Consider what society would look like if 65 million trapped schoolchildren learning to be consumers were suddenly set to actively imagining themselves in independent livelihoods, adding value to the rest of the community; imagining themselves as producers instead of bored consumers. – John Taylor Gatto, from Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher’s Journey through the […]
A Visit from the Un-Nanny
UPDATE: JULY 2013 The article below is an account of the UnNanny experience of my family in July, 2010. Sadly, in the past month, many people have come forward to share far less positive experiences. As of this writing, Dayna Martin has announced that she is suspending her UnNanny service. As with any paid service, […]
Confessions of an Academic Imposter
In his book How Children Fail, John Holt discusses the damaging messages that schools and teachers send to children. There are a lot of them, but one really resonated with me, because it described my own experience. Here’s what Holt has to say: What teachers most reward is not knowledge and understanding but the appearance […]
Unschooling: America’s Next Top Mr. Potato Head
I don’t watch reality shows. Seriously. Not Survivor or Dancing with the Stars. Not The Bachelor or Big Brother. Not even American Idol. Nothing. Well, okay, maybe I do indulge in just one…I’m a closet fan of America’s Next Top Model. But I never admit to it, so let’s just keep it between us. Anyway, […]
Unschooling: “How’s That Working for You?”
Ever watched Dr. Phil? He’s the talk show host who’s known for asking his guests, “How’s that working for you?” A retired psychologist, he appears to be a leading authority, dispensing wisdom and practical advice to his guests and viewers. In a series titled The Great School Debate, Dr. Phil explored the topic of unschooling. […]