Comments on: Accidental v. On-Purpose Learning http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/ Children's Book Author Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:50:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Karen E. http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-3446 Karen E. Sun, 21 Jan 2007 11:16:11 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/#comment-3446 You always put it so well. I think I'll just start blogging: "See Lissa." ;-) You always put it so well.

I think I’ll just start blogging: “See Lissa.” ;-)

]]> By: Jeanne http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-3445 Jeanne Thu, 18 Jan 2007 10:01:04 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/#comment-3445 "Where I depart from unschooling is in my understanding that adults have a wider perspective than children, are (it is to be hoped) wiser than children, and that this is quite natural and proper. And just as my parental wisdom and experience directs me to provide a nutritious diet for my children, so does it direct me to provide a rich and nourishing menu of ideas and learning experiences for their growing minds." I don't think that your understanding is a departure from unschooling at all. I think it is a departure from what SOME unschooling adherents say is unschooling. There are many, many unschoolers who see things from your perspective or somewhere near there. It's a good discussion to get into when you're a homeschooler trying to find your "style" or philosophy, but I ended up feeling I needed to find my own way, rather than tailoring my home/unschooling in response to (some) unschoolers' dogma about not being dogmatic! One thing I think this gets into is where "parenting" style crosses into "education" style. If we take some of the ideas in your paragraph above, for example, there are some parents who, after careful thought, do not believe they should make choices for their children about diet, how they spend their time, TV/videos, etc. Their unschooling is going to look very different from mine, since I come from more of a "loving guidance" approach like that which you describe. I have often ended up using the following question to determine whether *I* am living up to *my* personal unschooling ideas/ideals: Is what we are doing, is what I am doing, respecting my child? “Where I depart from unschooling is in my understanding that adults have a wider perspective than children, are (it is to be hoped) wiser than children, and that this is quite natural and proper. And just as my parental wisdom and experience directs me to provide a nutritious diet for my children, so does it direct me to provide a rich and nourishing menu of ideas and learning experiences for their growing minds.”

I don’t think that your understanding is a departure from unschooling at all. I think it is a departure from what SOME unschooling adherents say is unschooling. There are many, many unschoolers who see things from your perspective or somewhere near there.

It’s a good discussion to get into when you’re a homeschooler trying to find your “style” or philosophy, but I ended up feeling I needed to find my own way, rather than tailoring my home/unschooling in response to (some) unschoolers’ dogma about not being dogmatic!

One thing I think this gets into is where “parenting” style crosses into “education” style. If we take some of the ideas in your paragraph above, for example, there are some parents who, after careful thought, do not believe they should make choices for their children about diet, how they spend their time, TV/videos, etc. Their unschooling is going to look very different from mine, since I come from more of a “loving guidance” approach like that which you describe.

I have often ended up using the following question to determine whether *I* am living up to *my* personal unschooling ideas/ideals: Is what we are doing, is what I am doing, respecting my child?

]]> By: Melissa http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-3444 Melissa Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:39:48 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/#comment-3444 Thank you so much for this helpful and encouraging post. As I prepare to begin homeschooling my oldest this fall, my mind often wanders to the "what if's" and "how-to's" of it all, plaguing me with worry and self doubt. This was a tremendous eye opener for me! Thank you so much for this helpful and encouraging post. As I prepare to begin homeschooling my oldest this fall, my mind often wanders to the “what if’s” and “how-to’s” of it all, plaguing me with worry and self doubt. This was a tremendous eye opener for me!

]]> By: Jane Ramsey http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-3443 Jane Ramsey Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:51:42 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/#comment-3443 Excellent post, Lissa. I love many things about both unschooling and the CM method. You have found a way to use the best of both and that, in my opinion, makes for an awesome education! Excellent post, Lissa. I love many things about both unschooling and the CM method. You have found a way to use the best of both and that, in my opinion, makes for an awesome education!

]]> By: Laurie http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-3442 Laurie Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:59:10 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/#comment-3442 Totally and wholeheartedly agree! You should send this one in to the unschooling carnival on it's next go-round. ;) Totally and wholeheartedly agree! You should send this one in to the unschooling carnival on it’s next go-round. ;)

]]> By: Theresa http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-3441 Theresa Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:53:07 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/#comment-3441 Yes, that's pretty much how we do things around here, too. This home education is very much a partnership and it helps if both partners are on board with the plan.I like the way you describe it. Yes, that’s pretty much how we do things around here, too. This home education is very much a partnership and it helps if both partners are on board with the plan.I like the way you describe it.

]]> By: Mary G http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-3440 Mary G Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:07:25 +0000 http://72.29.64.190/~mwiley/blog/2007/01/16/accidental-v-on-purpose-learning/#comment-3440 Lissa, Thanks for explaining my thoughts so well! I agree "almost" wholeheartedly with the whole unschooling philosophy except for allowing the child complete freedom; you've stated it so much better than I can. Blessings! Lissa,

Thanks for explaining my thoughts so well! I agree “almost” wholeheartedly with the whole unschooling philosophy except for allowing the child complete freedom; you’ve stated it so much better than I can.

Blessings!

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