Unschooling Support Groups for Life Learners
Local Unschool Groups and Online Support for Unschoolers
Sep 13, 2009
Unschoolers can feel like the odd-man-out at homeschooling groups. Support for unschoolers isn't as widely available as support for homeschoolers, since most families who homeschool use a curriculum, or actively “teach” their children. In an unschooling home, children's learning "follows their bliss" and finding unschool support groups is often more difficult than finding homeschooling support.
Online Unschooling Support Groups
Online support for life learners is almost as old as the internet. The great-grandfather of today's Yahoo groups, ONElist, started in 1997 and the free teens mailing list was one of the earliest communication forums.
Today there are unschooling email groups with several different focuses. Some are for discussion, and often feature heated debates and a wealth of information and passionate perspectives. Others are designed for uplifting support, helping families learn how unschooling works and how to transform their families. Still, others are focused on unschooling within the confines of a specific religion or geographic area.
Since each group has its own "personality" it's often wise to join and simply listen for a while, before participating. A discussion-focused group can sound like an attack for people who prefer to learn through support, rather than debate.
Local Support for Unschoolers
Within many homeschool support groups, unschoolers are often able to seek one another out. Planning game days, park days, field trips and other outings together can help foster support for unschooling. Parents of unschoolers often enjoy being able to discuss parenting with other unschoolers and unschooled kids enjoy the peaceful relationships that come from having friends with freedom as opposed to friends who “aren't allowed” to do things, or who “have to do” other things.
Unschooling United
Similar to La Leche league, Unschooling United is a database of facilitators who offer unschooling support over the phone as well as at monthly meetings. There is no fee for membership and unschool support groups are locally-based. Some states have more support than others. Facilitators of Unschooling United support groups are resourceful, passionate about unschooling and volunteer to share their experiences, perspective and resources with others. Optional paid memberships support the local group and the main organization.
In the 1970s when John Holt (How Children Learn) and John Taylor Gatto (Dumbing Us Down) began publishing books and articles about the dangers of coercive schooling practices, a handful of families took him seriously and unschooled their children. Today, according to Radical Unschooling advocate Dayna Martin, a revolution has begun and more families than ever are choosing a freedom-based lifestyle. Unschooling videos, websites, books about unschooling and annual conferences and conventions are all available. In October of 2010, the first Unschooling Adventure Cruise sets sail to Bermuda, with an all-inclusive ship full of life learners, free thinkers, food, fun and games.
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