It’s been a struggle for a long time. I’ve never quite felt right. Fear and shame have kept me from admitting who I am. Christian circles in particular don’t know what to do with people like me…overall a good gal who loves God but…geesh….there’s those differences.
Initially I thought it was just a passing stage. Certainly everyone experiences those, right? But then I realized I was born this way. Wired differently. But I’ve been keeping it a secret because I know even those who love me…sometimes don’t know what to do with my differences.
I am an unschooler.
Those are the words that could suck the air out of the Abeka conference. Bob Jones acolytes would politely clear their throats and discreetly seek the closest exit.
I am an unschooler. I see educational opportunities everywhere and I chose real life over a text book.
I am an unschooler. The words of Robert Frost buoy my spirits when I read the words, “I believe in education, I don’t believe in school.”
I love open source education and believe the WalMart clerk is just as qualified to teach me something as a pedigreed professor.
I draw courage from great men like Louis L’Amour who dropped out of school at the age of 15 because he felt school was interfering with his education.
Do I believe every child should be bounced out of school? Not on your life.
But as I have watched my nearly 16-year-old unschooled son grow and develop into a skilled worker and a confident young adult…I am convinced that sometimes the best educational model isn’t a model at all.
I am an unschooler.
Filed under: ADD/ADHD, education, homeschooling, Public schooling, Special Needs' Kids | Tagged: compusory education, education, Education of a Wandering man, educational models, Louis L'amour, unschooling | 9 Comments »
