I was so jazzed when you decided to homeschool and keep your shiny, joyful firstborn out of the world that inspired books like Chrysanthemum. That poor little mouse, I didn't want to see your sweet girl wilt like she did.

[crazychicknlady.livejournal.com]

Connections. I have a dear friend who introduced me to Sudbury Valley back in college. I remember talking about how carefully I would have to go about picking just the right pre-school someday. He challenged me on why my kids would even have to go to school at all. Opened up a whole new world.