The thing is, children are only immature and lazy because we, as adults, tell them that they are. We tell them that they are too young to make decisions and that they are too young to understand and that they have to listen simply because they are the child, and we are the adult. We show them they are lazy by spoon-feeding them the answers and holding their hands. In the book there are countless examples of teenagers who do things for themselves. I think they can make mature decisions and take responsibility if we give them the chance to.
As for socialization, how much of the time in school is actually spent socializing? During lunch? During the 5 minutes between class? Maybe before or after school, but that's not during school hours. Besides, unschooling isn't like doing school at home; the idea is to go out into the world and find what you want to learn and what you want to do, and do it. Maybe you'll take lessons in botany from your neighbour. Maybe you'll sign up for a university lecture. Maybe you'll volunteer at the bike shop. If anything I would say you are socialized BETTER without school, because you learn to socialize with people of all ages, rather than being confined to your peer group. Also, many unschoolers (especially in rural areas) do their unschooling together, or organize workshops together, or do retreats together. My friend tells me that in her social circle growing up there were kids of all ages, and nobody ever ostractized anyone because they were weird or different. They hung out with everyone.
I understand you on the early education though; the book I am reading is for teenagers, and once you're a certain age you can take your education into your own hands. I thought about institutionalized education until grade 5 or 6 and that seems to be the way a lot of unschoolers did it, but at the same time it can be difficult to reclaim that curiosity after you've been in the system for a while. But there are also waldorf schools and such which, from what I understand, are a lot more open ended.
If you want to find a copy, you could get it on amazon, or here: http://www.educationrevolution.org/teenlibhan.html , or you could find a copy in a used bookstore. But I don't think it is in regular bookstores.
This dude: http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/ Also writes more academically on the topic, and has tons of books, one which I am to read after this one (my friend has a bunch of these books). And the handbook suggests furthur reading as well.
As for socialization, how much of the time in school is actually spent socializing? During lunch? During the 5 minutes between class? Maybe before or after school, but that's not during school hours. Besides, unschooling isn't like doing school at home; the idea is to go out into the world and find what you want to learn and what you want to do, and do it. Maybe you'll take lessons in botany from your neighbour. Maybe you'll sign up for a university lecture. Maybe you'll volunteer at the bike shop. If anything I would say you are socialized BETTER without school, because you learn to socialize with people of all ages, rather than being confined to your peer group. Also, many unschoolers (especially in rural areas) do their unschooling together, or organize workshops together, or do retreats together. My friend tells me that in her social circle growing up there were kids of all ages, and nobody ever ostractized anyone because they were weird or different. They hung out with everyone.
I understand you on the early education though; the book I am reading is for teenagers, and once you're a certain age you can take your education into your own hands. I thought about institutionalized education until grade 5 or 6 and that seems to be the way a lot of unschoolers did it, but at the same time it can be difficult to reclaim that curiosity after you've been in the system for a while. But there are also waldorf schools and such which, from what I understand, are a lot more open ended.
If you want to find a copy, you could get it on amazon, or here: http://www.educationrevolution.org/teenlibhan.html , or you could find a copy in a used bookstore. But I don't think it is in regular bookstores.
This dude:
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/
Also writes more academically on the topic, and has tons of books, one which I am to read after this one (my friend has a bunch of these books). And the handbook suggests furthur reading as well.
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