Un Schooling - Really?

[keeponworkin]

Did anyone hear the segment on NPR about Un Schooling? The boy learned to read when he was 10, so that he could play Magic. Blew my mind.

[thyme4change]

Well - looks like today just got all booked solid. The last unschooling thread got me banned. LOL.

[8 Bit WWBG]

I have personally seen two people learn quite a bit of spoken Japanese just from watching a lot of anime.

[imawino]

The last unschooling thread almost made my head explode!

[michelyn8]

Jun 7, 2011 11:19:47 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Well - looks like today just got all booked solid. The last unschooling thread got me banned. LOL.

I didn't comment on the last thread or 2 on this but it made for some entertaining reading. Can someone please pass me the popcorn?

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I am still not clear on how these kids get into college or obtain a HS diploma/equivalent because they don't sound like they are tied to any type of formal schooling program that would reward one.

[shanendoah]

If it helps, its not just Un-schoolers...

My aunt (by marriage) is a teacher. She used to teach at a private school that believed kids didn't need to learn to read when they were young, that is was more important that they learn math. So at 8, one of my cousins knew his times tables and was starting division, but couldn't read*. We went to another relatives wedding and a 2 year old cousin could read better than the 8 year old.

*I find this extra awful because the school system I was in taught multiplication in 3rd grade. So at 8, I knew my times tables, too, (though to be fair, I had not learned division), and had a the reading comprehension of a middle schooler.

[imawino]

Drama, you just don't get it. You're tied to some old-school traditional way of thinking that is holding us back as people, and as a society! You're The Man, trying to keep us all down.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I also vaccinate my child based on what her pediatrican tells me. I should probably be listening to my dog's vet. .. oh wait he wants us to vaccinate the dogs. It's a conspiracy!

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jun 7, 2011 11:27:57 GMT -5 imawino said:

Drama, you just don't get it. You're tied to some old-school traditional way of thinking that is holding us back as people, and as a society! You're The Man, trying to keep us all down.

Wouldn't she be The Woman though? lol.

[thyme4change]

This won't be any fun without oped.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

It won't be any fun without LA808, I always love reading the next crazy thing she does. My favorite is drinking hydrogen peroxide water to clean her insides. ;D

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Jun 7, 2011 11:27:04 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

If it helps, its not just Un-schoolers...

My aunt (by marriage) is a teacher. She used to teach at a private school that believed kids didn't need to learn to read when they were young, that is was more important that they learn math. So at 8, one of my cousins knew his times tables and was starting division, but couldn't read*. We went to another relatives wedding and a 2 year old cousin could read better than the 8 year old.

*I find this extra awful because the school system I was in taught multiplication in 3rd grade. So at 8, I knew my times tables, too, (though to be fair, I had not learned division), and had a the reading comprehension of a middle schooler.

Silly me ... couldn't schools teach reading AND math?

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jun 7, 2011 11:27:04 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

If it helps, its not just Un-schoolers...

My aunt (by marriage) is a teacher. She used to teach at a private school that believed kids didn't need to learn to read when they were young, that is was more important that they learn math. So at 8, one of my cousins knew his times tables and was starting division, but couldn't read*. We went to another relatives wedding and a 2 year old cousin could read better than the 8 year old.

*I find this extra awful because the school system I was in taught multiplication in 3rd grade. So at 8, I knew my times tables, too, (though to be fair, I had not learned division), and had a the reading comprehension of a middle schooler.

I remember learning the basic times tables in 3 rd grade. I've always been an advanced reader though.

ETA - I also remember watching and loving School House Rock.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Unschooling story from NPR ... www.npr.org/2011/06/06/137009154/unschooled-how-one-kid-is-grateful-he-stayed-home

With summer on the horizon, many teens are looking forward to a break from school and tests. But for Sam Fuller of Albany, Calif., not much is going to change. Fuller is part of a rare minority of home-schoolers who call themselves "unschooled" — a more unstructured, self-directed form of home schooling. There are about 2 million registered home-schoolers in the U.S., a number that grows by about 10 percent a year. Sam's family can keep Sam and his brother home by registering their house as a private school.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I've been trying to figure out how you can learn math without knowing how to read. I am too old school to "get it".

[imawino]

::It won't be any fun without LA808, I always love reading the next crazy thing she does. My favorite is drinking hydrogen peroxide water to clean her insides. ::

Yes, I'm missing LA now too! Funny that she would clean random surfaces with vodka to kill germs, and drink hydrogen peroxide for her intestines. Am I the only one who thinks the opposite would be way more fun?? And possibly less deadly.

[imawino]

::Sam's family can keep Sam and his brother home by registering their house as a private school. ::

I did not read the story so I don't know if it went into details on this....but can any old wingnut register their house as a private school now?

[Deleted]

Jun 7, 2011 11:20:46 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

I have personally seen two people learn quite a bit of spoken Japanese just from watching a lot of anime.

That is how my wife, most of my friends and I learned how to speak English growing up in Haiti. Watching cartoon:D

One of my cousin just came to the US for the first time for summer vacation. She is 7 and her English is better than a lot of my aunts and uncles that have been in yhe US for decades. Never took a calls or lessons, just love watching the disney channel and nickelodeon

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Funny that she would clean random surfaces with vodka to kill germs, and drink hydrogen peroxide for her intestines. Am I the only one who thinks the opposite would be way more fun?? And possibly less deadly.

But the hydrogen peroxide bottle says it is "food safe", so taht means it is safe to drink!

No amount of people explaining that "food safe" means you could use it in and around a kitchen and not have to throw out every spec of food that potentially came in contact with it, not that it was for human consumption!

Pretty sure it says on the bottle not for consumption.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

Jun 7, 2011 11:33:26 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I've been trying to figure out how you can learn math without knowing how to read. I am too old school to "get it".

Well, you wouldn't be able to do any word problems. That would make your knowledge of math pretty worthless. It is great that you can do the figures and all but if you can't apply it, it is of no value. I think everyone knows someone who is like this (Really book smart but can't apply what they learned).

I would think that you would push reading first, no matter what. I can see how math can wait until later but reading opens up a whole world, especially on subjects that are not in Language arts/english. Reading allows you to explore science, history, psychology, engineering, etc. Technology is great and all but not everything can be watched on TV/DVD or listened to on CD/Podcast.

ETA: If you are truly an unschooler and think the kid should decide, wouldn't you want them to be aware of what their options are for learning? How do they do that without being able to read and see what's around? I'm pretty sure most kids don't come with built-in knowledge of everything on this planet. They would have limited ways to learn of the existence of things that their parents aren't interested in without being able to read.

[midjd]

I learned the bit of Spanish I know from overhearing all the receptionist's phone conversations at a former job... though as a result all I really know how to say are bad things about el jefe. I like current el jefe so my skills are starting to atrophy

[michelyn8]

Jun 7, 2011 11:35:24 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

Jun 7, 2011 11:20:46 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

I have personally seen two people learn quite a bit of spoken Japanese just from watching a lot of anime.

That is how my wife, most of my friends and I learned how to speak English growing up in Haiti. Watching cartoon:D

One of my cousin just came to the US for the first time for summer vacation. She is 7 and her English is better than a lot of my aunts and uncles that have been in yhe US for decades. Never took a calls or lessons, just love watching the disney channel and nickelodeon

You also had a more structured learning environment for "traditional" education too, didn't you?

I'm sure, in fact, I know I've learned a lot over the years from simple curiosity. The internet has made it even easier to learn about something that catches my interest (honestly, I really don't remember how I was able to learn some of the stuff I did as a teenager without the internet). BUT, I don't see it as an optimal way for a child to learn the basics.

I'm all for encouraging their curiosity and helping them expand their knowledge on things that catch their interest, but I also believe a child needs structure in their education to learn the basics as a foundation to explore those things.

[Deleted]

Unschooling is so much more catchy than Montessori.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I've absorbed more history than I thought thru reading books on my own. I found that out in world history class during college when I started spouting off things in class but couldn't recall where I picked them up. I also pick up a lot of vocabulary words that way.

But I had to learn to READ first.

[michelyn8]

Jun 7, 2011 11:33:39 GMT -5 imawino said:

::It won't be any fun without LA808, I always love reading the next crazy thing she does. My favorite is drinking hydrogen peroxide water to clean her insides. ::

Yes, I'm missing LA now too! Funny that she would clean random surfaces with vodka to kill germs, and drink hydrogen peroxide for her intestines. Am I the only one who thinks the opposite would be way more fun?? And possibly less deadly.

So you're saying that instead of my occasional gargling with peroxide, I should reach in the freezer for the vodka?

Hmmm..........can't leave anymore of an alcohol smell on my breath than Listerine and accidental swallowing has fewer side effects.

[thyme4change]

Yes, LA was the crazy one and oped was the reasonable one. I could see it sort of pained oped to take LA's side - she did it gracefully and without actually aligning herself with LA.

Well, you wouldn't be able to do any word problems. That would make your knowledge of math pretty worthless.

I'm pretty sure all the unschooled kids can talk - so they could do verbal word problems.

[thyme4change]

Unschooling is so much more catchy than Montessori.

The most funny thing I ever heard anyone say was once we were at a parade and the Montessori school band was approaching and the gal I was with said "Glad I'm deaf. I'm guessing each of those band members are just playing whatever they want." I nearly wet myself, and still laugh whenever I think of it. And every year at the parade we make the same joke, and it is never as funny as it was from a deaf school teacher.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Someone needs to start a thread to the mods about how we are all spoiled uneducated children hijacking a serious thread. That will get the party started.

[imawino]

::So you're saying that instead of my occasional gargling with peroxide, I should reach in the freezer for the vodka? ::

Is reaching in the freezer for the vodka ever a bad idea? c'mon...