Yes, You Can Unschool Your Child This Year
By: Lisa Walton
Tags: Current, Coronavirus, Education, Parenting

Are you feeling anxious about the back-to-school season?

If so, you are not alone.

In the last week, the federal government has demanded that schools resume in-person classes this fall. At the same time, cases of COVID-19 are soaring across the U.S.

You might worry that sending your child back to school is risky. Afraid that in the close quarters of a classroom or a school bus, the virus will spread like wildfire.

Your school safety plan, if you’ve seen one, doesn’t seem to provide enough protection, and vague promises that COVID-19 doesn’t seriously impact children are not reassuring.

Or, you might fear that given the prevalence of the virus in the U.S. today, schools will not reopen as scheduled. The disaster that was remote learning will continue. Children will have to teach themselves. And securing child care will be a logistical nightmare.

Things are changing rapidly. What you plan for today may be completely different tomorrow.

Distance-learning worries

Even if you prefer to keep your child home, the thought of continued distance learning can incite panic.

You may be experiencing flashbacks of never-ending worksheets. Or trying to share internet access among too many family members.

You may be bristling at the thought of meltdowns over complex calculus problems. Or terrified of conjugating French verbs.

Especially if you studied Spanish.

And then, of course, there’s the fact that you already have a full schedule. Caring for other children, running the household, trying to work…

Even if you are lucky enough to work from home, your full-time job is…well, a full-time job. Taking on all the extra tasks of managing learning is time-consuming and exhausting.

But dreading the upcoming school year is no way to spend the last few weeks of summer vacation.

We don’t have to repeat last spring. There is a better way.

You can opt-out of virtual learning altogether.

Enter unschooling.

An introduction to unschooling

Unschooling is a broad term that encompasses a variety of educational practices. Rather than a particular learning strategy, it is a philosophy where each student defines for themselves exactly what unschooling will look like.

Think of it like homeschooling, but with more freedom and less parental oversight.

Unschooling bypasses established curricula and state standards. Instead, it allows each student to explore their own interests and create their own course of study.

Unschooling is not homeschooling. In a traditional homeschool model, adults act as “teachers” and select curricula, texts, and assignments. With unschooling, children take the lead. Adults remain on the sidelines to offer support, guidance, and encouragement, as needed.

Unschooling focuses on a self-guided exploration of learning and life. It operates on the premise that children are innately curious. Even without the formal constraints of school, children can and will learn on their own timeline.

Unschooling provides many amazing benefits for students and families.

Benefits of unschooling

Educational Equity

The standard school curriculum is often characterized by systemic racism and colonialism. Many schools are run by white administrators, school boards, and teachers. White biases, whether conscious or not, are reinforced in textbooks or perpetuated by law.

There is also a great deal of inequity in school funding. Some schools operate like prisons. They have decades-old textbooks and antiquated technology. Others have sprawling campuses and tv studios.

Unschooling helps equalize this playing field, and it provides an alternative to children seeking a more inclusive education.

Students can select what, where, when, and how they study. They can access a variety of resources offering different viewpoints.

Unschooling exposes students to current ideas and encourages them to construct knowledge. It is a safer, kinder way to learn.

Critical Thinking Skills

Large bureaucracies like schools operate on compliance. The curriculum, standardized tests, and rules all discourage critical inquiry.

Students who do engage in critical thinking are often viewed as disrupters. Sometimes they are even penalized for challenging the status quo.

Unschooling encourages kids to engage in critical thinking. Because learning is self-directed, children select topics that are relevant to them. They ask questions and locate relevant information. They analyze data and question embedded assumptions. They challenge existing beliefs and generate multiple solutions. They assess possible outcomes and make informed decisions.

The process of working on interdisciplinary projects and answering real-world problems requires students to use higher-level thinking skills to solve complex problems.

Grit

Grit is the persistence and perseverance to achieve meaningful goals despite obstacles. It is a significant factor in achievement.

Being smart is not enough. People must believe that they can and will overcome adversity through hard work.

Unschooling helps children acquire grit. Since children are free to choose what to study, they are more invested in learning. They will stick with a difficult topic longer because it matters to them.

Self-discovery

Unschooling is self-directed learning. This allows children to focus on what’s most interesting to them. Whether that be the Ming Dynasty, the SpaceX program, or how to code video games.

