Extreme Parenting: 'Radical Unschooling'

[@marcwyant1217]

I would love to hear updates on what these kids are doing with their lives now 7 years later

[@mable90shaynne]

There are other families on KZbin you can check out of you're interested.

[@geostomp]

Not working at Wal-Mart

[@waifu_png_pl6854]

@white since when were we 'designed' to do anything in particular

[@cprove5751]

They’re doing more than you.

[@nixxdra]

@white News flash! Life isn’t all about you being happy. These kids are not being taught the bad side of things, they have a false sense of comfort. This will sneak up and pounce on them when the enter the real world and realize it’s not all cupcakes and happiness and freedom. I pity them.

[@lola7993]

„Do you WANT to brush your teeth?” Come on, you can’t leave things like that to a child of that age! They can’t understand the consequences of neglecting their hygiene.

[@electrorabbit5731]

Then teach them about the consequences of neglecting personal hygiene! Show them pictures of rotting teeth and swollen gums! Give them incentive! Make it interesting!

[@electrorabbit5731]

Nietzsche's Ghost I think some negotiating would have to take place at that point. "I'll give you the option to eat ice cream before bed, but only if you'll brush your teeth immediately afterwards." I'd also explain the consequences of what could happen should the child breach our agreement, because consequences do exist. Should they still choose not to brush their teeth despite accepting said agreement, there's yet another opportunity for learning the value of integrity and what happens when we lose credibility. I don't intend to imply that this is an simple process. Teaching ethics and teaching in general takes time, patience, and shit tons of problem solving on the parent's part. It also requires that we hold ourselves to the same standards that we hold our children. Realistically speaking, it could take a minutes, hours, or days to get your point across. That being said, if you like a challenge, it could be quite rewarding. I realize my response is a bit vague, but I don't intend to spell out every action I would take to reach a given objective. Hopefully you'll see where I'm going with this, though.

[@electrorabbit5731]

No, I explained what would happen should the child breach our agreement, albeit a bit vaguely. Negotiating with your children teaches them how to appropriately negotiate with their peers later in life. I don't agree that negotiation equates to manipulation. I also don't necessarily subscribe to "free range" principles. Yes, I want to grant my children the freedom to make decisions for themselves, but with freedom comes responsibility. It's my duty, as a parent, to introduce philosophical concepts to my children...not to sit back and hope that they'll figure it out on their own.

[@roberrplatt4214]

At an orphnaged, they at least would brush their teeth.

[@beautyintheskies]

that is radical unschooling, one step farther than unschooling.

[@kellystar6733]

And.....the kids are never moving out.

[@ivi122]

Kelly R 🤔 maybe that’s what they want indeed

[@thesnare100]

the girl in this video did move out, there's another video on it. But I'm not sure what she's doing/where she's working in her new home.

[@SkyyPiano]

@@thesnare100 And what's the update on the boy? What's he doing for work

[@thesnare100]

@@SkyyPiano wish I knew

[@elisaolivan6498]

Imagine that

[@katiemossi5975]

I was “unschooled” by means of negligence and lived this life as a teenager. I ended up a severe alcoholic. I have an above average IQ. If I had been encouraged to finish school I could have gone to college for free. This is a horrible idea. There are kids in developing countries that would give anything for free education.

[@jebsmith323]

"Trust your kids to find their own interests." How can they do that if they don't explore any options?

[@pdales2257]

Jane EB Smith exactly, does this mom teach calculus, biology, chemistry. My son is 10th grade in high school , and after exposure to chemistry, really enjoys science where he wants to continue this area of study. What about band? You cant teach band if you are homeschooled. My son is in jazz band and absolutely loves the competative environment. As a parent, yourdenying them an education because you cant teach all these subjects. What if your kid wants to be a surgeon, lawyer, CEO, these jobs require 6-10 yrs of college which means discipline, structure, exams, timed exams, how do they transition?

[@mjrox317]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3XRapRuo7qCicU

[@electrorabbit5731]

P Dales There are many ways to teach your children science without forcing them to sit in a classroom. Take them to the park to explore. Introduce them to the different plants, flowers, fungi, trees- all of the different elements that make up an ecosystem. Explain to them how these different organisms function and why they're important. Ask them questions. Make them think. Engage with them. Read to them before bed. Take them stargazing. Teach them about the solar system and how the study of physics has allowed humans to reach the moon. If they should ever need to take medicine, teach them about the chemistry behind the medication and how it works. Teach them about their anatomy. Facilitate a love for art and music. Should they develop an interest in guitar and painting, buy them an instrument and some paint. If you play with them and keep the learning process fun, you won't be denying them anything.

[@emilyhindley8015]

How can they find their own interests if they're only exploring the options you deem fit?

[@HendersonDebbie]

@@pdales2257 my unschooled homeschooled children are currently successful college professors, lawyers, and well adjusted, well read adults who enjoyed their schooling experiences as homeschoolers and unschoolers. School is an opportunity to sample a variety of topics/subjects but it is not the only way to adventure and explore topics. If your child is good in sports, or music you have a choice to just send them to the high school basketball team practice, or band practice, or, as the best kids get, find him a coach for private lessons to improve on what your child does best. Homeschoolers and Unschoolers as a group have traditionally scored BETTER than traditionally educated students in standarized tests. That is why there are no laws to prohibit homeschooling. Unschooling is a smaller section of Homeschooling. Debbie

[@Tarage]

Show me an 'unschooler' who has been successful in later life. Has a job, a family, isn't living in poverty and hasn't 'taken over the family business'. Show me an 'unschooler' who is well adjusted in society. I'm waiting.

[@chaluxak3714]

Check the subdury valley school

[@mariar.4893]

Tarage ooh ooh can I see? Oh they don't exist...how sad. That would have been fun to look at.

[@chaluxak3714]

Wingardium Leviosa They exist

[@Emily-eg4gg]

Actually I've known some who ended up going to college (most of them start college courses while still in their teens). And I've seen others become entrepreneurs as adults. There is no ONE way to educate yourself or your children.

[@babydaybisomlop7834]

Chalux ! Ak who exactly

[@09cokeefe]

no offense, they didn't choose the best example family...

[@thesnare100]

Do you have a good example? This is an example of radical unschooling, not regular unschooling, right?

[@zeta719]

09cokeefe they didn't choose a good reporter.

[@clovis_the_spook]

No, this is very close to regular unschooling, somtimes the parents do disiplin their children in other areas, but more often then not there is little to no disapline.

