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.