I remember there was a thread about it...
Wife has gone on a manic unschooling trip and seeks to pull our 6 year old out of first grade next year..
She basically said we should ask him and see what he wants to do.
Ive read about it and homeschooling, and any success IMHO involves a great deal of parent involvement. Though the unschooling model is almost religiously based on saying yes to your kids(which is crazy to me).
All the articles Ive read on unschooling seem to be women rationalizing doing nothing, and using semantics to break down "education, learning, teaching... etc."
My wife is barely involved in our daily lives as it is, and Ive told her my biggest fear is actually leaving the kids home all day with her to do nothing...
Right now i do well and am home almost full time with my kids, but as another business venture picks up I can see needing a 9-5 schedule during their school year to give it a foundation and get management in place.
Shit... when it comes to this issue the wife turns into sounding like a fucking rep for the church of scientology- shouting "what are you afraid of," "open your heart and you'll agree," " have faith."
She said its no big deal if our 6 year old son chooses to play on the computer all day if thats what he wants to do, and that he'll get it out of his system even if it takes 6 month or whatever... then asks ne to tell her why it wouldnt be good for him... wtf?!
God damn...
Ive gone to meetings with other families doing this in an effort to get her to STFU for at the least the rest of the summer. Some of the women there are very impressive with respect to how involved they are with their childrens development/education(as well as physically - no pics). My wife is not that kind of person at all, but she won't accept the idea that her lack of involvement is a negative; she thinks its the possitive factor in this unschooling equation.
Is that old thread on the subject still alive?
Any personal experiences? 
Looks like the thread got double posted. Mods can you please delete the other one.. thanks
Good luck to your kid. Sounds like he's going to need it! 
Grab your wife by the head and shake it like it's a paint can.
A member of my family unschools their 4 children, it gives no structure to the kids lives which I think is the most important thing they could have. It's important to have some kind of goal for the day some sort of work, gives them something to strive for and self confidence with out that everyday is basically a day off and it'll get to the point that even the tasks everyday people do on top of their work or school day is a massive chore and they seek to be rewarded for doing even the simplest things.
I'm not saying all people who unschool are doing it wrong I'm just saying in most cases, I bet 90% of them it's just laziness. Stay at home mom's not working and contributing little if anything to the financial being of the family unit. So they are seeking some sort of contributing role and this one is a dangerous one.
Get her to be a part of the child's schooling not the source of it. She can volunteer and make a good relationship at the school with the teachers and keep a close on your child and that'll be encouraging for everyone. She can do it in the mornings and still be home in time for Ellen.
ps- I woke up to let the dog out and noticed this thread and this subject triggers me. Fucking do nothing bitches wanting to raise do nothing kids
pps- not calling your wife a bitch, she is probably a very nice lady.
ppps- haha pp that's funny right there
The worst part is the bitch is a Princeton graduate; double major.
Jesus man, you should've vetted her for being crazy before popping out kids with her. Sounds like she doesn't want to do the school run so would rather ruin her kids chances at life than get out of bed. This would be a deal breaker for me – I'd either win this one and keep the kid in school, or I'd start gathering evidence then divorce her seeking full custody, even the most sexist court should look favourably on a father who wants to give his kids an education vs. a woman who wants them playing minecraft 12 hours a day.
I'm not familiar with what unschooling is, but my initial impression is that schooling is to employment, as unschooling is to unemployment
ryans -Thas is exactly where I stand.
Jesus man, you should've vetted her for being crazy before popping out kids with her. Sounds like she doesn't want to do the school run so would rather ruin her kids chances at life than get out of bed. This would be a deal breaker for me – I'd either win this one and keep the kid in school, or I'd start gathering evidence then divorce her seeking full custody, even the most sexist court should look favourably on a father who wants to give his kids an education vs. a woman who wants them playing minecraft 12 hours a day.
I have every member of our extended family aware and on my side. They know her and think Im gods fucking gift and are shocked ive lasted this long... but things are great otherwise.
With my wife at her manic, mystical worst my life is still a blessed 9 out of ten; Im happy and the kids are happy.
This issue though is one where there can be no compromise IMHO.
sicko - I'm not familiar with what unschooling is, but my initial impression is that schooling is to employment, as unschooling is to unemploymentIve done research and your conclusion is spot on.
Badmonkey - The worst part is the bitch is a Princeton graduate; double major.Call the amberlamps, she's got a screw loose.
It's in our nature to want to give more to our children and make things easier for them. