Different Names for Kinds of Homeschooling
Why Unschooling, Home Education and Homeschooling are Distinct Terms
In general, “homeschooling” is used as a blanket term to cover any schooling which takes place outside a brick-and-mortar school, such as private tutoring, eschooling, unschooling and home education. However, many parents self-define in a more specfic way for philosophical reasons.
Why “Home Education” is Different From “Homeschooling”
For some parents, the term “homeschooling” carries the connotation of “school at home” – that is, a system of organised learning similar to that of public or private schools, simply transplanted into a home setting. Many home educators find their family and friends expecting them to essentially replicate school in the living room, complete with a blackboard and desks and a 9 a.m.-3 p.m. scheduled “school-time”.
In reality, homeschoolers often take a much more relaxed and eclectic approach to education. Learning may happen at the kitchen table, through hands-on experiences and at sporadic times during the day or night. By substituting the word “education”, with the emphasis on learning, for “school” with its connotations of public or private school systems, home educators hope to avoid certain expectations about their methods.
Why “Unschooling” is Different From “Homeschooling”
Unschooling is a deliberately unstructured form of education in which learning is largely self-directed and life-related. Unschoolers take the approach that children learn all the time simply by living, and that following their own interests with some guidance and encouragement from the parents will result in a lifelong love of learning.
The word “unschooling” is used to describe the unstructured nature of this kind of home education. Often most of the typical features of a school day – desks, lessons separated by subject, homework etc – are entirely absent from a day of unschooling. Unschoolers also note that the term omits the word “home”, thus emphasising the fact that learning can occur anywhere – in the supermarket, at the beach or at a dance class. Given that homeschooling is sometimes unkindly stereotyped as insular and boring, the term "unschooling" more accurately reflects the hectic social and activity life of many homeschoolers – many of whom complain they are never home!
Why “Eschooling” is Different From “Homeschooling”
Eschooling or e-schooling is fairly close to “school at home”. It is a correspondence method of education in which the student follows the state curriculum, completing assignments just like a child at school, but working from home instead of in a classroom. Eschooling is ideologically quite different from homeschooling, and often results from a child being pulled out of school due to issues such as bullying, illness or pregnancy. Children who live in remote areas, but whose parents wish them to follow the state curriculum, often eschool.
What is “Classical Homeschooling”?
Classical homeschoolers tend to be more focused on academic bookwork than unschoolers, although plenty of parents mix and match approaches. Classical homeschooling is based upon the Trivium or Quadrivium method of ancient Greek and Roman education. Children typically learn Latin and/or Greek as well as grammar, logic and rhetoric. Classical homeschoolers may also draw on the works of Charlotte Mason, who recommends oral narration by the children in place of written essays.
What is “Deschooling”?
Deschooling or de-schooling is not a type of homeschooling, but the process of children adjusting from a school environment to homeschooling, particularly a relaxed or “unschooly” type of homeschooling. Many parents notice that their children take a few months to adjust to the new way of life. Initially, children may be overly anxious about “doing school” in a similar manner to public or private school – starting and finishing at certain times, completing so many pages of a workbook per day and so on. Other parents despair as their children refuse to do any schoolwork at all, preferring to watch TV all day or play games as they slowly “decompress” from an overly hectic r unhappy school experience.
“Deschooling” involves introducing children to a new approach to learning, helping them recover their curiosity and love of knowledge if necessary, and letting them relax in a less formal environment. The deschooling period can be stressful for parents and children.
Politically Correct Terminology for Homeschool Families
It is considered rude, for obvious reasons, to contrast homeschooling to “real school” or “proper school”. Home educators often use the term “brick-and-mortar school” instead, referring generically to a physically present (rather than online) public or private school.
If a family self-defines as homeschoolers, home educators, eschoolers or unschoolers, it is polite to refer to them as such. Many families don't fit neatly into one category, but might define themselves more loosely as “unschooly homeschoolers” or even “classical unschoolers”. Most families recognise that “homeschooler” is used as a broad umbrella term, and are not offended by its usage; “home educator” can similarly be used as an umbrella term.
Not a Typical Homeschooling Environment
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