Loved these thoughts as all the neighbor kids are about to go back to school and we are the only ones in the neighborhood homeschooling. It reassures me once again that we are doing the most natural thing, and so thankful to have the priviledge of raising my own children!

I understand you believe that school is unnecessary. I got that, but what do you plan for your children to do when they are grown up. Are they going to be self employed, entrepreneurs? I know they are babies and little children now . I believe that many of us want our children to be trained so they can a job that can help them make enough money to be able to live on their own. By going to school our children will gain the skills to be able to get jobs. I trust that if your child needs more than you can give them that you would look out side yourself and consider hiring some one who has the knowledge to meet this need. I come from a family which has many teachers, my mom, sister, aunts, cousins and myself. I am just concerned that unschooling meaning do what you want and only learn what you want may leave learning gaps that could contribute to feeling less confident when applying for a job. I’m not so big on children starting school at 5 years old maybe homeschooled or in school by age 8, since they can usually catch up with the learning quite fast. Another thing is it sounds as if many people who stay home to unschool their children, either work from home or expect the government to pay their way. I hope I am wrong on about people expecting the government to pay their way. I am not being critical I just do not understand not allowing a child the fair chance available to help them learn the skills they need to grow up as independent individuals. Yes I do know children who were home schooled or unschooled. Many were rude to others because others didn’t fit the pattern learned in their families. The children had a very narrow view of how thing should be, and were unware of how to act in public and how to treat others because of the small circle of family and the children felt the only right way was the way their family did things. These behaviors made it very difficult for those children to interact with others. The children also felt the world was about them and not others, and that they were most important and should get their own way and make all decisions of how to play with the other children when they wanted to play. They wanted friends but only if the other children did things their way and gave no room or consideration for the child to be a friend. Schools and classes do put children in situation where their are decision to be made and the out come may be that only one child get to be the line leader at a time this helps children understand that they need to share opportunity with others and that it is not just about them. Another observation is if anyone other than theirs mom or dad asked them to do something such as in the library ask them not to throw the books the ones I observed yelled and said “you are not my mom so you can’t tell me what to do, I only have to do what my mom says.” Please help me understand why not going to school is a good thing. I know your little ones are still very young and maybe there will be a time when you feel different about not schooling you children as they get older. I would be interested follow and see how it does go for your children. Enjoy your little ones while they are little, time passes so fast. I hope you the best for them. I know you want the best for them. I am from a different mindset and would like to learn about how the theory of not going to school works. Thank you, and the best to you.

The thing with school, as I see it, is even more different and more *CRAZAY* than yours Sara.
I have teachers all through my family on one side like the commentator above. But I had to unlearn the years of schooling, years of expensive higher education that I’ve barely used, to grasp exactly what is happening in this world, and more importantly, as the picture grew really rather ominous- WHO was behind it all.
After that I looked around, saw the truth everywhere and realised quite how ridiculous ‘education’ in a scholastic environment is. The ‘in form ation’ (ie. ‘one form’) was introduced in the 1800’s, when everyone suddenly needed to go to school. Oh what a benevolent government, ‘free’ schooling for all the little paupers. I wonder who sponsored this great kindness.
The Usual Suspects.
Forgive my contempt, I’m trying to keep it light, but it’s a pretty intense topic for me now I can grasp the 360 degree angle with both hands.
If everyone who is schooled both here in the West, and all the generous education given to ‘under-priviledged’ countries, and all the in form-ation is the same, well then- we shall all be believing the same thing. (See final quote for the sinister side of this.)

Well, my major question here is; who is creating this most brilliant, important curriculum, filling our world with sparky, brainy brilliant and well-adjusted men and women? Oh wait- the world and our own culture is groaning under the weight of totally morally corrupt and degenerate idiocy.
Did you know that idiot is a French term meaning ‘lack of iodine’? I find this in itself fascinating, because the same people who own the media also own the governments (and therefore create the school and university curriculum- closed system of physics anyone? That might get you round the block but by no means in to space). They own the banks, and they own the monstrous seed companies and they own the pharmaceutical companies who teach the doctors who are supposed to think critically and do no harm- oh but wait there’s more- the number one cause of death in the US is pharmaceuticals- properly prescribed.
Why did iodine fall out of favour? It’s still a critical mineral. Absolutely critical. You add fluoride and chlorine to the water, and make everything ‘non-flammable’ with bromide everywhere- bread, cars, furniture, the pillow you sleep on at night- and who stands a chance of maintaining a functioning body and mind? These chemicals chase all the iodine out of the thyroid, give everyone breast and prostate cancers, lungs and lymph-node cancers- cancers for Africa, everywhere you look. WHO decided iodine had to be taken off our collective menu?
The Usual Suspects.

