tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post4334034113117491942..comments2023-12-17T05:54:56.396-05:00Comments on I'm Unschooled. Yes, I Can Write.: Speaking Out About UnschoolingIdzie Desmaraishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12782266545123946006noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-31354134729146590782010-05-28T23:08:45.005-04:002010-05-28T23:08:45.005-04:00'My feminine mind' I like how you compared...'My feminine mind' I like how you compared it to brestfeeding and I think you are very aware to see that the very uncomfortableness you feel is more reason to push forward and remove the door blocking what we know is correct. I saw a special on ABC that made me uncomfortable. It was very bias against unschooling and you could see the way they cut and edited the program to make it fit in their favor. I then read so many blogs and comments on news channels with people actually going as far as saying parents should go to jail for child mistreatment. People fight so blindly.<br />I wrote two blog post to counter the misinformation.jeaniehttp://www.gypsychild.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-84471611242563482492010-05-26T17:03:08.535-04:002010-05-26T17:03:08.535-04:00This post is very inspiring. I find that I am taki...This post is very inspiring. I find that I am taking such steps out here in the States. So far I'm "just another blogger," but I am getting in contact with actual organizations to share my written views on democratic and alternative education. I haven't gotten to the level of public speaking (yikes) but I hope to. I am *actually* finishing my senior year of high school unfortunately, and I've been in the conventional system for my whole youth. In terms of being outspoken, now that I am almost done with k-12, I do feel more comfortable expressing my ideas and experiences, and to spreading the word about the alternatives step by step.<br /><br />Putting oneself out there is challenging, but needs to be done in many ways, big and small.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-87757196134826710422010-05-24T13:39:20.906-04:002010-05-24T13:39:20.906-04:00Is breastfeeding considered out-of-the-norm in Can...Is breastfeeding considered out-of-the-norm in Canada/US?Primaverahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05935018939300371529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-18848944780493870632010-05-20T05:14:44.904-04:002010-05-20T05:14:44.904-04:00It can be difficult and isolating to speak out aga...It can be difficult and isolating to speak out against the norm. I know that my own stances unfortunately are beginning to have that effect.Coleusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-67271211388890823212010-05-17T23:49:49.083-04:002010-05-17T23:49:49.083-04:00I've never really given thought to the idea th...I've never really given thought to the idea that we, like any other group, need advocacy. I tend to offer vague answers when asked about my homeschooling life, not out of embarrassment really (though that does factor into it sometimes, when so many people break out the stories of their horrible uneducated redneck homeschooled cousins, of which everyone seems to have one or two), but because it's so inconvenient to have to be the one to educate people. It's a pain to go through the 'no, it doesn't work like that' process, and to disabuse them of their ideas that every homeschooler is some kind of crazy extremist or government hater or religious nut (though we have plenty of those, and they, unfortunately, tend to be the noisiest and best publicized). Recently though Unschooling has been getting a lot of bad publicity in the US and, thinking about it, I feel like it's a bit more of my duty to try to educate the people who ask me about it about some of the good it can do, too.JZ_hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00030965251684242052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-39716178775899854362010-05-16T16:05:50.647-04:002010-05-16T16:05:50.647-04:00I was having a hard time just flying under the rad...I was having a hard time just flying under the radar as we unschooled. Just could not keep my mouth shut about something I'm so passionate about. <br /><br />But I must admit, I felt quite relieved when my youngest (who completely on her own opted to take and) passed a HS equivalency test last month. No more concerns of gov't intervention there. <br /><br />We haven't yet seen the War On Kids film, but my daughter frequently expresses gratitude for not having been subjected to school :)<br /><br />Do you think the shift in attitude may be coming from the UK? My unschool/homeschool friends there are now facing some dark days.<br /><br />Blessings...Ann Duncanhttp://www.soupmagic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-32339395410622233892010-05-16T06:43:50.046-04:002010-05-16T06:43:50.046-04:00I am open about our unschooling life, mainly becau...I am open about our unschooling life, mainly because I am proud of it and proud of my kids, I want both of them to know that what we are doing is great, and that following our hearts is much more important than conforming to what others think we should be doing. Yes, doubts sometimes come up for me. If at some point we run into trouble, I hope I am able to fight the battle in an honest and objective way. It all comes down to protecting what we believe in. This is the example I want to show my kids.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16642947276308505560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-42692602792642566512010-05-15T13:27:41.813-04:002010-05-15T13:27:41.813-04:00This makes me think about when I was a new breast-...This makes me think about when I was a new breast-feeding mother. Because the over-sexualization of breasts in this culture makes breastfeeding difficult, I felt very awkward and uncomfortable feeding my child in public. But I thought that if I were to go to a bathroom or similarly remove myself from the view of others, that I would be contributing to the belief that breastfeeding is somehow shameful and that breasts are primarily to be used for men's sexual pleasure. So, the very fact that I felt uncomfortable feeding my child, to me was all the more reason to do it. Because women shouldn't feel that way. It should be so commonplace that no one thinks anything of it. And the more women do it, the more quickly this will be realized. <br /><br />I guess I feel the same way about unschooling. If our parental rights really are being threatened, it seems to me to be all the more important to speak out, and especially to speak out in solidarity with one another.My Feminine Mindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09595148905728912326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-25753816425411631232010-05-15T08:42:36.542-04:002010-05-15T08:42:36.542-04:00Unschooling is out of the closet. Personally, in t...Unschooling is out of the closet. Personally, in the past few days I've had requests to speak to a mom's group about the topic; I've been asked to contribute my footage to a film a young man is making on 'teaching yourself,' people have contacted me about the radio show and if we can continue it.<br />I think that tipping point Wendy mentioned is flying towards us.<br />So far, in my experience I have been very lucky. <br />I have never had to hide what I do. People have mostly been really positive on hearing about unschooling. Maybe because we live and work with very open-minded social and environmental 'activist' types and people who feel comfortable with who they are in life who just get it.<br />Those who did question at first now have to admit that it works beautifully (the proof is in the pudding).<br />I wholeheartedly support Idzie's plans to be more vocal about unschooling.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181853187769838301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-12995191478600428762010-05-14T22:23:24.581-04:002010-05-14T22:23:24.581-04:00I have always lived my life open, and bold. So whe...I have always lived my life open, and bold. So when it comes to raising my children, it is just natural to be that way. I do not worry what others think. I am also blessed to live in a place where I am free to do so. For me I feel it is important to show others, such a freedom, and joy.Parents are the ultimate authority, not our government. I want to insure this continues for my children and their future. <br />As for my husband, he did not like it when I would announce to our friends things like "I don't use a curriculum", or " We don't test". I told him to take a good look at our children. He no longer is concerned with what others think,and may brag a little to much! :)Annnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-70093048824068637532010-05-14T21:42:18.341-04:002010-05-14T21:42:18.341-04:00Arp, speaking of MLK, Jr., in the early 60s, I was...Arp, speaking of MLK, Jr., in the early 60s, I was herded by police horses, bitten by police dogs, and beaten by police clubs for my Civil Rights activities. Later in the 60s and early 70s, I got more of the same for my anti-war activities. These days, with unschooling, I'm content to just *do* it and not proselytize it aggressively. Call me selfish, if you will, but I've spent enough energy outside my personal universe and I choose to spend my time and effort on my wife and children nowadays. I promise not to chastise *you* for being a vocal apologist and advocate for unschooling. So, where can I find your unschooling essays, books, tv appearances, etc.?Cap'n Frankohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03558951624021488338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-89782209578968947472010-05-14T21:17:15.437-04:002010-05-14T21:17:15.437-04:00@Cheryl: Maybe I didn't phrase it right? I wa...@Cheryl: Maybe I didn't phrase it right? I was saying I think it's selfish to believe NO ONE should be outspoken about unschooling, that the whole movement should remain under the radar. I didn't say, nor did I ever mean, that an *individuals* choice to keep quiet about their lifestyle was selfish in the least. I'm very sorry if I offended you. I definitely understand making the choice to be less open about unschooling for safety's sake, as my family did when we were still at risk!Idzie Desmaraishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12782266545123946006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-32396982878136814902010-05-14T20:34:04.642-04:002010-05-14T20:34:04.642-04:00That didn't come out exactly right. I didn'...That didn't come out exactly right. I didn't mean to sound like I was dissing your point because I'm all for the bravery of openness! I guess I am one of those people who has been more scared lately. I had a friend get turned into CPS a few weeks ago, and now the school district is going back over her paperwork, at the end of the year, which they already approved at the beginning of the year, and they are now threatening to tell her she's not in compliance. Argh! As unschoolers, I am not confident that our home would pass muster, were we ever to be more closely examined, so the last thing I want to do is risk being more closely examined.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351102263902079979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-59631717085670541472010-05-14T20:19:36.628-04:002010-05-14T20:19:36.628-04:00I agree that it's important to be outspoken, b...I agree that it's important to be outspoken, but I would hesitate to call anyone selfish for choosing not to be. Unschooling is, in a sense, a process of learning that "selfishness" is good. It's about knowing that it's okay to learn what *you* want to learn, to do what *you* want to do with your life and your time, and to make your own choices for your own reasons. <br /><br />I'm glad you mentioned your quiet early years of unschooling. It illustrates exactly why we sometimes "should" remain under the radar. Our children deserve absolute consideration in our decision of how public we want to be as unschooling families. Mine prefer that I refrain from risking that they get sent to school.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351102263902079979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-56520512556201940592010-05-14T18:23:08.995-04:002010-05-14T18:23:08.995-04:00I totally agree. It's increasingly important t...I totally agree. It's increasingly important that we demonstrate the success of the various alternative models of education. I believe we're nearing a tipping point regarding public education...and that it will inevitably change a la Godin, Pink and other non-educational writers. So it's natural that the old guard will dig in its heals and be aggressive in its own defense. It is, as you say, easier to speak out once the threat of persecution is removed (which is why I'm still here after 35 years of advocacy!). So good on you for all the outreach you're doing.Wendy Priesnitzhttp://www.lifelearningmagazine.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-3335020882840977102010-05-14T18:19:48.314-04:002010-05-14T18:19:48.314-04:00@Arp: I really like that quote. :-)
I think it...@Arp: I really like that quote. :-)<br /><br />I think it's okay and entirely an individual decision whether *you* personally are very vocal or not. What I think is selfish is thinking people should keep a low profile in general...Idzie Desmaraishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12782266545123946006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8805323468407241809.post-65492602985013639182010-05-14T18:17:32.895-04:002010-05-14T18:17:32.895-04:00I believe in something Martin Luther King, Jr said...I believe in something Martin Luther King, Jr said: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."<br /><br />You're dead-on about the selfishness of keeping a low profile too.Arphttp://unschoold.comnoreply@blogger.com