[@KeltorRochridge]

Dayna Martin

[@LS-fr6if]

there is no good exemple.. if you never give a child a normal education obviously the basic discipline that comes with it will never be acquired

[@hansonfeng7440]

Unschooling sounds more like a dropout lifestyle

[@kogancames1107]

hanson Feng if you have hands off parents like these, unschooling is supposed to be like a montissory at home where you give them child all the nessisary tools of knowledge and they advance in the subject as they feel comfortable and if you goong to unschool its really a from birth experience you really shouldn’t just pull a enrolled child and start unschooling them they probably won’t be as interested in learning

[@Nothin2seehere-e4z]

Because school is so much better kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYHWfYWder6Zb6c. Not

[@lydiaa5939]

good thing i live in the UK we have to go to skl or u get fined because we actually have common sense

[@raea3588]

@@lydiaa5939 Actually, 57,132 children were being home-schooled/un-schooled in the UK back in 2018 and numbers have increased since then. Parents get fined for truancy if they are not registered as home educators.

[@juliemckenzie5960]

Regardless of how you choose to educate your children, parents must be parents! Children thrive on routine and having chores makes them feel like the valued member of the family that they are. Chores also empower children by teaching them life skills they will need when they become adults and live on their own.

[@BudderB0y2222]

Shut up chores fucking suck

[@meganbaker9116]

The idea that children thrive on routine is much loved by school people. Why? Because routine is easier to provide than meaning. Kids, like adults, need meaning and purpose. If they have that, they don't give a damn about routine. It's a myth that children require extensive structure, one that adults promote because it's good for them, but it's simply not true. (Personally I like the idea of chores, but structure is a substitute for meaningful learning, not its helper.)

[@reveluvreveluv7257]

I was unschooled for quite a while and when I did go back to school i was more motivated than a lot of my peers because i was used to having to motivate myself. I was only behind in maths and Irish which the students who had always been in school we’re also behind in. I went back to school for an easier route to university but i will never regret the time i was unschooled. I learned what i wanted to.. and i actually did learn, i got enough sleep and my mental health wasn’t in the state it is now. I choose to follow a rough curriculum for English, music, geography and biology because i was interested in those subjects and not because my parents told me to. I had time for hobbies which now means that they are a a high enough level for practical subjects that I don’t have to stress about them and can focus on the theory aspects. I think it doesn’t suit every family or child, lot of home/unschooled teen girls are autistic or have mental health issues that prevent them from going to school and I’ve found any I’ve met to be highly motivated about whatever they are choosing to learn, but there’s also a boy in my class who’s recently come back to school after four years unschooling and he simply lacks the focus for the classroom and is so far behind in maths and English that he’s doing foundation level subjects. His parents never enforced anything on him and he simply cant handle the pressure. I think there’s a healthy in between with Unschooling and if i were i unschooled kids i think I’d enforce that things have to be done that are productive but the kids decides what exactly that means to them, also maths and English to a pretty decent level in case they would choose to go to back to full time education.

[@tracylouisepoynton]

I thought unschooling was still very much focused on learning just done at a pace that suits the child this just looks awful uneducated kids are at a handicap

[@Alex-ux8cl]

tracy poynton that's true for unschooling and homeschooling. This was a horrible example

[@josephjones836]

same.

[@themediocregamer5869]

Hi OH MY GOD I KNOW THAT KID. I went to camp with shaun as recent as last year. He turned out awesome for any of you who wonder. He's highly intelligent and kind.

[@bubbakloecker2818]

I'm homeschooled but from what I am seeing Unschooling isn't doing anything positive for anyone education wise.

[@Yurio]

DKF Productions Agreed

[@anabelle3179]

DKF Productions I agree! I'm homeschooled as well and I think this isn't a great idea at all. They need a structured life style. They need education to better themselves.

[@bubbakloecker2818]

Anabelle exactly, I take health and I truly feel that I'm learning something that could be helpful in the future

[@HendersonDebbie]

Unschooling takes off the training wheels and lets you follow your passions. The parents become more of a facilitators to allow you to follow your dream. It is a much more self directed education with good follow through because it is what you really want to do. These projects may change, but while you are on that topic you learn at a much deeper level. As homeschoolers grow older most homeschooling programs gradually go 'unschooling' for the older homeschooler even if no one in the family thinks of it that way.

[@HendersonDebbie]

Unschooling is how babies learn to walk. It is the child's urge to walk, but the parents provide the opportunities with a safe path. We do not have a 'walk' schedule. Parent's follow the childs lead and provide opportunity. I do think though that this kind of discussion make cause a 'knee-jerk' reaction in society and have too many people who do not understand want to rethink homeschooling. Unschooling is a very natural child rearing and learning style in many parts of the world, including the USA.

[@Pricelessjourneys]

Unschooling is not meant to be hands off for parents. In allowing freedom with food you do it for the purpose of destigmatizing unhealthy food but not just going and buying donuts all the time. If my son asked for a donut I would let him try it, but I would also let him know it is not healthy and that blueberries and carrots are healthy, and those options would be available. My daughter ate a ton of cheese and got constipated. So I told her it was because you ate so much cheese. Then she chose to eat fruit without being coerced. That is true unschooling to me. Not to this extreme at all. Granted I do not know them. I can't have my kids up all night as I have to sleep myself and given my kids are young and one has special needs, I would not just leave them unattended.

[@eljesperado]

Bilingual StoryTime, very true. "Unschooling" in most cases seems to simply be "unparenting." It's one thing to homeschool your child, allowing to study their passions more in depth, but it's another altogether to allow your kids to run rampant, staying up all night, eating only sweets, & never learning any sort of discipline or consequences. I would love to see a follow up on some of these smug parents who let their children make all the decisions before they were mature enough to do so!

[@senakumapley9800]

I feel like this is an efficient form of unschooling. The way it is being displayed in these videos is that the children may do what ever they want if they truly want to learn something they can pick up a textbook. Yet, the parents know that their kids won’t do that. Letting your kids try something and then adding some form of a life lesson to that, is an easier way for your children to learn.

[@randommess6667]

My son knows what foods are bad and why they are bad an he knows what foods are very good for him, hes 5 nearly 6 he understands we have read books about nutrition and the affects it can have on your body but he still would pick the bad foods everytime if allowed a choice , he would eat sweets for breakfast if he could, I dont agree with giving children the option they should be made to eat proper food and have sweets and ice cream ect as a treat , when their adults they can eat what they want but till then they should eat what you tell them

[@jflsdknf]

I've noticed many of the "unschooled" kids have speech difficulties such as lisps. The older girl here too doesn't talk her age, she comes across as much younger mentally.

[@doonewatts7155]

Good point

[@plsspayorneuter]

Yeah. The boy would probably be speaking well by now if he'd had a speech path for a few years when he was young.

[@leannerobinson1536]

I would also like to state that as a nurse of 17 years, twice I've seen the horrible outcome of families like this one. The second case was a brother and sister that moved into our nursing home at the ages of 50-something because when their parents died, they couldn't care for themselves. There were so many psychological problems between the 2 of them. This is the result of negligent "unschooling". I myself hated school and dropped out before I completed 9th grade. I was a gifted student and getting up and going to school literally felt like hell to me. When I was as 20 I got pregnant, got my GED and tested into honors classes at Kent state university. I graduated with honors and made the dean's list as well as the president's list almost every semester. Turns out I actually love school when I get to learn about what I'm interested in.