School is one of many of their systems I just say no to.
Independent research will set you straight if you maintain a healthy discrimination and critical thinking. These people have professional folk to spin lies upon lies. They even own the courts now. Their testimony used to be illegal at the beginning of last century, so they found a way to corrupt that system too- now they own it.
Be your own doctor if you want to be healthy and stay well, do your own thinking if you want to see what’s really happening in this world, create your own little economy for survival, anyone can do it. But it’s not the easy path.

Easy like trusting doctors, or the tv news, or going to school. That’ll teach you a world of finite possibilities. And faked history, and if you don’t know where you’ve come from, you have a fairly hard time knowing where then to go.
It’s all able to be found, all the truth. One just needs to know which questions to ask. No way they know how to answer these questions at school. I know my cousin, mother, brother, aunt and grand-mother are all of the same, trusting, teaching, ignorant ilk. They don’t know, and they don’t care, they blindly follow the curriculum, leading the children in their classes like lemmings. (And their punctuation is terrible! Truly awful!)
But everything is nice and simple, all is well.

“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.” -Orwell.

We are a Danish family, living in Nairobi, Kenya.
I LOVE your blog and really enjoy reading your posts! Thank you so much for sharing and inspiring people from all over the world:-) I truly appreciate your work and effort!

When our two girls turned 3 and 1 (a year ago) we became very serious about wanting to unschool them, which meant we took our oldest daughter out of a little play school she was in and were looking at how to get started.
Two things that were difficult for me to “hack” were:
1) there are really not that many great/educational/fun/inspiring places to go with your children here in Nairobi (imagining that there must be tons of stuff to do with kids in say New York or similar), which means that we would probably mostly be at home in the garden etc. (also due to safety issues) and
2) The main schooling system here is heavily influenced by the British, which means that children start learning to read and write when they turn 4. Often both parents work late and they have either a nanny or a driver (or both) take their children from school to scheduled afternoon activities almost every day (a heavy over structuring of children’s lives that I don’t agree with, as I believe they learn more and better if allowed many hours every week of unstructured play. The 2nd part also means that there are not many options to meet up for playdates with other parents/children of a similar/homeschooling(unschooling) mindset. Also, for me personally as a mom, I would need to see other ppl often and not “just be home in the garden” if you know what I mean.
I really feel “socialization” with other children on almost a daily basis is important for kids of this age, and so I ended up starting my own small nature based “unschooling school” in our huge garden if that makes sense. We have been running for almost a year now and have around 35 children. We are always outdoors and the children vote for themes they want to learn about. Of course, we cant run 35 parallel themes (at least not with this age group 18mos-4,5 years) so some things have a democratic character as imagine it also does if you have say 4 children in a family:-)
All activities are of course optional and viewed as offers the children can choose between. We have several sensory stations out every day as well as weekly children’s gym, yoga. creative activities etc. I love our school, but I’m seeing a worrying pattern: Every term (when a child is about to turn 4) they are being removed from our school to join “a proper school” where they learn to read and write (by force). Often parents tell me the children cry after school breaks and dont want to go back because they “sit down all day doing high frequency words etc.” but the parents do not know what else to do as they are scared they will other wise not “catch up with peers”.
My eldest daughter is already the oldest at our unschool, and the age gap to the other children is slowly increasing.
I’m looking for some advice from other unschoolers here…
What would you do in my position?
I’m thinking of several options:
1) compromise – having the older group of kids focus more on numbers and letters (in a fun playful way of course) to satisfy parents and convince them to let their kids stay (longer)?
2) Involve my eldest daughter more and more in my actual work with the school and let her get her “natural learning through that” like having her help me shop (math), plan the activities for the next week and mealplans etc. (planning and reading skills) or even let her run some of the classes (art or music) for the younger kids in a couple of years (when she is 7 and they are 2 and 3 years old) that she of course would gain so many important skills from.
3) Close my school down in a couple of years once my younger daughter is also becoming one of the oldest kids and then just unschool my own two in a homeschooling environment and then at least be happy that they had a few years of being in a lovely group every day with other children. – Sigh, don’t like that option…
-Please let me know your thoughts… All advice or comments will be highly appreciated!

I’m also wondering if any of you homeschoolers/unschoolers have suggestions or even strategies for how you get some of the social activities going? Do you plan weekly playdates maybe combined with organized classes (say dance or music)? My girls have also done ballet once a week (by their own choice of course), but seeing how little they connected to other children during that 45 min class compared to how amazing friends they have gotten at school (playing with the same children every day) is a massive difference.

I have seen so many positive changes in my eldest girl who used to be very shy and insecure and now has a much easier time playing with other children and meeting new people etc. so for us “the free unschooling school” has really worked well and I would be sad if I had to close it down.

Much love to you all from Kenya and may the unschooling force be with you!

I enjoyed this post. I have read many articles and watched documentaries on this subject and agree with you wholeheartedly. I sometimes feel like Neo from The Matrix; once you find out the truth there is no going back. These days it seems even staying home with your babies is counter cultural so I can *somewhat* understand how people have a difficult time wrapping their heads around wanting something different like homeschooling for their children. I’m thankful that I’m able to be home with my kids and learn right along with them; I realize not everyone can homeschool or even wants to homeschool but it really and truly is a blessing for our family. I hope the naysayers can someday try to appreciate that people can go about life differently and still have a fulfilling and valuable life.

“The goal of homeschooling is not a rigorous education so they can pursue an illustrious career. The goal is strong character, wisdom and discernment to pursue the life God has called them to live.” ~ Jeannie Fulbright

How do you do this, though? Doesn’t the govt require our children to be in a program? I’m very interested. If the child grows up and wants to go to college, don’t they need a diploma? Do you expect that your children will be able to pass a GED test if necessary? Thank you for your post.

Great article and it’s really inspiring to read your writing. I think fear keeps most people in the system. The system knows best thinking, and I think as mums we are feed the notion that we are simply not enough. These comments about where does your child go? (I’m guilty of asking that question). Where I see HS not working is where parents want, control over. I see unschooling as the highest iform of education, if you want resilient young people. Been a youth worker iv seem many YP affect by MH and have no internal moral compass to guide them. And I know that they have been to school and had boundaries or been controlled. Sending to school in my opinion is more of a risk – unless the home environment is not safe.

I do think schools are needed in its context of teaching children the basics and then allowing them to learn in areas that they find interest until they get to around 15 and then placing them into more job ready type skills or subjects needed. More suited to their level not set by national standards. This is all good in context and wishes, but so many parents will be put out, with the times some adults put into their working day, so for them to be in that kind of environment you would have to change the entire working platform for both parents and businesses alike.

I do agree that kids shouldn’t be made to learn things that will never utilize. I think 1/3 of the schooling is useless.

I get what you’re trying to say and I’m all for it in an ideal world. We’re going to start homeschooling/unschooling our child for many reasons, some are what you have excellently written in your blog. But I feel that what you’re saying here is sounds harsh and it comes across as arrogant at some levels. I come from a place where parents have to struggle to bring food to the table each day, where they themselves aren’t literate, many uneducated even to first grade level. They can’t stop to be home with their children because life is too tough, where for many their income doesn’t even come as high as a dollar a day yet necessary expenses are beyond what they earn. School is lifesaver for them. Their children learn things that make their livelihoods better. It is your right to write anything that inspires you, and I’m so thankful for so many that you wrote, but please be mindful of how many, many people actually live in the real world before you make generalizations. Isn’t that what you want your children to learn too, about real life? That in real life school is needed in places such as where I’m from?

Thank you! This is a wonderful article!

Just a few days ago, I had this exact conversation with my mom. I agree with everything that you’ve said, but I an so stuck in what society has made us believe that I also can agree with Linda Sheidler. Everywhere you go, everyone (almost) that you meet is so convinced that nothing can be accomplished in this life without formal education (private/public school K-12 and college). It’s discouraging that so many people have come to believe or have been brainwashed into thinking formal education is the be all and end all in this life. This country has become so stuck in a rut as big as the Grand Canyon that all the formal education in the world cannot help them think outside the box. Instead, we have become a uniform society. Any differences at all get judged, get trampled on, get over-run. Parents are losing more and more control over their family lives because the government is stepping in and we are allowing it.

We are like a herd of sheep, blindly following our master, but a master with ill intentions.

Thank you for posting this article.

Here, here! Love your passion and honesty, and wholeheartedly agree.

