I recently listened to Zakiyya Ismail’s Ted Talk about how education is a practice of freedom (go check it out!). It inspired me to make a list of all the freedoms my children currently enjoy because of unschooling.
Let’s jump in!
Bodily Autonomy
- They can wake up when they want and sleep as needed.
- They can use the bathroom whenever they need to.
- They can eat whenever they’re hungry.
- They can wear whatever they want.
- They can move their bodies the way they feel most comfortable–sprawled on the floor, fidgeting, or even upside-down.
- They can enjoy the outdoors and nature as they choose.
- They can be loud and make noise.
- We can travel and explore any time of the year.
- They can stay in bed sick without worrying about falling behind or missing a test.
Educational Freedom
- They can follow their interests.
- They can choose their teachers.
- They can read what they like.
- They can collaborate on projects without it being considered “cheating.”
- They can immerse themselves in their interests for as long as they want.
- They can choose their own resources.
- They can learn for enjoyment/necessity, not for the test.
- They can use technology and tools whenever they want.
- They can determine their own learning goals.
- They can do things at their own pace.
- They can learn in the style(s) that fits them best.
- They can learn without unwanted competition or evaluation.
- They can stop and switch gears, or even quit.
- They can learn practical skills relevant to their lives.
- Their interests are not stereotyped and labeled as “nerdy,” “girly,” or “uncool.”
Emotional/Social Connection
- They can have their emotional needs met.
- They have a safe and supportive environment.
- They can interact with others (or not) as they choose.
- They can interact with a variety of ages and backgrounds as they choose.
- They can talk, discuss, and ask questions as needed and desired.
- They have the time to work out conflicts and disagreements.
- They can choose their own playmates/friends.
- They can take a “personal day” whenever they want.
- They can express big emotions without shame.
- They have an emotionally present adult available.
- They can figure out their identity in the context of unconditional love.
Decolonization
- They can resist being stereotyped because of their race, gender, background, etc.
- They can read outside the prescribed Western canon.
- There’s no pressure to assimilate to white culture.
- They don’t have to speak English if they don’t want to.
- They can eat foods from their culture without being teased or the food labeled weird/gross/smelly/etc.
- They can learn about social issues/history from non-white perspectives.
- They can question the dominant narrative of patriarchy & white supremacy.
Especially if you compare this list to compulsory education, one wonders why we resign ourselves and our children to such an oppressive system when there’s so much freedom on the other side.
What would you add to the list?
7 Responses
Yes! Great post, Iris. I love what you’ve shared here. The pictures you chose took this from informative and thought-provoking to something even more far-reaching. And I really enjoyed Zakiyya’s talk; so glad you mentioned it/her here!
Thank you for reading, Akilah!
I think about the idea of freedom a lot when I volunteer at my son’s school. (He started kindergarten in public school this past year!) Every time I go in, I feel this kind of weight that the teacher and the students have to bear: they have tasks to get done, limited time to do them in, the need for the whole group to be doing the same thing at the same time. It causes a lot of pushing from the teacher, constant reminders, using the “teacher voice,” threats and bribery. Definitely not ideal in any way!
One thing that I do find…I guess beneficial? about the group school environment is that the kids learn that their individual needs and wants can’t always be catered to. There is a group that they are part of that is larger than themselves. I think something I might worry about in unschooling is the question of whether the kids would be able to learn to submit to other people’s wants and needs outside their own? Is that something you encounter and have to deal with?
I think that’s a perception that definitely outs people off – but life provides many opportunities for naturally learning boundaries and cooperation.
We see this with young children before they are school age – they learn within the context of family that their needs matter, but so do everyone else’s.
And that can continue without the need compulsory schooling. Both in the family and the wider world – unschooled will still be part of social and community groups.
And it can happen with a lot more respect, usually, for everyone’s needs being equally as important. No heirarchy, where kids are lower on the rung than adults in terms of whose needs are met first.
I think it’s a much better way if learning cooperation! Without the heirarchy there is no need for the power sturggles and bullying and self-protective mechanisms that so frequently develop in a school or other heirarchical environment.
Sorry for typos, my phone doesn’t like me!
Hi Elanor! The problem that I see with the group think in school environments is that it’s done without the child’s consent, understanding, or trust. It’s definitely important to teach kids mutual care and compromise, but I find that this is best done in a context of loving and trusting relationships rather than authoritarian ones. In school, kids may learn to submit to other’s wants/needs, but any forced sharing or forced submission does not teach them to actually care for others from the heart. They may learn how to mindlessly follow rules to avoid punishment or gain a teacher’s approval, but that’s not a benefit in my book. 😛
I’ll jump in here if I may 🙂 I think ideally, a free child does not expect to be “catered to” but expects their wants will be figured in with the group in which they are involved and good solutions (not either/or – zero/sum solutions) will be found/created in the best interests of all those involved. — wonderful blog btw!