Family Thinks Outside The Classroom
An "unschooled" child is allowed to learn what he or she wants, when he or she wants - without going to a formal school. The late John Holt, a homeschooling supporter, author and educator, came up with the term in the late 1970s.
An "unschooled" child is allowed to learn what he or she wants, when he or she wants - without going to a formal school. The late John Holt, a homeschooling supporter, author and educator, came up with the term in the late 1970s.
A quandary for parents of unschoolers is determining how much progress their child is making and how they compare to other students their age, said Thomas Hatch, associate professor at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. He's also co-director of the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools and Teaching.
"I think the advantage of unschooling is you get to make those decisions," Hatch said. "The disadvantage is you have to figure it out for yourself."
This article, written by Melissa Burden, appeared in the June 4th, 2006 publication of The Flint Journal.
Published Tuesday, Jun. 6, 2006