Friday Feature: Unschooling

Colleen HroncichOne of the more controversial ideas in education seems to be unschooling. While there isn ’t a formal definition for it, unschooling is generally an approach that lets children follow their interests when it comes to learning.The concept of unschooling is radical to many people who are accustomed to our current school system. But looking beyond the current K ‑12 system, it’s clear the ideas behind unschooling have a long history, even if the term does not.From their earliest days, children are learning. They learn to roll over, sit, stand, walk, talk, eat, and drink without spending a moment in a classroom with a teacher. They ’re in a constant quest to learn about their surroundings, how things work, and what happens if they touch something.As they get older, this natural curiosity can prompt all sorts of learning —if they have the freedom to pursue it. This is especially true in the internet age when we can research anything with the click of a button. Children can become nature explorers by venturing to their backyard, a local park, or a nearby forest. They can dig deeper (with the help of an adult as needed) using the library, the internet, or a variety of apps.Historically, much of learning happened at home from parents or a tutor, prior to the modern school system. Children learned needed life skills, such as farming, cooking, hunting, and preserving food, from their families. They learned ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs