Pat Farenga discussing Ivan Illich's "Deschooling Society":

"he makes a very powerful case that it [school] is indeed a modern ritual that we've created. Based on his studies of religious practice, religion, and his understanding of rituals and their purpose. As he says in the book the ritual of schooling hides--like most rituals do--it hides what happens. So if you do the rain dance, and the rain doesn't happen, it's not because the ritual is wrong. It's because you didn't do it hard enough. You didn't pray hard enough. You didn't mean it enough. So the ritual has that thing of protecting the servers of the ritual at the expense of those in it. And he said that in education what happens, those who have the most money or advantage continue to have it. And schooling is not addressing the people who need it the most, but instead uses the ritual to make them feel ashamed, to remediate them, to keep knocking them back."
#unschooling

The Unschooling Summit
March 20-22

https://www.theunschoolingsummit.org/

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS · ROUNDTABLES · WORKSHOPS · COMMUNITY SESSIONS
Whether you are just exploring, already started, or a seasoned unschooling parent, this Summit is your gateway to insights from 60+ unschooling experts, access to a global community, and engaging live sessions.

#Education
#Unschooling
#learning
#Alternate

Badge shop is open, and most designs are in stock! If you need any little presents for friends, it might be worth a look :-)

(plus a bisexuality zine and a creativity zine)

https://uncharted-worlds.org/identitybadges/

#bisexual #trans #queer #polyamory #neurodivergence #pansexual #allies #pronouns #NonSchoolEducation #HomeEducation #Unschooling #badges #ButtonBadges #zines #creativity

I really like unschooling, because it meshes with my experience that kids are natural learners. But it can really throw people off; they say things like how will kids learn if they don't go to school? The unschooling approach is to first take the brakes off that are preventing learning. Things like forcing kids to learn topics on the school's schedule, grading, and limiting movement for good chunks of the day. These things can seem necessary and effective, but tend to limit self-motivated learning. And they are no fun! The more these pressures are lifted, kids have time to explore their own interests, which leads to rich learning.

With unschooling, there is still plenty for adults to do to help support kids with learning. We can express interest in whatever they find cool. We can help when they get stuck or something is more difficult than expected. And we can explore our own interests and share them with the kids. The kids will want to see what you're up to.

#unschooling
#selfDirectedEducation

I understand why people approve of violent coercive social systems -- they benefit from them! But to deny the obvious fact that violence is required to keep the system working is so transparently self-delusion I'd think they'd be embarrassed to expose themselves.

https://urusai.social/@nazokiyoubinbou/115618749947904327

#Anarchism #Unschooling #CompulsorySchooling

A very good read from an unschooling parent as her oldest child leaves the nest.

I especially appreciate what she writes about how unschooling is "antisocial," but not in the way people think. Not that kiddo has no opportunities to be social, but that parents choosing to unschool feels like rejecting the rest of "normal" society.

---

I unschooled my daughter all the way to a prestigious college, and all I got was these lousy 5,099 days

https://smallthingsgrowing.substack.com/p/i-homeschooled-my-daughter-all-the
#unschooling