| Unschooling is a movement in education. | | | | is that they can only offer a |
| Basically, it can be seen as learning | | | | standardized, one-size-fits-all |
| without school. Although unschooling may | | | | education. This does not respect the |
| be considered a form of homeschooling, | | | | fact that children do not all learn the |
| it differs from most homeschooling in | | | | same. Children have different learning |
| that unschooling does not try to | | | | styles, and also have different |
| recreate the school environment at home. | | | | interests and needs. In contrast to |
| Unschooling lets the child control his | | | | mainstream schools, unschoolers keep |
| or her own education and learning. | | | | their children at home and allow them to |
| Instead of forcing the child to learn | | | | explore their own individual interests |
| certain material in a certain way, | | | | in a way that they want. |
| unschooling consists of letting the | | | | While unschooling, the children like |
| child learn naturally on their own. | | | | learning, and they have fun while |
| Usually, this is done without a | | | | learning. For example, a child might see |
| curriculum, without formal classes, and | | | | a bug that interests them and the child |
| without teachers, but a child can use | | | | may then want to go inside and look up |
| any of those resources if and when the | | | | information about that bug. An older |
| child wants. | | | | child who is interested in computers |
| The unschooling philosophy is based in | | | | might ask for a kit that would allow him |
| part on the belief that children are | | | | or her to build a computer at home. |
| naturally curious and inquisitive. | | | | Since the children are following their |
| Children want to learn, and they do it | | | | own interests and desires, the child |
| best when left to explore their own | | | | learns what they will want to know. For |
| curiosity. | | | | example, that child who built the |
| Unschoolers often believe that schools | | | | computer as a kid may grow up to be a |
| hinder the natural learning process. In | | | | computer engineer. Had the child gone to |
| a school, the environment is too rigid | | | | mainstream school, the child would not |
| and unnatural for children to learn at | | | | have gotten the chance to explore his or |
| their best. Additionally, children are | | | | her own particular interests at such an |
| often not interested in what is being | | | | early age, and would have instead been |
| taught, since they have no choice in the | | | | forced to "learn" a standardized |
| matter. Having an unwanted "education" | | | | education. |
| shoved down their throats turns the kids | | | | Not everyone thinks unschooling is |
| off to learning. Because children don't | | | | better than mainstream, standardized |
| like school, they stop wanting to learn | | | | education. At the very least, now you |
| at all when forced to go to school. | | | | know what unschooling is and some of the |
| A major problem with mainstream schools | | | | reasons unschoolers prefer it. |