Good Morning America Got Unschooling Wrong (Here's How)

★☆ ★ Listen to the podcast episode where my daughters and I talk about what unschooling is and isn't: www.raisingfre... ★☆★
★ ABOUT ME:
I’m a writer, mama, partner, digital nomad, and unschooling activist. I produce podcasts, books, classes, and articles on radical self-expression in practice and in study. Find my conversations and commentary at akilahrichards.com/podcast where I aim to support, connect, and highlight people of color designing their own liberation through Self-Directed Education and love-centered community building.
★☆ Let's CONNECT ★☆
/ fareofthefreechild

[@f.taigne3610]

I am the mother of an 11 year old son. I took him out of public school 4 years ago when he had some negative interactions with his teachers. I have been bumbling through homeschooling since then. Meanwhile, my son is very a creative child. He has developed an obsession with sketching a character he created himself. He uses his phone to record “episodes” of his character’s storyline. But I felt very guilty because I allowed him to indulge in this “fantasy world” & did not enforce traditional education that he didn’t seem interested in. I appreciate the clarification of what unschooling actually is. It has made me realize that this is the direction I want head in with my son. I have subscribed & I will be binge-watching your content to aide me with transitioning him. Thank you.

[@accomplicemom]

This really highlights why it is so important to deschool yourself first and workout your own relationship with learning when you embark on the unschooling journey.

[@radicalselfie]

Yes, it sure does.

[@ScottNoelle]

Wow, Akilah! You should get a Nobel prize in Taking the High Road! This could have been a total outrage video, and you'd have been justified, but you opted to lead with love and reason. ❤️ To any of the misled GMA viewers who are lucky enough to have just watched your gentle correction, note that this is the kind of heart-based wisdom that grows continuously in unschooling families and communities who have the courage to question and walk away from their school-imposed indoctrination.

[@radicalselfie]

Thanks, Scott. And yes indeed to the heart-based wisdom that grows when we don't impose ourselves.

[@hajarmuqtasidst.claire5618]

You did a great job, as you know, in explaining an unschooling lifestyle. Glad you cleared your name. They will never understand or want our daily pursuit for liberation, anti-oppression and freedom!

[@tirzah-marielewis3447]

I am so sorry you were misrepesented! Thank you for your patient clarity. I found you two years ago when my first was going to kindergarten. We tried school... and are now stuck in this distance learning vortex and I looked you up again. School is just so unnatural. I did "academically well" but suffered so much anxiety. My husband was written off by school because his form of knowing is not well quantified by testing. Two days ago my 5 year old was upset because his inbox is never empty and I had to force my daughter to write answers to turn in even though she just wanted to share with me orally what she'd learned. We need a different way that affirms who they are not creates doubt about their natural inclinations! I dont think I can go back to schoolishness I don't want it for our family outside or inside of our home or life! I am going to check out resources on your website. We cannot continue like this.

[@radicalselfie]

We surely can't, Tirzah!

[@lauriemgracia]

Love love love. Recently my family swayed back into a more schoolish way of life because of some life transitions we encountered. Schooling at home helped us find some grounding in our new area. Basically it gave us an opportunity to see what our new space offered. But now that we have settled in and are sheltering in place, my family is moving into managing their own happenings again. I really needed to hear all this as I -again- let go of my schoolish ideas of how we spend our day. Thanks for your wisdom. I always appreciate your thoughts and seeing your lovely face!

[@radicalselfie]

Thank you, laurie! I hear you on school offering a framework that can make transition easier in some regards. But oh, what a great time this sheltering-in-place can offer us to observe the self-management, the autonomy that emerges, and the trust that we have the opportunity to strengthen! :)

[@qodeshimkimm]

Wow. I’m doing research on unschooling my son in the future (he’s only 1) and this was soooooo helpful on clarifying some questions I was having ! I’m subscribed now!

[@radicalselfie]

So glad it helped you! And thanks for subscribing!

[@botanicabeth607]

Thank you for supporting our lifestyle and bringing clarity to unschooling - this article she wrote speaks volumes that this mama could use some deschooling

[@hotonenickie]

Yes! Unlearning schoolhish ways is a life long dedication and no one gets there over night. We also don't take the same ride on this journey or arrives at the same destination.

[@radicalselfie]

Exactly!

[@lehlaeldridge1507]

Thank you Akilah, you are so very clear when it comes to unschooling. Thank you for making this clear for people.

[@filipinoamericanhomeschool5446]

Thanks to my friend Vina for sharing this! I appreciate your insights and I wish they interviewed you instead!

[@teresacurrivan9330]

#5 just wow. Thanks for breaking this down so well!

[@macraewenger20]

Thank you for the clarity and beautiful explanations!

[@TheClarinetProject]

Right on! Thank you so much for clarifying!

[@radicalselfie]

You're so welcome.

[@TheMomTrotter]

Loved listening to this. Thanks so much for sharing ❤

[@heartwombjanessa]

Such important distinctions. Thank you for sharing and informing!

[@radicalselfie]

You're welcome, Jane!

[@dolphus333]

This is excellent! Thank you! Especially loved 3 about expertise. Yep, I can tell someone all about our unschooling here, and it'll be fun for me, but except in the most genetic sense, it'll never apply to them. Their experience will be as different as they are.

[@creativeholly]

SO helpful -- sharing! thank you.

[@shelleyD795]

👌

[@daddywantzpuddin]

Great video! We are going to start on our child-led schooling and this was very insightful, thank you! :)

[@sammueller4503]

Yes! Yes! Yes!! Thank you for your words! Our family has been officially unschooling for over a decade. So many times during your video, I wanted to smash a "like" button. You hit the nail on the head. It was so nice to hear someone so accurately explain what we do as a family- not what I do to/for my kids, but WITH them! It feels very validating to know that other people "get it". I will seek out your podcast. Thank you again!

[@radicalselfie]

You're so welcome, Sam! And my podcast is here: fofc.buzzsprout.com/

[@LeslieQuigless]

I wish they'd actually contacted you instead of only referencing you. Thanks for this.

[@radicalselfie]

You're welcome, Leslie. She actually did contact and speak to me, that's the madness.

[@AlanMelling]

Thank you for sharing all this wisdom!

[@radicalselfie]

You are so welcome!

[@RebeckaKoritz]

Thank you for stratening that out! Will share in all my forums. Very enlightening.

[@blessedandjoyful]

slam dunk

[@notinadequate2119]

Fantastic. Loved everything about this video. Us as adults are so rooted in schoolishness, we can’t even recognize it. The bit about “she even got to choose” particularly illustrated that - yes, she gets to choose because she’s an autonomous person who is interested or not interested in something regardless of what day it is or what skill box it fits into or even whether mom “lets” her. But mom is so locked into the school mentality, she thinks she’s really bucking the system by “letting” her child pick something. I see this all the time in my fellow homeschoolers. They say they unschool on the weekends, or after all their real work is done. No, babe. That’s not it.

[@radicalselfie]

Exactly. We need to reframe what "real work" means, who it is for, what is is for, all of that.

[@williamdenny9674]

Very thoughtful and insightful. Thank you!