Being new to the homeschooling scene, all I have to go on is what I have read in books about the Unschooling philosophy along with my own common sense. This is completely my opinion, and I believe everyone has a right to their own.
From where I stand...I think Unschooling, like everything has a spectrum. I think that the families highlighted in the video are definitely on the radical end of the Unschooling philosophy. The wonderful thing about Unschooling in my opinion is that is driven by a passion to learn and its organic nature makes learning fun. This concept should be implemented into every home whether public,private or homschooled on a daily basis. BUT, I think there has to be guidance for children to learn the array of life lessons and academic knowledge they need to succeed in their culture. We are the parents and (presumably) have the wisdom to know what is and isn't good for our children. We are charged with the responsibility to pass that wisdom on to our children, not let them willy nilly do and learn only what they feel like. Our nature is a sinful one that leads us away from what is right, and without guidance from parents and God, our children will flounder on their own. The households outlined in the story don't have structure or rules in their homes. I believe this is bluntly unbiblical. Children are in need of structure and discipline in order to be Christlike.
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him (Proverbs 13:24).
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
I also disagree with the premiss in the report that other homeschools are just imitating or reenacting the public/private school environment at home. I think as a whole, homeschoolers think more outside the box than that. Again, it is a spectrum. We haven't started putting into practice our homeschooling philosophy yet, but I know it will not look like Unschooling or be a replication of public school. Caleb happens to learn very well in the Traditional style of homeschooling, so that is going to be our starting point. I am planning on and expecting that it will morph into an eclectic style as we move forward based on Caleb's needs and desires. I'd say that our starting philosophy is a combination of the Charlotte Mason philosophy mixed with Traditional, depending on the subject area. Down the line as Caleb's character and interests develop I see us possibly going the route of unit studies, especially when his little brother and sister join into the mix.
I think it is doing a child a disservice to give them complete freedom. I know as a child I would have chosen Mtv (which we weren't allowed to watch) over the history channel any day. If you read the descriptions of the Unschooling philosophy (below), in premiss I don't disagree with it. I do disagree however with how these families have applied it, without discipline and without sufficient guidance. The gem of the philosophy is learning in a natural way. In my opinion, it's just not enough, and definitely not for every family.
Below are just 3 of many homeschool philosophies:
Charlotte Mason Philosophy
Probably the best known of Mason's methods is her use of living books instead of dry, factual textbooks. Living books are usually written by one person who has a passion for the subject and writes in conversational or narrative style. The size of the book does not matter nearly as much as whether it is "alive" and engaging. Textbooks are allowed if they meet that criterion. "Twaddle" refers to books or information that is dumbed down and insults the child's intelligence. Living books should be used with as many subjects as possible.
The Traditional Approach
Is a method of homeschooling in which the curriculum and homework of the student are similar or identical to what would be taught in a public or private school; as one example, the same textbooks used in conventional schools are often used. The school-at-home educational philosophy most closely resembles a conventional, institutional classroom education.
Unschooling
Refers to a range of educational philosophies and practices centered on allowing children to learn through their natural life experiences, including child directed play, game play, household responsibilities, work experience and social interaction, rather than through a more traditional school curriculum. Unschooling encourages exploration of activities led by the children themselves, facilitated by the adults. Unschooling differs from conventional schooling principally in the thesis that standard curricula and conventional grading methods, as well as other features of traditional schooling, are counterproductive to the goal of maximizing the education of each child.
Unschooling. Seriously, what a ridiculous idea! To me they seem like lazy, idealistic parents. :) Cute blog by the way.
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