Sara,
I really enjoyed reading this, as always. I’m very much on your side (in that I think unschooling is awesome, and I appreciate so many aspects of it), but there are three things that I keep wondering/worrying about when I picture unschooling in the future:

1. Critical thinking. Sure, your kids are very young, so critical thinking is not a priority. But how will they learn to approach things from different perspectives if they’re always taught in the same environment, with the same people? Yes, they are very social people and have friends in the neighborhood, homeschooling group, and other places. But just because you know many people, that does not automatically mean you learn how to think critically about the things you see and hear. Many things about school are artificial, but one artificial aspect I do like is class discussion (as happens in college or better high schools, for example) because it teaches kids/students to listen to others with very different viewpoints and address those;

2. Related to #1, meeting kids from all walks of life. Not everyone is white and well-off (I’m not criticizing you – I don’t know you, so I can’t make these judgments). I’m just saying, as a person who is white and pretty well-off myself, I’m wondering how I’d make sure my kids learn about different cultures, about poverty, about different languages, etc. if I decide to unschool in the future. Of course, you can learn about those things through books, but it doesn’t have quite the same impact (in terms of breeding respect, tolerance, and understanding) as having friends or classmates who are very different from you does;

3. Being exposed to a wide range of new things, interests, topics. As a parent, I know I could expose them to a lot of things. In fact, one of the things I love about unschooling is that it’d give my child the opportunity to pursue their own interests in depth. I’m sure kids themselves explore a wide range of topics themselves, simply by being curious! However, based on my own experience in school, I can say there are things that I thoroughly enjoy that I would have never sought out on my own because I thought they would be boring (such as learning Latin – I thought it would be so dull, but I became really interested in it. The same goes for learning to read novels in German. Not something I would have randomly decided to try out!). In other word, sometimes taking mandatory classes leads to the discovery of a new interest or passion. I’m not saying that’s the *only* way to find a passion. Definitely not. I’m simply wondering how I would be able to expose my child to a wide range of things (especially to things that are outside my own realm of interests…).

These are just some things I’d love to hear people’s opinions on, since I hardly ever see these mentioned but I believe them to be very important.

I agree that children should be able to meet with friends and follow projects that that they device, I believe that they can learn all they need to in this way and to be surrounded by people who know and love them is much better for them especially when then they now start at age 4. If I was in the position to home school my child I would consider it or if there was the chance for a lot less school I would consider that. But We are not in that blessed position we are living in cramped conditions and have chosen not to have anymore children so we can manage. We are not surrounded by a closenit society or family, I need to work more so it sadly is not an option for us and many people like us. But I think I will be one of those mum’s that fights the system on important matters and where I can provide opportunities for my child and other children to have access to and be encouraged in the pursuit of free creativity

Dude, what are you trying to do, convince everyone to homeschool? Right before school goes back!?!?? I LOVE back to school season! It means the parks, skateparks, museums and libraries are ALL OURS from 9-3! Mwahahahaha! Seriously…it’s awesome. Truly though, you really can’t explain it to those who think the “they” is right, or think they like the system. I’ve known parents who really dig it…not just socialization, but if it’s working for them, they really like their kids being gone, they love it if their kids are popular (gag), and they think that over-scheduling them with every after-school activity is good for them. What I see now that I didn’t see at the beginning of my journey as a homeschool mom is that I am here to build a person. It is not my job to prepare my kids for college (what a shallow prideful goal), it is my job to help create a human who will go out into the world to try and help it be better. I build character, imagination, heart, confidence, strength…imagine if schools focused on those things, and not dates in history. Right now it’s 9AM and my kids are in the forest building a teepee. Just cause they wanted to. They are using tools and imagination, and enjoying nature and each other. What could be better? Loved the article, but it’s hard to not love what you already believe. (Though it still helps to hear someone else word it well, I can’t always voice what I mean at the right time!!)

I’m surprised that you say: “At this point, I cannot think of a single positive thing that school could add to our lives,” Really? You can’t imagine a single thing? Perhaps that’s what school would give your children: the ability to see the positive in people and families and communities and ways of life different to your own.

Unschooling is great! There are lots of wonderful benefits. But to believe there’s not one single good thing about schools suggests a closed mind.

If I think about my own schooling, what about it was “necessary”?

It was necessary for me to make friends, all sorts of friends: I wouldn’t give those up for anything.