[@krystinarossi5976]

Here’s my issue with this as a child who had a parent who basically was to lazy to discipline or give me structure at home (I could essentially do whatever I wanted but I went to normal school.) Giving me no/little discipline, getting to choose whatever I wanted to do & having no bedtime or other structure like many of these families...the results were catastrophic in early adulthood. Compared to my younger half siblings who were raised in a very different home with plenty of structure, love, reasonable discipline, good guidance in emotional regulation (aka your impulsive and immediate needs getting met is not always ideal) and instilling a sense of self esteem while still letting the child decide what their dreams/passions are. The years in therapy I spent “growing up” after my train wreck of my early 20s all point back to no structure, no teaching emotional regulation (delaying immediate gratification) and lazy parenting. Any child psychologist would agree with my statement. Children need adults to teach them how to function in society as adults. Yes, you can still do that while letting them follow their passions

[@miaanaliese6504]

This is radical unschooling "normal" unschooling is basicly just like being homeschooled but we pick what we want to do for school there is still obviously still chores and rules

[@werdpankuen9183]

So pretty much Montessori homeschool

[@salahibrahimmaalim1481]

they should learn how to read and write atleast.

[@djmax2572]

so do you.

[@freedoniaofficial1189]

you think they don't?

[@freethinker1017]

They did.

[@meganbaker9116]

Oh, good grief!

[@katez5205]

You should learn to put a capital letter at the beginning of your sentence. Public school failed you.

[@march950]

"Theres no rules or punishment" Those kids are going to be so entitled when they're older

[@whereismyxanax]

No structure. No hope for the job field. Parents ruined them. BTW...UNSCOOLING IS NOT THE SAME AS HOMESCHOOLING

[@coena9377]

1. I was unschooled with no structure have turned out fine. I know many others who were as well and have also turned out well. 2. Nobody is saying unschooling is the same as homeschooling, this report differentiated between the two.

[@shannonfell1894]

I hope these parents plan to financially support these kids forever because I can’t imagine anyone employing them.

[@minkusmaz]

I'm pretty sure they would never want to work for you anyway

[@libbyremus1010]

I'll be fourteen next month and until very recently, I've been unschooled. I've started learning maths for the very first time in my life, and am only now in an English class. I learned to read and write when I was six, and to this day, I read and write better than most of my peers. People often ask me, "how are you going to manage in the real world?". But what they don't understand is that I've grown up in the real world. I know how to communicate and interact with the youngest babies to the oldest people, due to growing up in the real world. By the time I was eight, I had already attended four natural home-births. Academic lessons? I only have maths and English, at the moment. But they're not the only things I do. Piano, musical theatre, professional singing, pottery, art, choir, and soon I'll be auditioning for a Saturday music college. I'm studying KonMari tidying. You can't deny that I am indeed, educated. I don't understand why people think it's so strange to be spoken to by a seven-year-old how you'd be spoken to by an adult, with no silly child-adult attitude. In the end, we are all just people.

[@filipinoamericanhomeschool5446]

Out of everyone who responded in this video, you have the most coherent response along with a mom named Debra, who unschooled her children. ♥️ I hope you're doing well and enjoying whatever you're currently doing. Best wishes.

[@xmikex902x]

Yeah you also don’t realize how pretentious you sound.

[@weareeternal81]

Libby, you are amazing! And you will get through life just perfectly. Probably more grounded, joyful, and positively than many who have commented here. Your life is unique and beautiful, and it’s a blessing in all ways to be able to perceive the world as a playground as opposed to a map to conquer. Blessings to you!

[@electrorabbit5731]

Great comment. Don't mind the losers who have nothing positive to contribute to the conversation.

[@randommess6667]

Yes you sound educated and must have talents but your obviously much better off/ different to them ,they appear to spend all their time watching tv mucking around in the garden and never pick up a textbook they probably dont have to do any chores or anything productive in the house if they dont want to they have the life of riley but it will be surely hard going into a job if they arent even used to waking up at a normal time as the girl stays up all through the night, I find this situation very sad its just the parents being lazy from what I can see and not having much hopes for their children to do anything and if your parents are like that you will be like that

[@anorexicmaggot2586]

I am a homeschooler, I certainly hope people do not think that this lunacy is typical for children who are schooled at home. These kids have had their futures destroyed by their parents. Children need structure, these parents are ridiculous. I feel truly sorry for these kids.

[@anabelle3179]

Anorexic Maggot yes! Well said. I am homeschooled and this is what I feel like people think of me. I have a very structured lifestyle, I wake up at 6am, and do chores, schoolwork, make myself breakfast. I also play multiple instruments and I practice those throughout the day to get ready for weekly lessons. I am very active, I'm on a swim team, plus I walk dogs for an hour every morning. I'm not always stuck at home either. We have a local coffee shoppe and most days I ride my bike and stop there and do a lot of my schoolwork. People think homeschoolers are so anti social and have no structure when in reality, we have more than a lot of public school kids. We have to have self control and discipline to do our daily stuff.

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

@anabelle do you play the piano? guitar? violin? flute?

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

@anabelle i am a musician too. and in my younger days i took private western voice lessons and piano lessons. and since i am indian, indian vocal lessons.

[@Inallthingsgivethanks1]

I homeschool my child. I am a relaxed homeschooler. I have curriculum aligned with the common core and I expect my daughter to acheive great things. She is going into 2nd grade. I love the flexibility of homeschooling and the ability you have to connect with others in the community. However unschooling can be good as well. But...your child should still be learning. The trick to unschooling is providing an environment where there is plenty of learning materials. For example if you have a young child, I'd set up a science kit, a number of books, math manipulatives, and a globe up in the morning. Then I'd ask them what they would want to learn from today. You have to have things available to them to encourage learning. Playing games or watching TV for "education" is not enough in my opinion. This makes unschooling look wrong...when I know others who do it successfully.

[@HendersonDebbie]

I also would put seasonal and thematic materials out to encourage exploration of the materials which would lead to more study and research at every child's level.

[@k.s.k.7721]

Denmark is experimenting with unschooling. Children are allowed to study/explore or experiment with anything - all ages mingle and they use adults for general guidance and assistance when they reach a roadblock. Apparently it's going pretty well, even though it's considered odd even in Denmark.

[@heathertoribio5824]

I may not agree with this method, but can this woman ask one question that doesn't serve to prove her point? Choose another interviewer, next time.

[@maddieodaniel6468]

Heather Toribio iii

[@jayaom4946]

So true! This was anti unschooling preaching... I can see why she didn't want them in her room! Yet they even played that part on this episode as if it says something negative about unschooling and this family.

[@bleuneptune]

Well she is Asian... you know.. Asians are all about studying and education. I am Asian myself. Can't imagine any Asians do unschooling...

