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