It was necessary for me to step out of my role as the youngest sibling of four: being with children my own age, rather than older, stronger, smarter kids, let me grow into myself. I wouldn’t want to be a youngest child who never had that chance.

It was necessary for me to learn that my parents are not right about everything, and I needed to test and consider their views just like everyone else’s.

It was necessary so my mother could live her life (because not all mothers want to homeschool – and that’s okay). She got the space she needed, and that was good for me, too.

Unschooling is about choosing what’s right for your children, rather than being forced into what’s deemed to be right for everyone. But that doesn’t mean you have to be closed to the idea that for some, school is right.

I enjoyed your post and it certainly gave food for thought. I think myself I would worry I would fail to stretch my kids enough. Parenting is a tough gig and at the end of every day with a 4 y.o. and 1 y.o. I am knackered and ready for bed just after keeping them fed and clean. So the idea of coming up with some curriculum and actually running it myself, well, let me just say hats off to those of you who are doing it.

I do want to say something in response to some whom have commented above, though. The idea that national schooling should be knocked on the head and is some great conspiracy to keep the man down is farcical. Take a look at yourselves with your first world, 21st century perspective. By today’s standards, people of the 1800s were living in dire poverty and free, compulsory education gave many families a way to improve their lot. I understand many here may have had a bad experience of formal education themselves – fair enough, and I’m sorry if that was the case – but standardised schooling provides *all* children with access to education, irrespective of their background. For many kids, their home life is not an easy one, so the idea that compulsory education be done away with in favour of homeschooling because parents know what’s best for their child is simply ridiculous. (You might find interesting the World Inequality Database on Education (WIDE) which illustrates how disparities in circumstances affect different populations’ life opportunities across the globe: http://www.education-inequalities.org/)

As I said before, I enjoyed the article. I hope to take away some ideas of what I can do on the weekends and evenings with my soon to be school go-er to support his more formal learning environment.

I am not a home schooler, but I love your thoughts on this. My children attend “non traditional” schools that suit them (different schools for each because they are so different). I definitely agree that the traditional school model is not always the best choice.

I really understand where you are coming from & we have seriously considered home schooling our boys. However I tried our eldest at nursery & then pre-school & the space from us, his parents, has been highly beneficial & positive for him in so many ways. We are going to try school & see what happens (if it isn’t working for him obviously we will reconsider.) If we had the money to pay for him to go to places away from us for a couple of days a week we would home school but we don’t – so we have decided that school is the best option for him. So when you ask what school adds I can’t give an exact all I can say is so far it is working for our boy – against everything I expected! Just because he is at school doesn’t mean we will stop following his lead when he wants to self learn…..let’s see what happens

I agree, and fight myself on schooling. I wish the government did not have to get involved. My son did not want to start first grade but I wanted him to try it out since my husband is not for homeschooling, but knows if the CA law on vaccination does not reverse then I will be homeschooling our younger twin daughters (and son eventually when he enters 7th grade since he was grandfathered in). Do you homeschool? Is that not considered school?

Yes! Exactly. So nice to hear this right now. There are many ways of learning and the school system is only one avenue.

This made me so happy. Thank you for putting it into words. I have homeschooled/uncschooled for years. We have 2 graduated, but they still refer to themselves as homeschooled since it is a way of life for us, how we do things.

What a wonderful article! I agree on so many levels! My son (now 11) was the sweetest kid before he started school and I believe him going to school permanently affected him! I’m not saying his father and I have not influenced him as well but elementary has damaged his soul! The bullying, the adults who would not listen, being marked the troubled child because it is difficult for him to sit in one spot with his hands folded like a good soldier! It annoys me!

Some of these comments are really unnecessary! Everyone is entitled to their own belief and choices I see no reason to call people names or talk negatively to them for their personal preferences and life choices! This is also the problem with the schooling and government! They don’t approve of personal opinion so they have schools to teach everyone to things like them! Again, my opinion!

WHOA! Troll patrol.

I loved this article, along with many others on here. Reading the comments made my heart hurt. This is literally *your* blog where you are writing about your own experiences. If other people can’t handle it, why are they reading it? If it upsets you, move on. A random stranger on the internet is probably not going to change any opinions. *sigh*

My husband has never been on board with any sort of alternative education methods, but I have been working on giving him information on the alternatives to traditional school since shortly after our first son was born and I knew in my heart I didn’t want to send him to school. He is in the first grade now, in a regular school, for financial reasons. We were at least able to move to a school district that has an amazing elementary school, but it still breaks my heart to be away from him. My husband has finally come on board because he misses our children too. I’m so glad! We are actively working toward a situation where we will be able to stay home with the kids.

I honestly don’t think being with their kids 24/7 is for everyone. I hate that I feel the need to make a disclaimer about how my husband and I feel. A person’s desire to do something with their life that is fundamentally different from your choice doesn’t mean that person is judging your choices.

I have been following some of the comments and feedback you have gotten, both positive and negative (although the rude ones are unfortunate!) and I think the problem stems from the tone of your post. It comes across as dismissive or condescending of those who choose or have to choose traditional schooling for their families. Both homeschooling/unschooling and traditional school have benefits to offer. Both can exist simultaneously. It does not have to be either/or. You should continue to share the benefits you find for your family in choosing homeschooling and to share what you know about it for families who are curious about making the same choice. But it doesn’t have to be done to the detriment of other educational options.

Hi again! All valid points, but I think you can promote homeschooling without criticizing traditional schooling. Homeschooling is the answer and the fit for some families, but not for others. Traditional schooling isn’t going away. Neither is homeschooling, nor should it. It is unfortunate that some people criticize your choice. But I don’t think the answer is to criticize other choices in return. I myself, would have loved to have tried homeschooling for my boys when they were small. But it was in no way possible for our family situation. So I applaud your efforts to educate people about your homeschooling experience. But I think you will make bigger gains by avoiding airing your dislike of what you call forced schooling.

I personally plan to not send my kids to school, but I know a lot of people (especially lone parents) who really appreciate the time without their children at home with them, and the ability to go back to work and have time to themselves. So in those cases the parents benefit from the school system.

We have very recently started on our homeschooling journey! Thank you so much for your blog, it’s been amazing to be able to read your journey and get an idea of what to expect. It was incredibly nerve racking for me, seeing other children start school for the first time last week while my daughter stayed at home with me, but I feel very strongly that we have made the right decision for us. I agree completely with your post, and want to thank you for writing it! It’s lovely to know that there are others with the same opinion as me! (And I used to be a teacher!! Oops…!)

I am a teacher currently at home with my 4.5 and 2 year old, and rally against the need for children to be on ‘programs’ and ‘learning schemes’ when it is painfully obvious most do not fit, have not read the instruction manual and therefore, predictably, become unhappy!
Mine are ‘un-schooling’ currently (although not really at school age) and love it.
I think what you do with your kids is wonderful.
BUT in response to the heading ‘School is unnecessary’, I would have to say ‘unnecessary for you’, but there are some children who receive more love and care in a (good) school environment than at home. For children whose homes are chaotic, where they are not respected or do not have a positive role, school can be a joy. Not perfect, but a positive and caring place where they are valued.
As a teacher, when I go back in some capacity, my goal is to introduce as much of the ‘un-schooling’ philosophy to the early years of education as possible where I am in Scotland.
Really enjoy reading your posts – always much food for thought!

This is a rather entitled view. It applies only to families with a parent at home. It applies only to healthy parents who can and do focus on their kids with an eye to knowing them, their interests etc. What about single parents who can’t be with their kids all day? What about parents who struggle with drug addiction, mental or physical illness, or parents who abuse their children? What about poor parents or those with insufficient resources of their own, to stimulate their children intellectually? Many, if not most, kids today, are far safer in school.

Susan R., my thoughts exactly.
Maybe in an ideal world some more people will be able to stay at home with their kids. If you are a doctor, you cannot – you will have to be at the hospital rather than tend to your own kids and vegetable garden. Also, if you are new in town/country, or simply of a shy kind, you cannot provide the social life for your children that the school does offer. What if my kids interests are totally different from mine? I would not be able to guide or instruct them, would consider it boring or otherwise would not be 100% there with them if they are carrying out projects on their favored football team or computer game. And finally, not all parents enjoy the company of kids day after day, 24/7 – or have a difficulty in motivating their children to self-educate. I agree with the ideals of home schooling, but schools provide for the practical realities – so answering the question “what is it that the school offers” is easy: a safe place for the kids to be and to learn a wide variety of topics whilst parents are at work, and a social life.

