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General Education

UnSchooling - Pros & Cons

Unschooling is an approach to education that does not impose anything formal upon the child. A child growing up "discovers" that their world is filled with printed words and that adults read (especially if the child's parents read to their children a lot). When the child is ready, he or she usually shows a very quick aptitude for learning to read and reading from then on is never a problem for that child.

Although I have been a classroom teacher and I know the value of disciplined learning, there is much about an unschooling education that appeals to me. Don't ever think of unschooling as no education. It is normal for children to learn everything about their world that they can as fast as they can. As a form of education, unschooling still places learning opportunities before children, but it places learning in front of them that they themselves are pursuing because of some present need or desire.

UnSchooling Pros:

• Children never lose the joy of learning, learning only that which furthers their present interests.
• Children learn the next thing when they are at the developmental level for it according to their own growth. They are not forced to learn things before they are ready.

UnSchooling Cons:

• In a completely hands off unschooling environment, the child loses out on the benefits that disciplined learning can give.
• Friends and family will harass you constantly about why your children are not "in school."

[I will add more on both lists as time allows.]

A Valuable Addition for Private-Schooled Teenagers:

• The Writing Conservatory

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