looking back on unschooling: Kate Cayley

Kate Cayley grew up "unschooled" in Toronto. Here she reflects on her experience learning outside formal institutional settings, and the nature of nurturing "difference" and individuality. Kate is a Toronto-based writer, theatre director and teacher. The interview was recorded by Radio Free School in Toronto's Dufferin Grove Park, 27 August, 2007. 4 minutes 18 seconds

Category:

Education

Tags:

• radio free school
• unschooling
• homeschool
• education

[radiofreeschool]

I am not sure i understand your question. The idea of unschooling is that the parent acts as a facilitator to the child's interests. It is sort of a partnership. The parent doesn't know everything and they do not expect that their child should be interested in the same things they are. As to resources, the parent helps the kid access the resources. What that looks like is different for everyone: what is out there, what they can afford, the internet etc. etc.

[radiofreeschool]

I bet you didn't know that this young woman is an active, community member, contributing her many talents and skills to creating a more accepting society?

Many grown unschoolers I've met and interviewed are extremely committed to their communities and are often willing to receive less pay for their work then they deserve just as long as they are doing the things they love and that are important to them. They're intelligent people with strong family connections and moral consciousness.

[radiofreeschool]

@arsieiuni and strika62-thank you very much for your uplifting comments. We appreciate it. Please visit us on facebook or follow us at radiofreeschool.blogspot.com

[bnleez]

There is no better place to learn the experiences of life than in school and all the activities that are associated with going to school - band, drama, etc. I believe that learning via natural life experiences and learning via the school curriculum do not have to be dichotomous. It is possible to meet state standards and create a learning community (i.e., one that consists of teachers, students, parents, administrators, and civic leaders) that is open, diverse, autonomous, and interactive.

[radiofreeschool]

@bnleez Are you serious? What about learning the experiences of life by being in the thick of life itself? Also, we are not against learning in 'learning places' - we are for learning with the learner in the driving seat and if that means going into an institution to gain skills then that is great as long as it's the decision of the learner-that is that they are following a path that is leading them to what they want to acheive.

[tyler9225]

In all honesty, unschooling is ridiculous. Sure, formal education is flawed (and so is homeschooling), but it's a hell of a lot better than complete absence of education. Unschooling parents have honest, honorable intentions, but they are horribly depriving their children of a critical need.

And honestly, there is only a minority of colleges (and scant if any exceptional ones) that would accept "unschooled" applicants.

[radiofreeschool]

@tyler9225

Hi there! quick note to say that schooling does not mean educated. Many people go to school but that does not mean that they are educated-only schooled!

[cheezpleaze105]

You obviously don't know what being a Victorian child was like. You think public schools are bad in this day and age?

[Ex0dus111]

Unschooling, while interesing, basically boils down to not doing something thats hard. Which means u basically end up not being challenged beyond ur comfort zone, which is not a good thing. As for the Question no unschooler wants to answer or even get into, College and getting a job, they dont stand a chance. Not saying they couldnt get a job, or get into a College but they will be seriously crippled having no experience in conforming to anything.

[Rosebunse]

I wouldn't trade my public-schooling experience for the world. It wasn't always fun, I came home crying quite a few days, but I needed that formal structure. My mother was a single mother who didn't have the time to spend home with me or my brother and teach us. And to the girl in this video, why the hell would you want any experience to be "Victorian"? That time period sucked.

[iickle]

The problem with unschooling is that it definitely closes many doors for most people.

[ThusIsBrad]

One benefit of being in the public school social atmosphere is you get some consensus about which haircuts are awful and which look alright.

[aikimoe]

@Lyncheh Would you care to elaborate, or are you just going to leave it like that? Certainly, you were taught in school that if you criticize something, you should have facts at the ready to back up your criticisms?

[Lyncheh]

An unschooling parent is a bad parent.

[zoogle1]

@zoogle1

Atra Taylor is a famous unschooler who went on to get college degrees at Brown University with high marks, as well as some of her siblings (some decided not to go to college). Theres various youtubers who claim to be unschoolers, who generally claim they went to college around 16-18 and got a BA in something or other. Most are normal people. One woman was an economist in finance with a brother working in CS as a programmer.

[zoogle1]

@barifkin31

I don't know if you'd like the answer. Theres not much documentation on unschoolers. Like one half of the answer is there are hundreds of important people who taught themselves in the past, but they are all famous and dead so you might say they are special cases. The other half is just normal groups of people you may have to take at their word. Continued>

[barifkin31]

@zoogle1

I guess the proof is in the pudding. Can you point me to a single person who's a professional mathematician or a professional scientist that was unschooled? I'd love to talk to a person who didn't receive any formal education until adulthood and went on to become a success in the fields of math or science...

Supporters seem to be saying that simply because it's possible, it's practical. Well, not really. Show me some examples of successful unschooled people...