It’s that time of the year again: last-minute trips to Office Depot, making sure there’s footwear in your house other than flip-flops, and huge Back To School Sale banners at your local shopping mall. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or student, there’s no escaping the reality of setting your alarm clock for an earlier wake-up time.
The school year kicking off has naturally incited debates about education. There’s the classic discourse around public versus private school and standardized testing, but in some circles, people are asking the question: should kids have a formal education at all?
Referred to as “unschooling,” some parents have made the decision to keep their children at home rather than enroll them in educational institutions. Unschooling falls under the umbrella of homeschooling, but it is different from homeschooling because there is no official “curriculum”: children who are unschooled aren’t necessarily taught subjects such as English, math, science, or social studies. Instead, unschooling is widely defined by the principle that children choose what they want to learn and when.
Unschooling is like choosing your own adventure; some children pursue traditional ways of learning, such as textbooks or online courses, while others spend time learning to garden or draw. Parents who unschool their children have the philosophy that any experience is conducive to learning — including going to the dentist or trips to the grocery store. Due to the vastly different pathways available to be pursued, children who are unschooled may not reach academic milestones (such as learning how to read) congruent with their peers enrolled in school.
Pros:
Child’s specific needs are met
A lot of us can agree that education is not one-size-fits-all. Our education system is flawed, and unfortunately, many schools don’t have the resources to accommodate children who don’t fit in a certain box. Many neurodivergent children struggle academically; not because they aren’t intellectually capable, but because the environment that surrounds them doesn’t fit their learning needs. Some children need the rigidity that schools offer to excel, but other children do better in the flexible environment that unschooling offers.
Encourages lifelong learning
Curiosity is what fuels learning, and allowing children to follow their interests will foster a passion for learning. When children are forced to focus on subjects that they don’t find interesting or relevant, it’s easy for them to burn out. Negative educational experiences can be the catalyst for apathy and lead to negative associations toward learning.
Flexible pacing
In a formal classroom environment, it is more difficult to attune to each individual’s needs. One child could be struggling with fractions, and the child sitting next to them could be bored out of their mind because they need a challenge. Unschooling gives permission for children to learn at their own pace without comparing themselves to others.
Process of learning prioritized
Tests are a huge pillar of formal education. When children know they will be tested on a topic, the value shifts from learning to a grade. This can result in just memorizing a bunch of information and regurgitating it onto the page, forgetting the information immediately after taking the test. Eliminating grades shifts the goal to be the learning itself.
More potential opportunities
Unschooling allows children to have real-world experiences that enhance their understanding of a concept. Schools may take their students to a museum once a year for a field trip, but unschooling opens the door for more enriching excursions.
Cons:
Potential gaps
Since there is no enforced curriculum in unschooling, children may not learn important subjects. There are many things taught in school that are significant to understanding the world around us, such as gravity, the Holocaust, and analyzing literature. Not ensuring that a child learns pertinent topics can lead to gaps in their knowledge and potential embarrassment or confusion in the future.
Self-motivation
Unschooling only works for children who are intrinsically motivated to pursue knowledge. Some children may need that extra push from a more organized learning environment. If a child sees unschooling more as a way to play video games all day, they may benefit from going to school.
High parental involvement
Heavy parental involvement is also a pro — it’s special to be able to facilitate and help your child grow. However, not everyone has the resources to do so. Unschooling requires significant presence and collaboration with parents, which may make it difficult to have a job or balance other responsibilities.
Social alienation
If unschooled children don’t have alternative opportunities to interact with their peers, they can become isolated pretty easily. Socialization is critical for development, and school is a natural environment for many children to have that experience.
Sheltered
Being around others and learning about history allows children to widen their worldview. If an unschooled child doesn’t interact with anyone different from them, they will lack exposure to diversity. Understanding the world means learning about different cultures, racial issues, and gender and sexuality. If a child doesn’t have a desire to seek out those topics and they aren’t presented in their unschooling experience, they won’t be equipped with tools to navigate the world.
The benefits of unschooling and the movement to step away from traditional educational institutions tell us that there is a lot of work to be done. Parents decide to pursue unschooling for many reasons, but a lot of them point to the gaps in our education system. It’s clear that education isn’t one-size-fits all, and schools should embrace that. Not all parents have the privilege to unschool their children, which leaves many children stuck in an environment where they can’t thrive. The debate around unschooling truly highlights the fact that every child deserves an education that is tailored to their success.
What's Your Reaction?
