Md. School With No Curriculum Challenges Conventions of Modern Education

[Karmadillo]

Anyone familiar with these sorts of schools?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/23/AR2006042300926.html

Between Rollerblade aerials and rail slides, Justin Reed described how he landed at a school that lets him do whatever he wants all day long.

He burned out on high-powered Eleanor Roosevelt High School in his home town of Greenbelt. Lost interest in the college track. Despised cafeteria food. By 11th grade, he was ready to drop out.

"I just really hated school, and Roosevelt brought that out of me," the 19-year-old said one spring afternoon next to an iron handrail that doubled as a launching slope. "Being told what to do and what to learn. Having to do homework. Grades. Grade levels. Everything that this school stands against."

Justin will graduate in June from the highly unconventional Fairhaven School with a diploma that may require explanation to a college or future boss. He took no tests in his three years at the private school, received no grades and had no course requirements. But he played electric guitar, read and wrote poetry, made friends and got the last laugh on lunch. "No more tater tots!" he said.

more...

[rpannier]

1. It's interesting, I guess.

I know very little about it except for what I just read.
I would not pay 6,000+ dollars to send my daughters there.

[lildreamer316]

2. Aha. Indigo Children. n/t

[LizW]

3. The world needs poets and guitar players.

I think we need this kind of school for some kids. Not everyone fits into one mold.

[Toots]

4. Some people don't know the difference between school and recess

Justin has been on a three year recess and is now equiped to challenge the world..

[Nikia]

5. There should be some kind of requirements

Such as an adult verifying that the student has achieved or is working on achieving some basic, grade appropriate skills each year. For children in mid elementary school or later, students should be required to have some sort of project each year. To stay on track, they should meet with an adult adviser at least every week. There can be a compromise. It doesn't have to be all or none. I would think that in a school like this, children who are weak in a subject or afraid of one, like high school level math, might avoid it entirely and be ill prepared compared to their more structured schooled peers.

[woodsprite]

6. Sounds like daycare for older teens to me.

Our babysitter went to a school like that here in Delaware and at 26yo, she babysits. She's given homework advice to our 7th grade daughter who will not ask her for advice anymore because it's wrong. She sits for us 3 hours a week for $10/hr. She doesn't have healthcare (mom and dad take care of that for her or she goes without). She has gotten into some good mainstream jobs, but doesn't keep them more than 6 months because she "can't deal with the structured environment". Her boyfriend's mom keeps them supplied with groceries. BTW, her boyfriend and his bro "graduated" from there too. Her boyfriend has the same issues with keeping a job. He wanted to attend the Univ., but didn't when he found out he couldn't get a lesser degree just for "listening" or taking all classes on a "pass/fail" basis.

Nah, I may be considered a hard-nosed mom, but we use the weekends, vacations, and time off from regular school to do that kind of learning.

[donco6]

8. I agree.

Even reading the whole article and it still sounds like that.

How many kids entering could have passed the SAT without ANY "unschooling"? Seems like a waste of money to me. I can buy a computer and video games and a freezer full of pizza for a lot less.

[thinkingwoman]

7. aha, unschooling

in a common building. Interesting.

[Karmadillo]

9. I'm glad you posted on this thread.

Homeschooling seems to allow for a certain amount of necessary coercion of the unwilling seeker of intellectual enlightenment. I'm not so sure about unschooling. I kind of wonder whether there might be a little too much freedom (cringe--don't hit me). Of course, from my experiences with mass coerced schooling, I might be willing to roll the dice on freedom.

Do you have any thoughts about unschooling and how Sudbury schools implement it as a group concept? I know Sudbury grads in Massachusetts seem to do well, but I wonder how much of that is socioeconomic background and how much of it is the work (or unwork) of the school. Thanks.

[thinkingwoman]

10. When I first started homeschooling 7 years ago

I was not enamored with the unschooling movement. Not in the least. I could not, for the life of me, figure out how it could possibly work. What child, for example, would voluntarily insist on learning advanced math?

As my 2 kids progressed through grades, and then we stopped talking about grade levels altogether, I began to rethink my initial skepticism. I began structuring less and less of my homeschoolers' days and spending more time creating opportunities and wowie...my daughter insisted on teaching herself Japanese. My son taught himself to 3-D model characters for video games. Along the way, they asked for, and actively sought out, the instruction materials and subjects they needed to pursue their interests, and to round out their education as well.

My daughter graduates next week (with what amounts to a college prep course of study and an extensive business education which included a 3 year paid internship). She will be starting her own business next month. My son has a detailed 3-year plan to achieve his high school academic goals and prepare himself for the career he wants and, yes, his plan includes advanced algebra and geometry and a high score on his SATs. Both have a strong background in American and World History and a college level knowledge of U.S. Government and American Politics (hey, what can I say, their mom is a political junkie afterall ;-) ). Both can read and analyze literature at a college level and write accordingly. Both have more science knowledge than most of their peers.

I am not a good spokesperson for unschooling. I don't know how it works, or if it works for every student. I just know that it's not a new idea and that it worked very, very well for our family once we gave it a chance.

I should add that although my husband and I are college educated, we are part of the working poor and have been throughout my kids'lives. Studies I've seen in the past indicate that homeschooling success cuts across socioeconomic lines and methods of homeschooling, including unschooling.

There is a Du'er with "unschool" in their screen name who could answer your questions much better than I can. You might look for them in the homeschooling group.


P.S. No need to cringe. I found your post, and your questions, very respectful and sincere. Sorry I can't be of more assistance.

[Karmadillo]

11. Thanks much for the information.

I looked up the homeschooling group and found a number of very helpful links.

Your kids (and you and your husband), by the way, sound pretty impressive. I worry that maybe all children have that kind of potential, but it just gets lost as they pass through the system. Makes me think of the quote from Goethe: "If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses."

Thanks, again. Best wishes.

[LeftyMom]

12. Doesn't seem odd to me at all

well, except that it's in a school setting. I'm really not sure how the logistics of that work, but I know unschooling works because it's all my kid knows and he's amazing. :loveya: