A Little Too Far "Off The Grid" Maybe?

[leftofcool]

A bit more to this story has come to light in that the family was living in a wood frame covered by tarps, had no running water, no heat or electricity, the father was stealing water from a neighbor and their kids were being "unschooled." I have no idea what "unschooled" means to the authorities which appears to be reason for the arrest and removal of the kids.

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/kentucky-free-range-family-loses-custody-of-10-kids-over-apparent-unschooling/comments/#disqus

[murielm99]

1. That thing shut down my browser. n/t

[leftofcool]

2. It's Raw Story, they have a ton of ads and stuff.

Try Google Chrome.

[Downwinder]

3. 1930's

[leftofcool]

4. That was my first thought.

[Downwinder]

5. You have 10 kids in a depression, what do you do?

They would be chastised if they got WELFARE.

[leftofcool]

7. Yep

[Downwinder]

9. In this day and age,

If they sent he kids to school or signed up for welfare people would be around checking up on them.

[jwirr]

11. Until FDR created welfare programs what they called "welfare" was a joke. I was very young but I

remember a family in northern MN who lived in a tarpaper shack deep in the woods. Wood frame covered with tarpaper, divided down the center with the wood burning cook stove and table on one side and the other side was divided into sleeping areas with feather ticks as bedding. They also did not have running water and the toilet facilities was a outhouse in the woods.

Their youngest children were about 12 and 14 years old. But they already had a couple of grandchildren living with them.

That was not unusual in the Great Depression. As to school. I suspect many of the older children quit school to help support the family. I know my dad did.

Food was not easy to get. Hunting and fishing and a garden if the MN climate allowed was the biggest sources. Picking berries and other wild things that grew and honey. Yet I also remember she was a good cook.

[yeoman6987]

6. Except for unschooling and stealing water from neighbors,

I think that what they are doing is doing wonders for our planet. They use zero carbon that mucks up our atmosphere. I think if some expert on going off the grid helped them become compliment and they get those kids in school. They will be positive to the Earth and society. They just need help.

[uppityperson]

8. omg, notice anything about the photo?

"Naugler family"


Where is the mom? Maybe she's taking the photo? But still, "Naugler family"?

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. I don't understand your remark...

"Naugler family"....

What am I missing?


btw....more comments in this post about the family...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026646854

[uppityperson]

13. The description is the family, it is actually dad with 10 kids.

No mom in the photo. It could be as simple as she was taking the photo, but it seems odd they would have a staged family photo missing the mom of the family.

[cwydro]

14. The one older kid is wearing Carhartt overalls...

those ain't cheap.

They look to be a healthy group to me.

[Ms. Yertle]

10. "Unschooling"

refers to the John Holt method of education. It was really kind of a popular thing among '60's people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Holt_%28educator%29

The idea is that kids learn by doing things--cooking teaches math, for instance.

I had a friend who was very into it. Her kids grew up to graduate from college. They seem very happy and well-adjusted.

Kids learn in different ways. I see nothing wrong with parents exploring options that schools simply can't provide.

[Archae]

15. "Off the grid?" Maybe.

Off the deep end?

Absolutely.