I’ve been having a discussion with a homeschooling advocate about the terminology we use to describe those who are putting together a creative blend of their best education options. Most people understand what homeschooling is and have their own impression about what it looks like. Many picture a young child reading aloud or studying at the kitchen table while Mom is listening or checking in, perhaps preparing lunch or helping another sibling as well. It’s a nice, homey image of family and a supportive learning environment.
But once kids hit about 14 or 15, the image changes. Many who see homeschooling as a viable option for younger students view it as limiting for teenagers. They question whether the parent has the background to be a good teacher in the subjects students need to study during the high school years, and they assume that the student has a limited social environment and few opportunities for self expression, critical thinking and community involvement.
Now, this may be the case for a minority of homeschooling families, but I know perfectly well that most teen homeschoolers are very actively involved in learning in a variety of settings—college courses, online courses, volunteer work, jobs, community activism, study abroad, etc. They are not merely receptacles for Mom’s knowledge or the facts in their text books–they are self-directed learners who embrace their freedom to discover more about the world and themselves in whatever way is most intriguing to them.
Still, the image of the isolated teen homeschooler persists. This is why I chose to use the term Bold Schoolers. These students of traditional high school age are stepping away from the Old School “four-by-four” model: four years of high school followed by four years of college. Bold Schoolers include homeschoolers who are not limited to the school-based path to a high school diploma, but the term also applies to those who attend school during certain years, choose to blend high school and college through dual enrollment or select from a wide range of options available.
Then there’s the issue of unschoolers. These students are really a subset of homeschoolers in that they are not enrolled in school but rather learning in ways that are independent of the traditional school system. They might be using curricula designed for homeschoolers, but more often, they are following their interests and deepening their knowledge and experience in a variety of ways without following a set series of courses.
The problem with the term “unschooling” is what it conjures to those who are unfamiliar with it. For some, it represents an anarchist approach to education, a sort of anti-school mindset that many (especially those in education) find disturbing or detrimental. For others, it sounds like a woo-woo concept that encourages little Johnny to daydream all day in the name of personal growth.
Both homeschooling and unschooling are valid and extremely valuable approaches to education, but despite the increase in the number of families embracing these models, the bias against them remains.
By using the “Bold School” term, I’m simply saying that the traditional approach to education (the older model) is but one option. Families are free to help their kids learn in the ways they find most enticing and enriching. And yes, in our culture, it does take a certain amount of boldness to step off the track and do things differently.
Semantics aside, the real issue is this: the traditional k-12 or k-16 model is not for everyone, and those who opt to engage in alternative ways of learning should be supported and encouraged. EVERY student–including those enrolled in schools–should have access to the options that are most likely to lead them to their most thrilling and fulfilling learning experiences.
Whether kids stay in school, stay home, smart out, or blend their options, their parents must serve as mentors who help their sons and daughters make the best choices. The high school years should not be characterized by passive learning in ANY setting, whether that’s at school, at home, or in front of the computer. No matter what we call it, the education our kids need is the one that allows them to challenge themselves and contribute and collaborate with others in all kinds of exciting ways.
Let’s get bold about helping them create that.
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Amen! How about the term “learning entrepreneurs?”
Aloha Maya! Glad you explained where the concept for “Bold School” came from…it wasn’t clear to me before.
I whole-heartedly agree. I wouldn’t say I’m a hard core unschooler – we’ve just starting homeschooling and are still figuring out how we want to do things. But one thing we do know is that the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional U.S. education didn’t work for us, and we’d rather not enforce that on our kids either.
And how much of what is taught in school today is even necessary to live a good, honest life, make a living, and make a difference? I think a lot of it is just unnecessary. It might be necessary for some of the students, someday, but why require everyone to learn it when they have little interest in it to begin with? If you’re only memorizing to pass a test, you won’t remember it anyway, because you don’t care. Once you have a need for such information, you’ll eagerly seek out the answers yourself.
(Just finished your book last week, by the way. We’re now moving to Costa Rica in January! See my blog for details. Thanks for your help!)
I wholeheartedly agree that these misconceptions exist about high school aged home schoolers and about the term ‘unschooling.’
Of course, it would help if schools were able to also grow “self-directed learners who embrace their freedom to discover more about the world and themselves in whatever way is most intriguing to them” and could also facilitate “learning in a variety of settings—college courses, online courses, volunteer work, jobs, community activism, study abroad, etc.”
Thank you for raising these important issues,
Christie
http://childhood101.blogspot.com/2009/06/are-3-year-olds-too-young-to-vote.html
I don’t think schools or “education” in general has a bias against such programs. I think the parents are usually the ones who are overly-concerned that “unschooling” doesn’t represent a “normal” path and they don’t want that stigma on their son or daughter. In the school systems with which I am familiar, the community is very supportive of students who seek alternative paths, its just that the school systems themselves haven’t done a very good job of structuring these alternative paths. They need people like Maya to help show us the way!
Many teachers and educators know that there are many students in their classrooms who do not fit the generic one-size-fits-all approach to education, and as a teacher, I’m pumped up when I find out that a student has found an alternate path. I don’t want to blame the parents, but I do want to point out that a teacher is just as likely as anyone else to accept an alternate approach to education even though this teacher is “locked” in the system.
The bottom line is that everyone should be happy when students are engaged: students, teachers, parents, and the community at large. We all have a part to play.