tasmlab Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 HI friends, My wife and I have finally decided to homeschool our kids! It's been a long analysis and we're finally on board. Starting on Dec 10 my eight year old daughter and five year old son will not be going to school anymore and hopefully my two year old never sees one. I absolutely FEASTED on John Taylor Gatto's "Dumbing us down" and "Weapons of Mass Instruction". They were great. Highly recommended. I also read Ron Paul's "The School Revolution". Oh, and I've listened to about 800 FDR podcasts too. I can't believe how long it took me to get my head around this. I've been a libertarian for 15 years and it still took a lot of mulling and study. I guess that's how powerful my own public schooling was. Anyways, I'm really excited. Thanks for reading! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stigskog Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 great news... it takes courage to go against what is considered the norm. John Holt is a good one to read, and as you will no longer be tied down to one location due to school, I would also recommend going to an unschooling conference somewhere. google unschooling circuitriders. Our kids are nearly 2 and 3.5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesley Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Just thought I would add a book/interview to the discussion. Congratulations! Your kid's brains will thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRH Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 nothing really to contribute to the thread so i'll just congratulate you! i cannot express how happy i am for you and your kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry_diller Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 how is your children about dropping out of school? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen C Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Congratulations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasmlab Posted November 26, 2013 Author Share Posted November 26, 2013 how is your children about dropping out of school? My older daughter has mixed feelings. She likes her friends at school. It appeals to my K age boy. Both seem to understand. We are making a cross-country move, so there is some elegance in the timing. We'll have a new city, new house, new approach to learning. This big change helped the case with my wife as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LovePrevails Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Hooray! Good on you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuzieDavis Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Congrats!! We unschool as well!! if you need any tips or just somebody to talk to about it send a message my way!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoEclectic Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 How do you plan to fulfill your children's social interaction needs with other children? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lians Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Congratulations! Your kids are so lucky to have you guys as parents! I'd give a kidney to get back those 12 years of forced indoctrination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the belly of the beast Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Well done! You've saved your children's minds from the meat grinder. Please do post about your family's future adventures in unschooling. I'm sure you'll have loads of great stories to tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasmlab Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 How do you plan to fulfill your children's social interaction needs with other children? I don't totally know! It was probably the last hinge for us to unscrew in our thinking. The people you meet at school are as arbitrary as anywhere. As it stands now, the dozen or so kids that come by for play dates were not met at school but either from the neighborhood or activities (soccer). As I remember, most of the school day you aren't supposed to socialize but instead sit and a chair with good posture and be quiet. You get to raise your hand and only get to address the teacher. I think we'll be able to fulfill the socialization of recess and lunch time on our own. We'll start with continuing Karate lessons and horse back riding. Maybe we'll see if the swim team appeals to them. Then there is also homeschooling groups (lets see if I can find a non-Christian one) and maybe we'll get a social membership to the country club. I think some art lessons are in order, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the belly of the beast Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 As I remember, most of the school day you aren't supposed to socialize but instead sit and a chair with good posture and be quiet. You get to raise your hand and only get to address the teacher. I think we'll be able to fulfill the socialization at recess and lunch time. It sounds like your family has the problem of socialization in hand. Those activities you mention (karate, etc.) allow for a more natural form of social mixing, since schools enforce an unnatural age segregation most of the time. You will also be much better placed in being able to minimize exposure to bullying and unsavory peers in general. It would greatly surprise me if unschooled children did not leave home as more mature and as emotionally healthier individuals, not to mention having a better idea of where their interests and talents lie. Your children are very fortunate to have this opportunity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefanfan Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Congratulations tasmlab! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuzieDavis Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 im a little late here but congrats!!!!!!!!!!! how is it going so far?! welcome to the unschooling family!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasmlab Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 im a little late here but congrats!!!!!!!!!!! how is it going so far?! welcome to the unschooling family!! Thanks! Nothing has really happened yet. The two school-agers had their last day of public school on December 9th, we moved across country and then took the x-mas/new years holiday. I've put together a really basic program on paper, ordered them new computers and have looked up some things we are going to do in our new community. The kids are excited. We have to document to a degree their 'schooling, so we're going to experiment with a lot of video production and web development and they are bonkers excited about this. I'll keep everyone posted. I'm planning on posting the 'plan' here soon and would love other people's feedback. We still get these (wrong) pangs to replicate a school-like curriculum at home when we probably need more wait-n-see at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribuck Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Congratulations! I expect your children will thank you for it when they are older. If the older one is a bit reluctant, you can suggest that she tries it for a while, and can return to school if it doesn't work out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepin Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Congratulations. This may sound odd, but I find the request for congratulations very admirable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts