"Unschooling

In Reason, Kerry McDonald reports,

Many families leave traditional educational institutions because they value individual freedom and recognize the ways in which compulsory mass schooling can halt creativity and deter originality in the name of obedience and conformity. But too many wind up replicating the same systems at home. They import the same packaged curriculum and testing, the same gold stars and check marks, the same coercion and control inherent in the brick-and-mortar holding pens where so many children spend the bulk of their early lives.

Today, homeschoolers are increasingly ridding themselves not just of schools but of traditional notions about schooling. These so-called "unschoolers" allow children to explore topics they are passionate about, while being supported by the abundant resources of both real and virtual communities.

For California mother Heather Greenwood, this balance means encouraging her children's interests while instilling values of personal responsibility and perseverance. "For us, unschooling doesn't mean un-parenting," Greenwood says. "Our kids still have responsibilities in the house. We see much of our children's learning happening through conversation, play, and experiences. They read, listen to interesting podcasts, watch documentaries, and volunteer in the community."

Greenwood took a winding path to unschooling. Her daughters, now 17 and 12, spent time in public schools, Montessori schools, and a public charter school that offered a hybrid homeschooling option with a state-sponsored curriculum. Because she and her husband wanted more autonomy and flexibility for their kids' learning, they began independently homeschooling while following a classical curriculum, but they still found it too restrictive.

Frustrated, Greenwood began reading more about the philosophy of unschooling, including pioneering books by A.S. Neill (Summerhill), Ivan Illich (Deschooling Society), and John Holt, the educator who coined the term "unschooling" in the late 1970s. The radically different approach resonated with Greenwood, who jettisoned the curriculum and fully embraced unschooling. "When our focus was based less on the curriculum and became centered around what the kids wanted to learn about, everything changed," she explains. "I saw them take ownership of their learning and, more importantly, their life. They lead a very rich life, full of curiosity."

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