Instead of the government setting the agenda, kids choose what to study. And they choose things in which they are interested.

Unschooling often results in children discovering passions and talents early in life. This allows them to prepare for careers that are purposeful and fulfilling. It also leads to happier lives.

Creativity

Unschooling also inspires creativity. Learners are not provided with a “template” or “sample” of how to do something. Rather they must come up with their own original ideas.

There are no time constraints. A project does not have to be completed in one class period, one week, or even one semester.

There are no restrictions on which materials to use or how to use them. Children experience the unfettered discretion to make choices. To experiment. To have fun. To flex their creative muscles.

Interdisciplinary Learning

Traditional schools teach subjects in isolation. Often it is difficult for students to see how different topics relate to one another. They struggle to translate information learned in one setting to a different situation.

Unschooling allows children to approach learning thematically. This helps them recognize connections between disciplines and leads to a much deeper understanding of a topic.

The ability to see connections also prepares students to solve complex problems.

Personalized Learning

Unschooling allows children to have a personalized learning experience. This is not possible in a traditional classroom.

Unschooled children can set the pace and depth of their learning for each topic. This eliminates boredom that comes from mastering material quickly. It also eliminates the frustration that comes with being slower to grasp something new.

Unschooling allows children to work at the level that’s right for them.

There’s no need to be stuck reading third-grade literature if a child reads at a seventh-grade level, or spend weeks on fractions if the child understands them intuitively.

Entrepreneurial Skills

Many young unschoolers start their own businesses. They may sell art or cakes or homemade soap. They may raise money for animal shelters or veterans groups. They may create apps. Through these experiences, they learn math, English, science, and social skills.

The experience of building a business also gives unschoolers a chance to practice many of the soft skills that will impact future performance. These include critical thinking, risk-taking, creative problem solving, communication skills, initiative, organization, record keeping, dedication, hard work, discipline, and responsibility.

Running a business also requires making mistakes. And learning from them. Unschoolers who have successful businesses learn the importance of revising an idea, design or product until it’s perfect. This success breeds confidence.

Life Skills

Unschoolers can also explore a variety of life skills through home projects. Activities like cooking, construction, or gardening provide opportunities to learn math, science, and design while developing practical everyday skills.

Traditional schools rarely provide instruction in these areas. Unschoolers, however, can develop proficiency in basic daily tasks, leading to increased confidence and independence.

Health Benefits

The value of enough sleep cannot be overstated. A traditional school schedule is not designed with teens’ physical health in mind. Time for adequate sleep is a very real benefit of unschooling that has a huge impact on learning.

Most adolescents are sleep-deprived. School starts too early and the days are too busy and too long. When you consider homework, jobs, activities, and sports, there are not enough hours in the day for rest.

Sleep deprivation brings exhaustion, anxiety, and depression. It also leads to an increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. It may compromise the immune systems and contribute to obesity.

Children who are unschooled can sleep later, taking advantage of their natural biorhythms. They can choose the best time to study different subjects. This makes it easier to learn new information and keeps them healthier.

Parents Don’t Have to Micromanage Learning

Finally, parents are not responsible for facilitating learning. You don’t have to monitor assignments, message teachers, or upload documents. You are free from hounding your children to complete meaningless work or ensuring they participate in Zoom lessons.

You also don’t have to play teacher. If you opt for the traditional homeschool route, you are in control of your child’s education. You have the responsibility of providing learning experiences that ensure your child achieves the learning goals.

With unschooling, learning is self-directed. Children choose what to study, explore subjects that interest them, play, read, write, make, and experiment. Adults have a supporting role. You may offer assistance as needed, help connect ideas, or introduce new material. You can offer suggestions and ask questions, model inquiry and arrange field trips (if permitted).

But, you don’t have to teach content each day.

This is great news because it frees you up to focus on your work.

Final thoughts

l know the idea of unschooling can be a lot to digest. To many, it seems like a radical departure from what we expect education to be. This is especially true in comparison to how traditional schools operate. But remember, school is designed for efficiency. Its purpose is to educate large groups of students and prepare them to be obedient employees.

Unschooling is a different strategy altogether. One that lets the child lead the way.

If you want to learn more about unschooling, this website is full of excellent information. A list of homeschooling requirements for all 50 states can be found here.