At the time when John Holt coined the term unschooling, it simply meant 'not schooled', as in, educated elsewhere than at a school — or home schooled. However, I don't believe that homeschooling as it exists today was exactly what John Holt had in mind when he encouraged parents to teach their own children. John Holt had a vision for an education that was rather different to what existed in the schools he encountered.
Today, the term unschooling has come to refer to a specific type of home education, i.e. education that is in the control of the one doing the learning. And I think this term more accurately describes the kind of learning experience John Holt had in mind.
In the UK, this educational approach is better known as autonomous education. Unschooling has also been described as child-centred learning, self-directed learning, delight-directed learning, and development-directed learning.
Unschooling is the freedom to learn what you want to learn, when you want to learn it, how you want to learn it, where you want to learn it, and for your own reasons.
Essentially, unschooling is self-education.
i started thinking about it because of lovely niki who told me about all this fab stuff she had found on the interweb about it. i have to say i am rather grabbed by it all and am thankful for a wise husband who slows me down and ensures that as a family we make gradual changes.
i think i'm going to start blogging again regularly, partly for myself, partly for the LEA (if ever needed!) and then for anyone else who wants to follow and see where we're up to and what the next crazy thing we're doing is!
here are some links that i've really enjoyed in the last couple of weeks:
sandra dodd
Dayna Martin youtube
Radical Unschoolers Network
Christian Unschooling
niki wrote the following quote up on their easel and it has been flowing back and forth through my mind since:
6[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [[a]that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.
7Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He [b]takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].(A)
8And God is able to make all grace (every favor and [c]earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need [d]be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (Amplified Bible)
so there we go. join me on the journey if it isn't too crazy for you! i would really enjoy reading your comments too!
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