Oh, is there an unschooling controversy? It is interesting to read different forums about education and whether or not school is necessary. You get a wide array of thoughts, opinions, and emotional outbursts. One thing is for certain – unschooling is controversial to many because they don’t fully understand it or why we have the school systems we do now. 

Have you heard the term “school fixated society”? This has been new to me, but I do understand what it means. I like the way Lucy Aitkenread explains it:

“This means we’ve shaped childhood to revolve around school. It means everything we think we know about learning and development comes from studying kids in school. It means we ourselves have inherited a whole bunch of narratives and understandings about learning.  It means that most adults have come to see school as an essential and immovable part of childhood. It means that there is a TON of systems set up to make school a seamless step in a seamless system. It means “school” and “learning” have become synonymous.”  – Lucy Aitkenread

From this understanding, we are seeing more and more families turn to unschooling. We did it ourselves for a few years (we have now moved to a more eclectic style of homeschooling with unschooling undertones). 

What is unschooling?

Unschooling is an educational style/method that is child-centered or child-led. It’s much less of a homeschooling style but rather a mindset, or an approach on how to educate your child. Unschooling has been around since the 1970s. John Holt, a teacher, wrote books on the shortcomings of the education system and is generally acknowledged to be the father of unschooling.

There are a varying degrees and approaches to unschooling. On the purist form of unschooling, you do not have any sort of school-at-home, meaning no set hours or structure, as well as no curriculum and let your children control their education. Others may use some curriculum or sign their children up for a class on selected subjects, but mostly they use the interests of their child to teach most subjects. This still keeps away from a structured schedule, settings and fixed curriculum on set hours & days.

UNSCHOOLING CONTROVERSY

As with everything, unschooling has it’s critics. When you are especially going outside the conventional way we do school, this invites a lot of opinions. Unschooling is controversial for several reasons. Let’s have a look at some of the ideas and opinions surrounding this educational approach:

1. Lack of Structure:

Unschooling is often criticized for its lack of structure and formal curriculum. There are arguments that without a set curriculum or organized instruction, children may not acquire necessary knowledge and skills or be adequately prepared for future academic or career pursuits.

2. Concerns about Academic Standards:

Critics of unschooling worry that without clear academic standards or external assessments, students may not receive a well-rounded education or have a reliable way to measure their progress. They argue that unschooling may lead to gaps in knowledge or limited exposure to certain subjects. But we need to remember that schools are content driven, and we also really remember what we are interested in.

3. Socialization:

Some people raise concerns about the socialization aspect of unschooling. They worry that homeschooling in general, including unschooling, may limit opportunities for social interaction with peers, potentially leading to a lack of social skills or difficulty transitioning into traditional educational settings or the workforce. That myth is busted. Check out my video on the socialization controversy. 

4. Parental Qualifications:

Another point of controversy is the qualifications of parents or guardians to educate their children without formal training in teaching. Critics argue that parents may not have the expertise or knowledge necessary to provide a comprehensive and effective education. I don’t agree with this. I feel that parents are qualified to teach.

5. Potential for Educational Neglect:

Detractors of unschooling assert that it may lead to educational neglect if parents do not actively engage in, facilitate or encourage their children’s learning. It is true that unschooling requires a high level of commitment and involvement from parents but that doesn’t mean neglect will happen. If the time commitment is too much, then unschooling isn’t for you.

6. Misconceptions and Stereotypes:

Unschooling often faces criticism based on misconceptions and stereotypes. Some assume that unschooling means children are left entirely to their own devices without any structure or guidance. This leads to misunderstandings about the benefits and effectiveness of the approach.

7. Lack of diversity:

Many feel that schools expose students to diverse cultures, perspectives, and backgrounds and that unschooling will not provide this. 

BENEFITS OF UNSCHOOLING

Yes, we should also note that there are those who believe in the effectiveness of unschooling. It can lead to:

• Self-directed learning
• Individualized education
• Exploration interests and passions
• Development of critical thinking skills
• A cultivation of a lifelong love of learning

Each child’s needs and circumstances are unique, and what works well for one child may not work the same for another. Unschooling will work for some children and not for others. 

Really, the controversy surrounding unschooling stems from differing opinions on education, child development, and the role of parents in their children’s education. You only have to go online to see these differing opinions. 

If we are not sure of something, we should be taking the time to research it (from both sides) and learning for understanding. We don’t always have to agree with everyone, but learning is key to stopping misinformation and to perhaps stopping a controversy that doesn’t need to be there.