I am not entirely comfortable with the phrase "I unschool my kids."
It's not something I do to them really. It's something they do for themselves, in the supportive environment Frank and I have created and continually adapt to their changing needs. If I say I unschool them, it feels like I am taking credit for their learning and accomplishments. I know this is semantics. But I think using more precise words here can help with the same sort of mental shift as the one from 'teach' to 'learn.'
I often say, "We unschool," on the other hand, referring to the whole family. And we do! Unschooling is about much more than learning, and there is no other word that describes our all-encompassing lifestyle so well.
Nevertheless, the shorthand provided by "unschool" as a transitive verb can be handy, and I once titled a talk "Unschooling teenagers." But I was at least aware of the variety of ways to interpret that title. :-)
Traveling, sleeping
2 hours ago
12 comments:
I'm also not comfortable with that phrase. I don't take credit for my children's accomplishments--- never have. I can take responsibility for sharing things that I think they might be interested in. But I don't take responsibility for their learning any more than I take responsibility for their growing.
Important distinctions, I agree.
I agree. I have never said I unschool my kids because I don't.
I always say we unschool.
And I totally understood the 'unschooling' in your talk title to be an adjective, rather than a verb!
I don't use the phrase either. We call ourselves unschoolers because that's something we are. And we "unschool." And yeah, it's an important distinction, even to those of us who have no idea what an intransitive verb is. ;-)
wait a minute... you just gave me a grammar lesson... how dare you!
I so agree with you here!
Joyce Fetterol said this recently:
"Unschooling is what parents do for their kids
to facilitate natural learning. Kids learn, they don't unschool."
I like the idea of "doing it *for*.
I pay that kind of attention to words, too. I say, "We unschool" or "My kids unschool" or refer to "my unschooling kids." It does matter.
I don't entirely agree with Joyce there, Robin, unlike just about everything else of hers I've ever read. My kids do unschool, and it's only partially about learning. Unschooling describes their life.
I think it can be used as a transitive verb, and an intransitive verb, and that it's about the family's relationship to school.
I think Joyce is right that what kids do, regardless of the verbal beliefs of the parents, is that they learn.
"I think Joyce is right that what kids do, regardless of the verbal beliefs of the parents, is that they learn."
Absolutely, and if that was the context of the quote, then I agree completely. But I still believe my kids unschool.
I say "we unschool" or "I unschool WITH the boys".
Another vote cast for 'We unschool.' The other just doesn't flow right with me.
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