You can’t grow all flowers the same way, under the same conditions. Some flowers need sun to thrive, some need deep shade. You can’t train every horse the same exact way. You can’t teach every single child using the same method. And just because someone is teaching, it doesn’t necessarily mean that learning is taking place on the other end. But, learning does happen even when nobody – meaning a second person – is teaching. I have a master’s degree in education, and have one child in a public school and the other is being homeschooled/unschooled. One thrives in the shade, the other in full sun…

Good for you if I had it to do over I would do much different.

This is wonderful, brilliantly enlightening for those who are open minded and ready for this. I especially like ‘nothing changes when a child turns 5’ a continuum.

This is magnificent. I love this especially –

“Or are you just afraid? Are you clinging to the idea that ‘they’ know better? That there is some magical secret to education and only schools hold the key? That you might ‘fail’ in the eyes of other people? Have they taught you so well that you are inferior, that you now believe it?”

I believe as an u schooler of just at 1yr ourselves that you’ve hit it spot on. The rebutted are from conformity and fear of non conformity. If I could hug your blog I would lol. Ty for sharing it!

I think no one here have watched movie: “schooling the world”
Doesnt matter if you are in school or home schooled or unschooled, if you still work for the system goverment created, what is the difference?
Watch the movie and you will understand what real unschoolers are, working for themselves and family on a farm, providing for themselves. This is the only way you are truly free.

Thank you so much for writing this. I am in my ninth year of teaching and will be leaving my career behind to start unschooling (we call it learning at home) when my oldest turns five (I had to work for financial reasons this past year). As an experienced teacher who is very invested and well-read in the field education, I have read countless articles on how we learn. And the research says it all: we learn what we want to learn. Period. And telling my students what to learn on a daily basis results in superficial learning at best. I have seen countless kids fall to the wayside because of the stress of academics and I have seen countless kids fall into the wrong peer group with negative repercussions. School is a failed social experiment in which we try to “teach” students by putting them all in one grade and expecting them to learn the same way at the same pace (differentiation does not truly exist in large classrooms). Kids learn their values from each other instead of from trusted adults and it’s a dog eat dog world inside a school building. I encourage those that are shaky in the field of how humans acquire knowledge to read up and maybe then they will see how our schools fail children.

It might be difficult for many to give up the idea that schooling is education until they start thinking about it with a questioning attitude. How can 8 subjects a day, sitting in a chair, stimulated by a bell (like Pavlov’s dogs) … be conducive to thinking or mental growth? Why did the American colonies have a surfeit of thinkers—Thomas Paine to Benjamin Franklin—how did they get an education? How did we get from the colonial system of home schooling to our present factory schools?

Of course reading John Holt, John Taylor Gatto, Julia Weber or a host of other advocates for children’s freedom is probably not enough to overcome the fears of not properly preparing you children for the future.

All I can really add is from my own unschooled daughters (MIT/YALE PhD in high energy physics, YALE/PRINCETON PhD in German history—their choice to go to college) is that the only thing of value that you impart to children is your love and faith in them and their natural unfolding into their individual and unique personality.

As the protagonist in ‘Twilight Samurai’ tells his daughter who is not sure that learning to read and write will be of any service to her in the uncertain times of Meiji Japan: ‘if you can think, you can always make a living.’ (or words to that effect.)

What’s incredible is how many people don’t see how poisonous the school system is. If you really look at how the system works, you’ll see that school’s only prepare you to work. You sit for close to 8 hours a day, get 5 minute breaks, and a lunch. You’re taught to solely pay attention to the teacher even though you’re caged in with at least 30 other kids. Your constantly taught that you’re being educated to be a successful member of society. 90 percent of public education is useless, and to question whatever your teacher says is severely frowned upon. What’s funny is I was completely shocked when I got out of school. It was like being born again. I was all alone too because you’re taught in school that social interactions are not important compared to obeying the indoctrinated authority.

This is a big responsibility. Babies grow, they become teenagers, adults. How are they prepared to function in a society which is alien to them and where they will not fit.Who is paying the bills? Parents age and get sick or die in accidents. What will happen to these individuals who step in life with no skills to support themselves.

Ooh, what a great thought! We are not unschoolers, but boy, I see your point! I always say that I love homeschooling, but just hate the schooling part! 🙂

In a perfect world!! I personally think the main reason school still exists is it’s daycare whilst parents work! A lot of people don’t have the option to stay at home and raise their children! Fortunately this doesn’t include me I’m a former teacher completely disillusioned with the uk state education system! My son now goes private at a much less pressured outdoor led school but still I’m thinking of unschooling as I feel I’m forcing him to go somewhere against his will and I don’t really have a good enough answer to continue!!!!

Education is everywhere, not just in school. But what if parents have to work? They can’t have the kids with them, so school does become necessary?

No convincing needed here. By the look of your photos my kids are much older, almost 14 and 12. And SO well educated without ever setting foot in a classroom. Way above the pack. But that’s not why, in part, maybe, I care deeply about education, too much to hand them over to be partially educated by schools. I just wanted more for them. A better education, a better life, more freedom, more joy. It’s all worked out beatifully. We at World Travel Family are, I guess, the proof of the pudding.

It all depends on the individual. Some children dont go on to get jobs after finishing school, theyre unemployed & no one blames school… some home ed children i imagine would go on to be unemployed… then home ed would be blamed, but only because home ed is not widely accepted as school is, in school we would lay the blame at the individual & would never say “so & so didnt get a job because of school” but take an unemployed home edder & we assume that home ed has ruined their job opportunities.
For some school is the best path for others it is not.

I personally did not enjoy school & I do not think my children would suit the system, theyre different to most kids their age & when we go to our home ed meets I see them fit right in.

Everyone has a different path to follow, we all do our best for our kids.

I respect teachers as i respect all people & I am grateful that school is there because for some kids school really is the best option… but for some lucky parents & children home ed lets us hang on to the magic a little longer

So glad I came across this! Just starting our unschooling journey (and me a former teacher, of all things!), and it was inspiring to read your thoughts!

Yes! This! This is exactly how my husband and I feel. What a great post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts….so refreshing!!!

Well said. I am a trained teacher, and worked with schools for 10 years. I homeschool my 3 children from the very beginning. We are not exactly unschooling, but do follow their interests and readiness.

Without school there will be no engineers, architects, doctors, lawyers, politicians. Without school the computer you used to make this blog on will not have been invented. Without school your kids will have to work at McDonalds and get $5 per hour. Heck, without educated generations we would still be living in pre-industrial revolution. Everyone still running farms and dying of disease. Home schooling would work for people who have issues like social issues or whatever, but if people stopped sending their kids to school, then humanity will start going backwards! In summary, do you want your kids to work at McDonalds for $5 an hour or become a lawyer making $400k/year?

I’m grateful that my parents pay $27k for my tuition at an elite school (secondary) and I want to do a degree in Economics and Advanced Finance which requires a 99.95 ATAR (top 0.12%) for admission. If I get home schooled I won’t even get into uni.

Great Article! Thank you for sharing this is a very informative post, and looking forward to the latest one.

Fascinating article, and response. I realize this is an old post, but I came across it today. I am constantly amazed at how either/or our society is. Some students may Go to school, Home school, or Unschool. Some choices may be better for some individuals. We can’t judge them if they want to do so, but they should not judge other choices either. I also agree that many school systems need to be changed; they are not working well for our kids. To make it work though, we have to change other aspects of our society.

I agree with what other posters have said: homeschooling parents are very well educated to begin with, and usually have money, or someone in the family who gets a good paycheck. In our current society, this enables them to homeschool well. This may not apply to families who are immigrants, who may not speak their new country’s language well, or who have limited means. They also may not be educated in a way that allows them to access what their children need. Not saying they are stupid, but they might not have the resources/ability to access things independently. This is where our society comes in. There is nothing wrong with raising children to work with you, and even do your job one day. It has been done for centuries. But you might get one who does not want that, or is gifted in some area. Some parents can handle that, some cannot.

My husband and I are are very well educated, but we alone would not have been enough for our children. The parents who send their kids to school still educate them as well. (For example, I rebuilt a computer with my son once too, among many other things.) I also know families who have homeschooled for a few years, but sent their kids back when they felt ready. There are many ways.

Public school, even with all it’s problems, gives an opportunity for ALL kids, regardless of how poor they are, or how well-educated their parents are.

Your emphasis on the importance of self-directed learning and allowing children to pursue their passions aligns with the growing movement towards alternative education approaches. I appreciate how you highlighted the limitations of the traditional schooling system and the potential benefits of homeschooling or unschooling. It’s important to challenge conventional notions and explore alternative paths to education that prioritize individuality, creativity, and genuine learning experiences. Great job on shedding light on this important topic!

School teachers discipline the same way prisons do. Why lock our kids up in “school” more like paid prison where you learn what the internet could teach you for less.