One step closer to "Ow My Balls!" -or- LARP in the news

[essentialsaltes]

GMA had a story this morning on 'unschooling'. Beyond homeschooling, unschooling is where the kids get no formal instruction, and the responsibility for whatever they may or may not learn is on them. Sort of Montessori method, but without any obligation for the teacher/parent to provide any support. Apparently, this is perfectly legal in some states.
Anyway, the first sight we have of the kids they profile is them having a boffer fight in the front yard with mom. The son is wearing a 'Heroes Wanted' t-shirt, with a definite LARPy look. Google-stalking mom is more productive; she's associated with a LARP-based day and summer camp for kids, also plugged near the bottom of a website of workshop activities for unschoolers. Her unschooling blog hasn't been updated much recently, apparently because Facebook is taking more of her time nowadays, but this is my favorite entry.

Comments

Yup

[tragic-culture.livejournal.com]

That's "Guard Up!" (As opposed to "What Up, Dog?," a phrase popularized during the late 90's by Duane Chapman...or not). They are. Well. An intriguing group of people.

I don't know how best to summarize it but...hrm. Ok, put it like this. You know how Martial Arts are supposed to be "all about" getting exercise and building self-esteem; etc. etc. and most places tend to minimalize the "Oh, and you can learn to really hurt someone...but for self defense ONLY, right? Am I right? What up?" aspect of things?

They are totally like that; just...all about teaching it to 11 year olds. They are like the guy who organizes a neighborhood watch group and then carries an uncomfortable amount of weaponry around the block at night. And wears camo. And wants to teach your son all about it.

Put it like this; were they administering an eye exam it would be done down the iron sights of a rifle...

So the unschooling thing is really unsurprising; as there has always been a fundemantal...let's call it a "difference," in the way some of the people who pariticpate in that group interpret life.

Re: Yup

[ono-sendai.livejournal.com]

Unschooling is one of the most absurd things ever, and I was in a Montessori program as a kid, before it was cool. Montessori is hit-and-miss, which can educate a motivated kid and pass on an unmotivated one. Unschooling is effectively asking the Internet, vidiyagames, and YA fantasy to instruct your child. Some of the results have been scary bad- it's like training your kid in autism.

[nephthys510.livejournal.com]

In a perfect world...

• Where parents are really active, curious, and motivated
  
• Where parents have the money, time, and resources to immerse their children in "educational" activities
  
• Where children are curious and precocious (I'm thinking a Newton)
  
• Where the subjects live in an area where cultural and educational activities are available
  
• Where the children can grow up to find job opportunities that do not demand routine, deadlines, obedience, or discipline.

That's a pretty privileged life that hinges on so many variables.

I could, perhaps, see it if the parents were to immerse the children in various activities, say, go to the space museum and then guiding the children in doing self-research on the bits that are interesting, thereby making the math and science portion less of a rote learning exercise and more of an exploration. But it sounds like most of the parents are completely hands-off and not even guiding any learning. If the children aren't exposed to things, how could they find them interesting enough to "learn" them.

My mind reels when I think of the time, expense, and planning it would take to give a child a really well-rounded classical education based on exploration.

I fear for their first faltering steps into The Real World where there are rules and you don't get to do only what you want to do.

close tags are important

[hagdirt.livejournal.com]

Aaron and I have friends in Chicago who are unschooling, and who regularly blog and talk on the subject. I don't see anything "hands-off" in how they're teaching their kids. They decided to teach their own kids at home because the mom, who is doing most of the work, did horribly in "regular" school and suspected her kids would have similar issues. Not too long ago the kids, who are about 14 and 9 by now, were working on Newtonian physics, so I suspect they might be doing all right. Time will tell.

I can see, very easily, how the method can go horribly wrong - I even had my own "wasted year" in Montessori school as proof that alternative learning doesn't work for everyone. But I'm not going to say it doesn't work for anyone, either.

[essentialsaltes.livejournal.com]

There seems to be a continuum from homeschooling (using standard curricula) through unschooling (not using curricula but still high parent involvement in making sure kids learn) to radical unschooling (no bedtimes or TV limitations). The LARPers in the news-thingy were definitely at the radical end.

[edgyspice.livejournal.com]

I've been unschooling myself ever since I got laid off from my last job. It hasn't worked.

[(Anonymous)]

And what will your child be when he grows up, ma'am? A museum patron? Art gallery attendee? A pleasant and chatty car passenger? Oh, hang on, the means by which you 'uneducate' your son are not 'work', they're how people pass their time when they're NOT working. I guess your 'uneducation' will also suit your son to 'unwork' once he reaches adulthood.

[neverjaunty.livejournal.com]

*facepalm*

"Unschooling" does not mean "not doing shit for your kid's education". There are a lot of homeschoolers who essentially replicate school at home - formal instruction, set times, lesson plans and sometimes even a 'classroom' in the house. "Unschooling" in the homeschooling community generally refers to people at the other end of the scale. It doesn't mean the kids get zero formal instruction or that the kids just do whatever the shit they want.

You may now recommence finger-wagging.

[colleency.livejournal.com]

Glory Be and the saints be praised it works! I've been using the think system on you from the parlor!

[essentialsaltes.livejournal.com]

thank heavens for google, or I'd still be very confused.