Is unschooling right for your child?

Is unschooling right for your child?

Did you know that detraining can be an option?

Deciding which school your child will attend can be overwhelming, especially since the options in New York City are so vast. While the focus is often on the school with the best teachers, test scores, and programs in your area, some parents choose to skip school altogether and homeschool. Still, others decide they want to send their children out of school.

Deschooling is a hot topic, as many parents and educators openly share their opinions on social media. TikTok has become a haven for both opposing sides of unschooling to make their case. While parents everywhere are voicing their opinions, there are certain misconceptions surrounding this controversial topic.

Homeschooling 101

If you've never heard of unschooling, you're not alone. To understand unschooling, you must first learn how homeschooling works. According to the Empire Center for Public Policythe number of homeschooled students in New York State has increased by 178 percent over the past decade. Although the pandemic was responsible for a large increase, the numbers still remain higher post-pandemic. While Washington DC leads the nation in the number of homeschooled students, New York ranks second. There are approx 54,000 homeschooled students in the state and 14,000 in New York City alone.

In In New York State, any parent can homeschool their child. However, there are several legal standards that need to be put in place before you can get started. For example, you must submit a letter of intent stating that you will educate your child at home. Then you must submit a detailed Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) describing your instruction course.

Throughout the school year, you will be required to submit regular assessments and quarterly reports on your child's progress in your chosen course. As a parent, you can teach your child yourself, even without formal teaching training. You can also choose to hire a tutor to come to your home, join a homeschool group, or enroll your child in an online school where they learn from a teacher online. Some choose not to go to school.

Psst… Check out How to Start Homeschooling in New York

Unschooling is a form of homeschooling

Although unschooling is also done outside of a formal school, almost everything else differs from typical homeschooling. The term unschooling was created by John Holt, a 1950s educator who believed that children did not need to be forced to learn because they would naturally learn on their own if given the chance. The idea is that children direct their own learning by searching for what they are interested in, without the constraints of tests, assessments and rankings.

Parents who choose to skip school often do so to help their children avoid the pressures of conformity in the classroom. They want their children to think independently and explore the world in their own unique way.

Consequently, unschooling does not adhere to a set curriculum. Unlike homeschoolers who often follow a school curriculum, books and study materials are not a must for unschoolers. Instead, the emphasis is on everyday learning and enabling children to learn based on their interests. For example, if a student shows curiosity about birds, flowers, or drawings, a parent can use this moment to spark that interest. They can provide books, visit a botanical garden, attend an art exhibition or go to a museum, or they can simply share their own knowledge on the subject. The key is to encourage exploration and learning in a way that feels natural and engaging, while following the child's lead.

However, parents who want to drop out of school must still find a way to fill out the necessary paperwork and outline what they will be teaching. Some unschooling websites provide tips and advice to parents to simply reflect on what their child did over the summer and use that as a basis for formulating their upcoming course plans. There are also subreddits providing advice on how to produce the necessary paperwork without following a formal curriculum.

Possible pitfalls of unschooling

One problem that can arise in this free and open education zone is that there is no established system for children to learn necessary skills such as math or reading at a level appropriate to their age. Parents may wonder what will happen if the child never shows interest in addition, division, history or reading. Think of how many things we had to learn in school that we initially had no interest in but later came to understand and appreciate, often lessons that took us to the next grade.

Some critics argue that deschooling is nothing more than parenting disguised as teaching. The thinking is that when we are with our children, they often ask questions about the world around them, and we strive to provide answers. But is that enough for an education?

Many families who are not in education view everyday activities, such as going to the doctor or grocery shopping, as opportunities for learning. They use the outing to teach their children about colors on a car ride, explain what doctors do, or show them how to spend money on groceries: essential life skills they learn through regular experiences usually reserved for after-school activities or weekend activities.

Another potential pitfall is that children who do not follow a set curriculum may not be aware of their grade level, and parents may not know this. A child is also not judged learning problemsincluding dyslexia, language processing disorders, and visual or auditory processing problems that make learning math difficult. When these learning disabilities are caught early, they can be quickly addressed with professional support and early intervention.

Psst… 21 New York schools named Blue Ribbon schools by the U.S. Department of State of Education

Some teachers say untraining works

That said, there are many who believe that detraining can yield positive results. Gina Riley, Ph.D., educational psychologist, clinical professor and program director of the Adolescent Special Education Program at Hunter College, is a lifelong out-of-school parent. In a podcast episode of “Honey, I homeschool the kids“, says Dr. Riley that her son's first day of school was his first day of school.

Dr. Riley strongly believes in the power of intrinsic motivation and considers learning to be one of the most valuable skills a person can develop in life. She admits there isn't much research into how children learn high-level subjects like math, but says math is a big part of life, like budgeting and shopping. When it comes to higher-level math, she says, there are underschool students who show a clear interest and teach themselves algebra and calculus simply because they like numbers. At the same time, Dr. Riley points out that there is also a large portion of traditional school students who have math anxiety and struggle despite being in a formal classroom environment.

As a mother, Dr. Riley says she wasn't always forthcoming about her son's graduation, especially given her background in education. However, she found that this educational approach allowed her son to thrive. As a young child he explored geology and later developed a passion for both sports and guitar. Now, as an adult, he is an editor and founder of a music education company.

Ultimately, raising a child is a very personal decision. Some children will do well, while others will face challenges regardless of the educational approach. The key is to research different learning methods and discover what suits you and your child best. Of course, as your child grows, you can always make changes to ensure they have the best possible learning experience every year.