[@heatherdva]

pure laziness the first family

[@christinacox2415]

I think this is sensationalized to represent every unschooling family. I unschool my kids, but it doesn't look like this. This is called "Radical Unschooling." There is a spectrum of unschooling and this one is to the extreme. My kids have freedom, but they also have chores and responsibilities. We have a balanced life of us making decisions together and learning and growing together. They are free to learn what they are interested in instead of constantly being told all the time what they have to learn. They are not scared of failing because I'm teaching them that failure is an opportunity to learn. We are Christians and I do train up my kids in the way they should go based on the Bible but I also give them abilities to make their own decisions. We talk out consequences, etc. Not every unschooling family has disrespectful, lazy, unruly children as the media would like to portray.

[@briannac2231]

There are so many people around the world who would LOVE to go to school, but just can't afford it. I can't believe an American family can just purposely give up their scared education like that.

[@chris_822]

This.

[@urbangirlparis]

I used to love school , I would have been a very unhappy child if I was stuck with this woman as a mother

[@filipinoamericanhomeschool5446]

When I first saw this when it aired, I was flabbergasted that this lifestyle existed. I had so many questions, so I read Maria Montessori, Charlotte Mason, A.S.Neill, John Holt, John Taylor Gatto, Alfie Cohn, Shefali Tsybari, Dayna Martin, Sandra Dodd. In 2012, after trying to replicate school at home and failing miserably, we embarked on our unschooling journey. I suggest to all doubters to read the books of the authors I mentioned, so that when you object to unschooling, you have at least educated yourself about different types of childhood education models to make an informed decision. ♥️

[@jayaom4946]

Sounds smart and a great way to make an informed decision. Also, Grace Llewellyn is an author I love on this topic. It's difficult to practice "school at home". School is a system which is completely different from learning at home.

[@HendersonDebbie]

@ Filipino American Homeschooler I hope you enjoy your homeschooling/unschooling journey at least as much as we did! I met John Holt in person at a Tri-state homeschooling/unschooling conference for NJ, PA and NY. It was put on by the late Nancy Plent long before homeschooling was a household word. Nancy's son was and unschooler who taught himself to read when he wanted to take the driver's ed test in NJ.

[@meganbaker9116]

Good for you! Finally, someone who feels an obligation to be informed before chiming in. (I would add Carol Black to your auspicious list. Her essay "A Thousand Rivers" is superb.

[@leannerobinson1536]

@@HendersonDebbie I know this comment is old...I'm looking into "unschooling" because we currently have one we are homeschooling and one that has chosen formal education (7 and 9). Everything I've seen so far says that children basically teach themselves to read out of necessity, but the idea of a child not reading until they want to learn to drive is terrifying, quite frankly. It is easier for you children to learn linguistics and waiting until you're a teenager to learn to read your own language would be much harder than learning when you are young.

[@Daniel.T.Moeller]

@@leannerobinson1536 This is why parents need to work on their own deschooling.

[@iluvdaizeys]

I would love to see a "Where are they now?" segment.

[@jalex3645]

That's the dumbest thing I have every heard. Do you really think a child will pick up a book unless you first show him to enjoy reading. Is going to participate in a sport unless you drive him. Etc, etc, etc.

[@ethanwilliamson902]

I was homeschooled until 7th grade, and I'm one of the smartest kids at my high school. My Mom was a great teacher, but I know families who live this lifestyle. It doesn't seem to work for them.

[@HendersonDebbie]

@Elisa Castro What are some of the things you did learn? How old are you now? You can form coherent sentences and express your opinion clearly. Were you in a family that was doing unschooling on purpose? Were you in a family that simply did not give you any educational lessons? Did you ever ask your parents questions about things you did not understand? What did they say?

[@reptilia5]

My son is liberal/pedagogical home educated. Three hours a day of studies and that's it for the books. The rest of his time is spent in taking care of his pets,volunteering at nursing homes,homeless shelters and church dispensaries for the poor,or just enjoying being a child. True learning isn't all about textbooks and worksheets.The world is the best classroom of all. He always says his public school friends are out of touch with reality,materialistic,or unable to think for themselves.

[@KaraMieka77]

And when these kids want to go to college they can't because they never went to school or have a GED.

[@Pricelessjourneys]

College entry is higher with unschoolers.

[@IcePrincess619]

U can actually get into a California community college without a GED. SDCC. Look it up.

[@Pricelessjourneys]

You can get into any college as an unschooler. Unschoolers have the freedom to choose their interests and pursue their passions. Also I would rather my children go when or if they want so that I am not wasting my money while they party off on drugs.

[@katesmith8897]

I'm currently a freshman in college. It's not easy and it's not all parties, that's how the media exposes it as. It's a lot of hard work, many students take up to 15 credit hours. I'm also a college athlete and it's hard to balance school and my social life. And many college students don't do drugs.

[@rosepetal34]

how exactly can an unschooled kid get into college without the qualifications?

[@volerasphere]

I'd love to hear updates on what these kids are doing 10 years later.

[@hellohello9008]

as a homeschooler, this is not homeschooling this is bad parenting. I wake up at 4:30 every morning and am expected to get ready, eat, and start my work by 5:30. school ends at 3:00, and then I read a book. I am also expected to keep my room clean and to follow a routine. I am expected to go to bed on time unless I have dance and then I have to wake up later that next day.

[@Auxora]

That’s because it’s not homeschooling; it’s unschooling. Kids still learn but they learn at their own pace. And they do have chores and other responsibilities. In fact, it’s way better than homeschooling imo.

[@hrantp]

How about having a better reporter? Completely unprofessional, generalizing the family shown in this video to all other homeschoolers. Even a half decent parent can expose a child to more then what a school can.

[@imakefoodhappen]

If they were so biased, they would have visited one of those unschoolers who have 12 year olds who can't read YET.

[@nagaempress]

Bad example of Unschoolers.

[@zoet351]

Mara's Musings are there any good exampels?

[@bobberry1463]

there are some these are horrible examples there some unschoolers who kids are consider genius because they so head of other kids there age it mostly depends on the parents and how they do it

[@Lily.valkyrie]

@Hey yy yes, there are so many better examples of unschooling. These parents suck. They go to co-eds (with other kids) very similar to school, and they have books and resources online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Eventually kids get bored, and that is the resource of homeschooling. It teaches kids to have responsibility. This example of unschooling is bad because the parents did not explain WHY donuts are bad for breakfast, and WHY they should count up their money and learn math even though they may not want to. The parents did not create boundaries and structure. This is where it fails. You can still be exposed to all the proper things you need for college and the real world through homeschooling/ unschooling. This family i just really bad at it.

[@xmikex902x]

Their grammar is going to be terrible. Also, good luck getting a non-tech high-paying job. Going to lack social skills. Not going to get exposed to things they may find interesting - they could avoid anything they don’t like and thus not challenge themselves, which would also be bad as a future employee. They need some rigidity and structure. The cons far outweigh the pros imo. I absolutely think that the educational system needs to be adjusted in favor of better suiting kids, becoming more engaging etc., but this isn’t the solution.

[@AlirioSilva]

Well said! For those who don't agree, educate yourselves about unschooling! unschoolery.com/

[@natalieeuley1734]

I think about if I had been allowed to explore my own interests. I distinctly remember this one day in US history class I was reading a very advanced library book on evolution, because I had loved science since second grade. I had finished my work and was sitting around waiting for the bell to ring. My teacher grabbed my library book out of my hands and told me to read my textbook instead. And I said, "But I am done with my work. And I like science. I don't care about history." The teacher then sent me to the principal's office, where the principal knew me bc I was a Science Olympiad medal winner and the head of the school's reptile club. He told me, "You can take all the elective science classes you want (I was in 3 at the time). But when you are in a teacher's classroom, you must respect their rules, and if that means you can't learn what you like, that's what it means." Later that year, I figured out that I could learn history through science, because as I was learning about scientists and their discoveries, I was learning about history and society at the same time. I hated literature class, but later I had discovered that sometimes scientists write texts that border on literature, or that there are poets that studied science. I could have learned literally every subject in school purely by pouring myself into what I loved. I failed so many classes in school, got harassed by my fellow students, etc. If I had just been left to my own devices to study what I wanted, I could have been a child prodigy. In fact, I had loved science since I was in preschool, but I didn't have the opportunity to learn much until second grade when my obsession started. Anyway, this was long, but I think unschooling would have been the right path for someone like me. I knew what I wanted to learn and how; I just needed the right opportunity

[@misfithomemaker3683]

I think it is good for gifted learner's or artistic prodegies. I homeschool, more traditional ecclectic. My kid is not an unschooling kid. I let her make some decisions but I still make most of them. She's only 9 though.

[@Lozie82]

My stepson was unschooled. He’s now 19, extremely lazy, bad hygiene, no driver’s license, socially awkward and no ambition. He is the only child so maybe that contributes but yeah, I won’t be unschooling my kids. Some sort of structure is good.

[@MultiBritt08]

I know several kids who were in public school and could be described the same way.

[@Auxora]

@@MultiBritt08 Yep. Lots of public schooled kids who are just as lazy.

[@xcamillef94]

School teaches you how to interact, teach you to have a tougher skin, prépares you to Real life.. point made

[@rachaelthorpe4491]

oh this anchor is so annoying. She is so biased! Isn't she supposed to give us info? lol I love how they showed the kids watching TV but cut off the video when the kids were explaining all the plants/foods they were growing.

[@catcat475]

Funny how ABC News implied that watching Fake ABCCNNews on TV is a waste of time.

[@x2z964]

Nietzche's Ghost Who knows, maybe the kid really likes Botany?

[@x2z964]

Nietzche's Ghost Hey, I am sure many Botanists began their desire to learn about plants by growing them as children. One day this young Botanist in the making might find himself left behind on Mars due to a raging storm and thanks to his love and knowledge of growing plants might very well lead him to survival. You never know, sir.

[@HendersonDebbie]

@@nietzschesghost8529 Learning about plants growing in a box IS SCIENCE and if he recorded his observations it is the SCIENTIFIC METHOD. Experiments like this are required in elementary and high schools. He was doing real school age appropriate science. The reporter should have let him speak more about it if she was really looking for unbiased reporting. We did not need to see them playing so long on the front yard with the 'bat'. While you may not agree with unschooling, or even homeschooling for that matter, the boy was showing he does do 'science' as part of his education.

[@Sarahlizify]

I feel kinda bad for these kids...they missed out on so much. Making friends, homecomings, prom, yearbooks, field trips, field days, spirit weeks, and college is the BEST experience of my life! I mean yeah sure one mom took her kids to a local farm but the other family the teens seem to run wild.

[@rachell3323]

Sarahlizify xo Actually, they are not missing out on anything. Kids like these would go out and actually do MORE activities (and even get to travel) than compulsory school students--they have the time to pursue their interests, and that is part of the learning process. That is also how they make friends. In addition, many unschoolers have friends and mentors in different age groups, not just their own age--more diversity! As for things like prom and field trips, many home/unschoolers form groups where they can do these things, and it's also another way to make friends. So really, I feel bad for the kids in compulsory schools. They're the ones who's missing out on so much.

[@xxonionbreathxx9312]

Making friends; introvert Homecoming; All alone Prom; Poor, no dress or makeup Yearbooks; Bullied about looks Field trips; Allergies and sickness, can't go Spirit week; Only clothes are hand-me-downs and hates school and principal College; ^ All of the above

[@HendersonDebbie]

Homeschoolers/unshoolers who have more say in their education are learning more about taking responsibility for their actions, and direction in life. If an unschooler decides they want to get a driver license they will look up the regulations, get and read any required manuals and put a plan in place to do their permit test and get road practice. In a very real way they are taught how to achieve their goals, as opposed to overworked guidance counselors replacing their parents in helping to make future life choices. When students are homeschooled or unschooled families spend more time together and know each other better. Of course traditionally educated students can also research how to get a drivers license, but they tend to wait until the school provides that information and a course in high school.

[@HendersonDebbie]

Well, homeschoolers/unschoolers actually have more oppoortunities to make friends and do so with a variety of ages. They do not have narrow ideas of 'who' can be a friend. There is rarely any bullies, and kids are comfortable talking to kids, especially about what they know.

[@LAlienDragon0006]

I wish I was homeschooled I hated public schools. I never had friends either I was bullied a lot. I always faked that I was sick just so I can do my work at home.

[@Forknitegriddleriddy]

i was raised like this. now i'm 17 and i'm realizing this is terrible and i don't know what to do.

[@emmalinh6037]

How are you going to learn responsibility with no chores or homework?

[@kogancames1107]

emma linh well first of all there are many ways to teach responsibly besides that but specifically these children probably will not because these are not good parents and do not reflect good unschooling

[@meganbaker9116]

You don't know much, do you?

[@qhoeuix]

I'm unschooled and I'm not socially inept. this comment section is acting like school is the only place to ever meet people. I'm also not braindead or lazy, either.

[@mamamacgyver]

We unschooled for 12 years and now my son a pilot and daughter a caregiver. They have succeeded and we had some great years!! Would do it again any day!

[@HendersonDebbie]

I agree with you, when done 'right' for your family it is some of the best wholesome family experiences ever! It is also much more than an empty nest when they leave!

[@littlepocketstudios8569]

The sake of learning things in school is so kids can acquire the necessary skills to communicate, adapt, study, problem-solving, time- mange, and have the necessary outlet to pressure their passions. I don't agree with every aspect of the school system, and that's exactly why I go to school, so I can do what I can to positively impact my community and (hopefully) become a teacher someday. but if my life takes me down another path, I will have the skills necessary to pressure my dreams.

[@mikeydal8460]

This is a horrible view of un-schooling. Just because one family is horrible with education doesnt mean that everywhere it's like that. I'm homeschooled and I dont get to do whatever, it's a self-directed learning path so for hsitory I can pick awesome books on the library to read while doing a program and etc.. with other subjects. I love 3d animation, so for electives I am doing that. Get a life people, don't put hate on us just because of those people.

[@ritajackson7715]

I love unschoolers but this is not the best example.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

Unschooling and radical unschooling are different.

[@rosewc1678]

This is crazy! Shame on the parents.

[@PeterDB90]

Shame on you for shaming the parents.

[@thefriendlynarwhal8888]

that was 4 YEARS AGO

[@lolalopez7657]

@Kevdawg Sutton III% Pro Gun-Rights Activist you make no sense whatsoever...

[@kbanghart]

@Kevdawg Sutton III% Pro Gun-Rights Activist unschooling is stupid, and there should be restrictions on guns.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

Yeah shame on them for having a different parenting philosophy than you!! How dare they think for themselves.

[@missmoxie9188]

I really don’t know what they think they’re setting their children up for. They may be able to talk it up anyway they like but outside the house is a world where no does NOT mean yes. A world where you’re expected to show up to work on time, do what’s expected of you, and follow a set of non negotiable rules whether you like the rules or not.

[@natashaavenis1096]

While I agree that the report seems biased, I honestly cannot fathom this kind of upbringing. In some countries, kids trek miles across rivers and rough terrain in their bare feet just to get to school and get an education, and here, they just disregard it like it's nothing. Also, that teenager -- "If I wanted to go to college, then I would pick up a textbook and I would learn." Wow. I'd love to see that moment. Opening a college-level textbook and expecting to understand everything immediately in it without any background on the subject. Like reading a college algebra book, or a human anatomy book without having any background on it.

[@meganbaker9116]

Ah yes, trekking in bare feet to get to a western-style industrial school to make the dream of working in a call center a reality.

[@MetalPete_the_metalfan]

Exposed? More like being forced to. Exactly what I always felt about school. It was bad enough to have to go against my will but worse is being forced to be good at it. As David Spade in Tommy Boy said it to Chris Farley, there’s two types of smarts. Book smarts and then street smarts. It’s showing unschooling develops more street smarts.

[@ajohnson929]

These people should be in prison for child neglect and abuse.

[@march950]

"They will do what they need to, even if they dont enjoy it because they see the purpose" Kids know brushing their teeth is healthy but still dont do it

[@casey991000]

In 20 years, when those kids are stuck at a job that they hate because the job they are actually passionate about requires schooling. I can imagine an adult deciding to enroll in college of they decided to switch careers but these children have to start from scratch. They would have to get a GED before even thinking about college. Then their parents will realize what they've done.

[@hunterjones3342]

It’s very important to be permissive towards your kids, but it’s also important that kids, even when they are adults, aren’t deliberately doing any real harm to themselves or others. I agree that kids can learn what they want and when they want to learn it by googling what they want to learn, but they also need to keep society peaceful.

[@jennifermarea8011]

My parents didn’t make me do chores either. You eventually realize that your room and your bathroom are a completely mess and you can’t stand it anymore. Then you ask your parents how to clean or you watch a KZbin video on how to do it and you realize you have to clean regularly. The not cleaning thing really doesn’t last long tbh. It sounds worse than it is. As an adult I clean every Sunday because through trial and error I realized that’s what works for me. My parents sent me to public school because they both work but tbh other than that they mostly let me do what I want and it worked itself out. As a teenager I skipped a significant amount of school and only went like 2 or 3 days a week. I’m now 22 and my life is pretty chill, my dorm is neat, I have a good GPA and am a senior in college, I don’t drink or smoke or do any drugs, I don’t want to date until after college, and I work as a nanny. This is all mostly because as a teenager I had the freedom to experiment with all of these things and realize the horrible consequences that certain decisions have. My parents didn’t have to tell me, I realized it on my own. The most important thing is that a child grows up in a safe neighborhood, with 2 financially secure parents who love each other, and without frequently moving houses. If all of that is in place things really do work out on their own.

[@catsanddogs256]

never did chores either as a kid my dad said she will clean it when she ready and that what i did i clean it when i was ready but i was always a clean kid didnt like messes

[@juliafraa6419]

that doesn't really work when you share a house with common areas that everyone has to live in and you aren't the only one impacted by your laziness

[@annaf3915]

I wish my parents made me do more chores to be honest. I remember the orientation meeting at my college dorm when the janitor told us to come to him with anything that needed repairing, except obvious stuff like a light bulb needing replacing, you get them from reception and every floor has a ladder and we trust you as much, of course. Everyone chuckled... except me who had no idea and never even seen a light bulb being replaced. I also had no idea how to clean and felt self conscious and stupid about it when sharing with roomates. Other things on my list of how parents|school failed me: doing my taxes, writing cover letters, getting quotes for repairs, insurance stuff and anything budgeting related.

[@nadlerskid]

It's like the tail wagging the dog. I grew up in Germany, and my school "career" consisted of 13 years of formal education, from elementary school, all the way through high school. School exposed me and my class mates to different subjects and experiences, and that enabled me to figure out what my strengths were (languages) and what my weaknesses were (math and science).

[@mlg-zn1kl]

I am a teacher. The purpose of school is to prepare students to be college and/or career ready. Does the school system do that perfectly? Hell no. But this? This is just not even trying.

[@MultiBritt08]

Life isn't just about careers though. The unschooling families I know are helping their children enjoy every stage of life, not just use up their childhood to prepare to work for hours on end at 9-5 jobs. The industrial age of education is over. Kids are suffering in schools. It's not the right fit for many people.

[@eliopalombi]

This is how many people want a follow up interview ↓↓↓

[@ashlieleavelle]

Bad bad parenting. Makes me think of the Proverb in the Bible that talks about a child left to his own whim will bring shame. Parents need to guide.

[@whateverforever3785]

yeah, keep that up and they'll be underqualified to be burger flippers!

[@Ellie-vt7up]

these reporters are so in a box, a true outcome of a public school system

[@CreaTiffany111]

This how you teach you kids at three when they get home from school. That's when you let them pick what they like to do and let them learn. But still without authority it's a problem. And it doesn't really seem like the mother is helping them learn about what they like. Seems like they are just playing all day.

[@thesaintmustwalkalone708]

ABC at its finest. This is the most radical form of unschooling. Most unschoolers I know, my family included, simply prefer to learn things as they come naturally so that it is better retained (I. E. Learning fractions while baking a cake). We are very intentional of making all of life a learning experience. There are many things that are not practical or feesible to do all the time, and that is where the schooling comes in. My kids are several grades ahead of their public school peers. We do not let our kids dictate their day nor do we let them run wild. We simply believe that life lessons are superior to sitting at a desk all day as they will be better retained.

