Home schooling in CA

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Some children will grow up to be artists. What happens to all the children who were unschooled with a focus on art when they can't make a living that way? And they can't get into college because they don't have the knowledge or skills to pass the tests to get in? And they can't get a job that pays a living wage because they don't have a degree.

This is just such an absurd hypothetical that I can't even properly respond. Of the unschooled adults I know, one is a writer, one is a biologist, and one is a computer programmer. I don't even think you can unschool with a focus on art. You unschool with a focus on life. Here in AZ it's pretty impossible not to get into college. Homeschoolers can start at 14 and they teach very basic classes for people that don't score well. I don't know anyone that couldn't get into college as a result of homeschooling (or unschooling).

Unschooling is not about deliberately not learning. It's about finding opportunities to incorporate learning into everyday life. Most of the unschoolers I know seem to be advanced in at least one subject. I say seem to be because it's not like we're measuring our kids all the time. The most important thing is that they are learning to use their brain very effectively, or rather not being taught to shut if down and swallow whatever learning pill a school wants them to, making your scenario above highly unlikely.

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Unschooling is not about deliberately not learning. It's about finding opportunities to incorporate learning into everyday life. Most of the unschoolers I know seem to be advanced in at least one subject.

But you can do this with traditional schooling as well. Maddy did a report on Hearst Castle - so we went there. We do outside things that reinforce or enrich things she's learned at school all the time.

I'd say most kids are more advanced in one subject than in others. No matter how they're schooled.