the network for radical unschooling families

July 2009 Blog Posts (5)

Some interesting articles I've come across recently...

The Wisdom of Hunter-Gatherers is a wonderful, short article on how children in hunter-gatherer societies learn.

Whatever Happened to Mother? Is an absolutely WONDERFUL story of the vanished mothers of old. Not wonderful as good, since it's incredibly sad, but wonderfully written. I love how it's literally written as a story. There are actually… Continue

Added by Idzie on July 12, 2009 at 2:46pm — No Comments

Vaccinations: Conflict, Resolution, and Support

My wife, Lenore, doesn't believe in vaccinations. I do.

We have a simple way of resolving conflicts like this. It's the "Who Feels More Strongly" protocol. We discuss it until it becomes clear which of us cares the most. Then that person gets her way. Or his way. Or her way. Or his... This protocol works well because it's self-correcting. If I were to feel annoyed that "she always gets her way" then I would start feeling stronger about getting my way... and then I would get my way.… Continue

Added by James Marcus Bach on July 8, 2009 at 7:49am — 4 Comments

UNHAPPY CAMPER

I signed my son Giuseppe up for day camp again this year. He is 7 and loved it last year. This year however he HATES it. I signed him up for 4 weeks and we just finished the first week. The first morning was fine but everyday since its harder and harder. He does not want to get out of the car. He says he has a stomach ache. When I pick him up at 4:00 and ask how it was he says fun!!! FUN!!! He does'nt want to get out of the car in the morning!!!! What is up. The other issue is we paid quite a… Continue

Added by Rachel Tomassone on July 5, 2009 at 8:19pm — No Comments

Divine Affirmation: the planets are aligning . . .

Just two days ago I discovered the Radical Unschoolers Network quite on my own. I have read several blogs now and gotten a glimpse of some of the unschoolers' lives, the very human anxieties and ambivalences concerning the turning loose of children's minds, and I'm thinking: could this really be possible?

Then yesterday came what I consider Providence from the Maker of all Things: My friend and neighbor, Jewel, who is an unschooled teenager and who has been coercing me to re-think… Continue

Added by Cindy Henry on July 5, 2009 at 10:15am — 4 Comments

Unschooling the older child

Hi all,

I am new to this network, so bear with me -- I've never blogged before, either!

Question: In my perusal of various "unschooling" sites, I see a lot geared toward the preschool and elementary-age child, but where is the info regarding unschooling older children, specifically, teenagers? I am a veteran home schooler, but after nineteen years I burned out and put my two youngest sons in public school (big mistake). After three years of struggle, we are ready to home school… Continue

Added by Cindy Henry on July 3, 2009 at 11:05am — 9 Comments