Crowdsourcing Clarity, Ep. 05: Where are the best places in the US to Unschool? (SBD tip for most helpful answers!)
The very reason for my quest.
Back again and looking for answers! Episode 4 was another success!
This time I want to know about the most unschooling-friendly areas/towns/states in the US.
"Unschooling" is a term coined by one of my personal heroes, John Holt, back in the 1970's.
"Unschooling" simply means that a child is allowed to freely follow his or her interests, with the adults in his or her life acting only as a resource, a helper, and a guide in this journey. There is no "curriculum," and play is everything.
My hero, John Holt.
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With the current laws being as they are (vague and ambiguously threatening) here in Japan regarding unschooling, I am looking into other possible options. Asheville, NC seems to have a fairly large and tight knife unschooling community...
Anyway, let me know, and if you help me, I'll tip ya!
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as Facebook and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)
Washington state has some of the most non-invasive laws regarding homeschooling - and thus is ideally suited for unschooling. There is no required subjects or record keeping. Kids must be tested once a year, or have an evaluation written by a certified teacher. These results are not sent to the state (nor is the requirement particularly enforced, as far as I can tell).
3 SBD on the way, @beriberi. Thanks for your help!
Hey Kafka, you should check out : https://freestateproject.org/
They are based in New Hampshire and consist mostly of voluntarists and minarchists. Lot's of home/unschoolers to be found.
But that's just second hand info. Maybe there are some of them here on steem so you can connect. With a quick search I found @tatianamoroz. Maybe she can help you?
To the topic. Fortunately I have another 5 Years til my son will have to go to school. Here in Germany, there is no unschooling. There is only public/private school or jail. It really freaks me out to find a solution.
Wow. That is insane. The state is a violent animal. Best to you and may you find the freest school possible!
3 SBD on the way, @lcshaft. Thanks for your help!
Thank you very much Kafka. Only trying to help :)
Are you locked in on the US? Since you're rolling good with steem I would have assumed you'd choose like Singapore or something way freer than the US.
Would love to hear your thoughts about that in a post.
Much love from Germany
LC
I couldn't be prouder of my unschooled children. They have grown up to do wonderful things. The key for us was a fabulous support group of homeschoolers. We found an active group that was diverse in its makeup. If you find yourself in the Southeast, I'll be happy to help!
This is great to hear. Yes, community really is everything, isn't it. Thanks so much for the offer, too!
upvote and resteem for "unschooling"....indeed...schooling was part of the systems created by "elite" to make fool of us....
You said it.
:)
May I throw Montessori education into the ring? While not strictly un schooling, the cocept is very different the the classical model.
This is the approach I would take with any future children, either from home or or in a 'school' based environment.
Nice! Thank you. My son acutally attends a Montessori school 3 days a week thanks to this Steem blog.
Excellent! Im trying to get my partner to sign up here and provide some Montessori blogs as she is a teacher and loves talking about the concept. Good for you!
Thanks! And that would be great!
I went to public school and I am still unschooling my self to this day. Unlearning the stupid things that I learned their? I love your posts about your search and goals for your children. I have no regrets though. Going to public school taught me social skills as well as street skills that were necessary in my neighborhood. :)
All public school taught me was that I hated learning. It wasn't until the internet came along that I remembered being a five year old knowledge junkie and how much I'd loved learning before it was made a drudgery.
One thing I have always thought about as kid, that is not really encouraged in a traditional "educational"environment is the concept of entrepreneurship. I was never really sure what I wanted to be when I grew up. I realized a while back that art is just something I love that is paired with the other thing I love. Entrepreneurship.
I think "traditional education" neglects this concept on purpose of course.
"One thing I have always thought about as kid, that is not really encouraged in a traditional "educational"environment is the concept of entrepreneurship "
So. TRUE.
The homeschool community I was in in Steamboat Springs, CO had a 'market day' every season and all of the kids made or invested in a product. My middle child put out a tip jar and made balloon animals. He was 9 then and he was so taken with the notion of entrepreneurship that he called our local IHOP and asked if he could do balloons in the vestibule on Sunday mornings when they got backed up. They let him and he'd make bank lol. One day this elderly gentleman asked him, "How old are you?" and when Joe said "Nine" the guy asked "Was this your idea?" and when Joe said "Yes" the guy gave him a $20 bill and said, "You're going to be a millionaire one day."
I remember thinking what an impact that conversation had on him and how he'd never have had it if he were in school. Now he's 15 and got a job online coding with a group of programmers. And he earns his own money and works his ass off for it even though we will buy him anything he asks for (that we can afford of course).
Amazing story! Thanks for sharing this. Stuff like this gives me hope, and congrats to your boy!
Thank you, and good luck!
Couldn't agree more. It is designed to fail.
Well good luck in finding a place man. Is it looking like Japan isn't going to be as viable anymore?
Thanks man. It's viable, I guess. It will just be me as a foreigner potentially fighting that battle versus me as a "national" surrounded by a community of like-minded individuals. Really love it here, so who knows.
I agree with this point！unschooling make person grows stronger！
I wish I had grown up experiencing unschooling
Me too.
Me too. But I've found unschooling my own kids is the next best thing. "Be the parents you wish you'd had" is the quote I live by now and it's been incredible.
I've homeschooled all over and unschooled the past six years. Out of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Idaho, Colorado, and West Virginia, I have to say Idaho/Colorado were the best environments.
Of those states, only Pennsylvania is up your ass, but if you're looking for open-minded and engaged communities, opportunities for learning outside of a classroom, the northwest simply cannot be beat imo. While I'm a firm believer that taxation is theft, if it's going to be taken I'd like to at least see something other than shit roads and cop salaries out of it. The Parks and Rec departments in Boise and Steamboat Springs were absolutely incredible and the groups of parents were varied and non-judgmental. Lots of co-ops including robotics, programming, art of every variety, cultural immersion... it was fantastic. I miss it.
3 SBD on the way, homey. Thanks for your help.
Sounds excellent. Thanks for this!
Hey thanks!