[@billiedoliber9470]

How do they make a career after leaving the home? They won't be going to college (according to that daughter) so being a processional, like engineering, teacher, doctor, therapist, is not an option for them. And being an artist or free thinker doesn't always pay the bills.

[@roberrplatt4214]

Hey parents, you got enough education to be able to buy a house, but your kids sure as hell won't.

[@mariaorozco6013]

I’m a un schooling parents and my son is perfectly fine he is web design and he is smart at school he was unhappy and bullied.. 🤓

[@haleysherman693]

This is an incredibly unfair portrayal of the unschooling movement. The producers of this show have set this up to make it look like these kids are doing nothing with their time. I've met sooo many unschoolers across the entire globe that are already more successful than most public school kids. I've met a 14 year old who produces music and started a business on Minecraft that he sold for thousands, I've met a 15 year old who lives out of his parent's house and has his own mushroom farm, I've met a 15 year old who has her own bakery, and many other extremely successful kids. These people are looking at this way of education from a very closed mindset. Give children responsibility and they will learn faster than you can even imagine. Unschooling kids grow up to be the kindest, smartest, most successful individuals you'll ever meet. Stop painting them to be the epitome of irresponsibility.

[@Jesse-rj5et]

Public school doesn’t “prepare” kids for life.

[@maddiesullivan588]

These kids have no future. None. All because the parents don’t care. It’s heartbreaking, and should be illegal.

[@ErinRogoff]

I've had many forms of schooling throughout my life: private school, public school, home schooling, online school, and now I'm in college. I used to hate the Unschooling Movement, but when I was writing a college paper about the detriments to this craze, my mom said to me, "You know, your father and I partially did this for you and your brother." My brother and I are big into the sciences and our parents took us to museums and scientific lectures and helped us learn more of what we were interested in and not all of what we had to learn in school (thus, the unschooling aspect). My brother and I are both in college now. I work for my father, who's the Chief Environmental Science Educator in our state and my brother is majoring in astronomy and has a job already lined up in the astronomy field. I don't know about anyone else, but unschooling seemed to benefit my brother and me.

[@Sapphire867]

That's just permissive parenting at that point. Kids need structure & predictability

[@charlottehorsfield3249]

What an injustice for the children!! These parents had the opportunity to go to school and be educated, but allow their children to be unschooled, undisciplined!! Here's another bunch that society will be paying for when the kids grow up and don't become contributing members and somehow say their upbringing caused them to be disabled and will suck off the system. Society provides schooling for children so that they learn and contribute....... these parents are really damaging their children in the long run!!

[@burnbabylonburn78]

Charlotte Horsfield amen

[@meganbaker9116]

School is compulsory in the United States (unless your parents choose to homeschool you). No one goes to school because they have "the opportunity." You know nothing about unschooling.

[@leam2702]

I think this idea of radical unschooling will totally work but you need a little bit of learning.

[@laurenharris1678]

I believe in home school but this could lead to PARENTS raising Ferral children

[@ashleycasey2093]

Kids aren't pets, so calling them _feral_ is not appropriate.

[@Lacirose88]

+Ashley Casey, feral doesn't just refer to animals. There are feral plants, animals, & humans. Feral just means they're living in the wild now but, were born in a domesticated environment but had no human contact since they were very young. You ought to google it, there are a few very interesting stories. ;)

[@ashleycasey2093]

Rosilee Lace oh ok. But still, I think they're unruly not feral.

[@rosiegirl4751]

So what I'm gathering from comments is... Unschoolers find their passion in life...and Schooled don't! That's ridiculous!

[@zachmassacre]

"I know my kids, if they have a choice between watching TV and reading..." "Well, ma'am, it sounds like that's your problem, not mine. :) "

[@audrabrizendine2206]

Omg!! We clearly dont use EVERY single thing we are taught in school but it is basic structure to prepare for college. The kids are going to fail miserably in college because they dont even know what a noun verb predicate is!! Theres no way theyll know whats going on!! Thats why each year you go up a grade and study harder curriculum.. No way in hell you could open a textbook in college and have a clue whats going on!! Crazy ass parents!!

[@lulujuice1]

"what about sports" "i dont like sports" "well school says you should" OH I HATE HER

[@kristinamatney3243]

Thank you! It was like she was trying to convince them they were wrong.

[@annaf3915]

She has a good point though. I insisted in teaching my son swimming even though he didnt like it, for safety reasons, and I taught him how to ride a bike, which he loves, and tried to play basketball with him, which he hated. This is as far as my sportsman..woman..ship goes. Signed him up for the local football club on a whim which he also didnt like. At school he tried out volleyball, hockey, tennis and many other sports, came home saying I want to play tennis. I had no idea about tennis, still dont, but he found his passion.

[@lulujuice1]

@@annaf3915 Swimming isn't the exact same as, say, football. Being able to swim is being able to move in water; being able to play football... is being able to play football. You _can_ competitively swim, but you don't have to, just like running.

[@annaf3915]

@@lulujuice1 My point was, if he had been homeschooled he also would have thought he hated sports because of the limited choices I could offer him

[@lulujuice1]

@@annaf3915 "Thought he hate sports," even if later in their life they decide they wanna try a sport, don't force something onto someone even though they don't want to try it (yet)!

[@ashlieleavelle]

Kids do not have life wisdom......parents need to guide and train. This makes homeschooling look bad. This shows that the majority of unschooling kids will not CHOOSE to learn reading, writing and basic math.

[@susannakailing1713]

This was 8 years ago. I would love to see the "where they are now." Probably still at home, lol.

[@darkshadow6953]

I am completely against this idea ,because they are like body without soul.

[@Bunny20246]

im sorry but this is irresponsible to me how do you raise your kids with no rules and no responsibility how are they gonna have a job and function do laundry cook and clean and take care of themselves I think this is stupid I would never do this I don't think I would make my kids have to learn everything but at least be social and have friends and learn something in there life be subjected to some things in this world ... I mean for kids to have no responsibility is bad I know I never had to do anything and became really lazy and stupid and now I have to teach myself how to do everything and its harder and more annoying now then when I could of learned it the first time around I respect the parents but I would never do something like this

[@Catalysticgaming811]

It highly depends on the parents' ability and resources, if parents are smart enough to direct their children in the right direction in terms of manners and principle and building character, and can offer them necessary knowledge such as languages and mathematics (even if it consists of a course of 2 hours a session for 2-3 days a week) and ofcourse physical health, I think parents shouldn't be afraid to do this especially since universities like Harvard approve unschoolers. On the other hand, if you are worried you won't be fair to your kids then drop them off at school and hope they don't end up having the typical arch - nemesis bully.

[@Pricelessjourneys]

I am an unschooler and originally was against it. My son with autism went to school and became very violent and aggressive. But before when he was a child he was the only child with autism I knew of who had no behavior problems. Not wanting him on a cocktail of medicines after watching aba fail him numerous times and diet as well, I became an unschooler. I cannot go to the extreme these parents have but I know that radical Unschooling is the best way for him to learn. He is finally learning to talk and read and it is because we trust him. And I took him out of school and in with my three year old daughter because. I trusted he would overcome his aggression. Now he is happy and we are safe. My daughter is radically unschooled and three years old, she knows all letters, numbers and can count. She learned it all from her interests.

[@EJ-bn3tc]

Bilingual Story Time but how long would that last? While I can understand what you're doing for your son, your daughter I assume doesn't have any developmental issues and will do fine in the public school system.

[@faithandbudget76501]

My son is Autistic and I am trying to home-school him. What you are saying mirrors what I am going through. Can you give me more detail info on what you are doing...I need HELP. He is aggressive sometimes and I don't understand what to do!

[@cormyster12]

How about when they grow up and live on their own. They will be on welfare and commiting crimes because they don't know about discipline. Well done for ruining your children's lives

[@catcat475]

Kim, first- never give him another vaccine or the problem will get worse. Second - special diet , supplements and outdoor sport if he can. Join HSLD association and find other parents through them with whom you can share homeschooling and sports- these kids need to learn to socialize and they need quiet but structured environment. They can not be alone, but in public school they feel oppressed and bored. Not easy but doable. Good luck.

[@avalasialove]

a river Vaccines *do not* cause autism or make it worse. If they did, almost every kid on the planet would be autistic. It's dangerous advice like this that can cause kids serious health problems like meningitis.

[@anthony3295]

So it’s basically learn what you want and need education. It seems kind of a good idea. It’d be great for those who want to be a creative or a business owner.

[@michaelrose4444]

Will never get x + y = z. laughing my ass off when have you ever used that in your real life?!

[@Auxora]

Exactly. And I just read a comment somewhere that said these parents need to be in jail for child abuse, like what? So guiding your children to do what they want in life is child abuse, but forcing your child to wake up early to go to a public school system so they can cram unnecessary things in their minds that they won’t need later in life isn’t child abuse? Public school systems make kids feel like failures for not getting good grades, and unschooling teaches kids that failure is a part of life, a growing process to improve… People are really demented in these comments for real.

[@TheWorldIsHome]

Unschooling is not AT ALL what these parents do. Shame that it was on TV, puts all serious UnSchooling adherents in a bad light. A child needs structure, routine, and learning. Unschooling means following a different rhythm of learning one that is inspired by children's natural interest for things. We are World Schoolers and will now travel for a year with our 3 little boys. They will learn from the world, in 3 languages because we are bilingual ( French and Swedish) at home and they attended English preschool and school. We will structure our own days around the teaching of the children ( i don't think TV is a part of the experience we wish to give them) and follow their interests to show them all that the school would, and so much more, but without the violence, authoritarian rules, and mass formatting. And no, they will not be forced to go to the university to get a corporate job to be fulfilled. Hopefully, by the tie the are old enough to go they will be very fulfilled already and skilled and independent enough to enter anywhere they want.

[@rootedtogrowwny]

Extremely bias from the getgo and the chose an educationally neglectful family not real unschoolers.

[@rootedtogrowwny]

***** What do you mean?

[@rootedtogrowwny]

***** Oh right Dayna Martin. Yes and her 1 daughter shows clear signs of bipolar disorder and they refuse to medicate or do any CBT therapy. I know it's ridiculous. I am a big fan of unschooling but done properly. I also have a teaching background and a lot of child psychology courses under my belt. Ill unschool my future kids and my boyfriend is all for it too, but I will make them learn reading, writing, various forms of math or we cna just say maths like the Brits, biology, manners, and more. Some things kids have to learn like how to read and basic math, then let them choose things they're interested in like learning biology then chemistry or chemistry then biology. Kids are too immature to decide their own bedtime or their own nutritional needs.

[@skynsidhawaii]

TheBookWorm1718 dont worry about them... they will get a job working for sorros as an antifa protester. No brain... check. Special snowflake mentality... check. Entitled to everything without consequenses... check. They will make great SJWs.

[@HendersonDebbie]

'Make them learn' is where unschooling is a revolution. My kids are in their 30s, highly educated, successful adults. They were mostly unschooled and florished with it. The teacher in me (I am a state certified teacher) would buy all new educational enrichment learning materials each September when our local schools started a new year. My kids thought it was more logical to 'go up' to the next level on their birthdays. Homeschoolers/Unschoolers do not have to be stuck at 'home' they can learn often in their neighborhoods, larger communities and from available experts in their fields in the course of normal life. There is a whole world out there and homeschoolers and unschoolers are not restricted from it as traditionally educated students are.

[@jessicah3782]

Debra Henderson beautifully said. Nice to hear. I plan to "unschool" my kids because in my experience school is very rigid, unnatural, and full of unnecessary fluff. I had many homeschooled friends who seemed to truly love to learn and had freedoms to grow in a more natural way. I would like my kids to be like them. I don't find our school systems exactly appropriate for all children. In California, there is a program where kids k-12 can go to community college for free so I plan for my kids to take classes for their AA in whatever they please at the pace they please and transfer for a BA whenever they please or who knows, maybe one is interested in carpentry not something that needs college education. :)

[@ambycakes]

The school system is so mediocre and many Ivy Leauge universities (which are BUSINESSES PEOPLE) are requesting homeschooled children. I am in the transition of unschooling... but math and language structure will be traditional, just not going to use Common Core Curriculum. I'm not really okay with the lack of structure as far as their hygiene diets and manners but I don't care if my kids stay up late as long as they receive proper sleep. I work from home. What we offer to teach our kids these days is garbage. We reac long winded, uncessesarry low budget crap and push and pressure our kids to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for a formal education. Proper unschooling (how I'd like the experience to be for my kids) is exposing your children to be ideals and interests and seeing if anything sparks while teaching at their appropriate pace and learning curve.

[@siloPIRATE]

How do you plan to structure your unschooling?

[@nanlisa]

I disagree with this. Parents need to set boundaries as well as discipline their kids. As far as school goes, children need to be inside a classroom learning from fully trained and qualified teacher. Parents cannot shelter their children. They have to prepare their kids for the real world. And kids look up to teachers as well. When the kids are grown and gone, they are going to talk about the teacher that inspired them.

[@angelhatesyou75217]

Completely agree and I don't think anyone does, at least I really hope not. Even her tone came off condescending. I'm was unschooled past the second grade, am currently finishing my degree in an Earth Science and will be homeschooling / unschooling my own children in the future.

[@aplam94]

I want homeschool my kids when I have kids.

[@maddie3329]

Their screwing their kids over. I understand wanting your kids to find their own interests, but what about when they get older and have to get into the real world. Having to go to a 9-5? Having to report to a boss? Having to be competitive with other people? How are they suppose to ask a question or get interested in topic that they’ve never heard of? That is what school is for. I’m not against home schooling, but not teaching you kids anything or keeping them accountable for work is setting them up to fail.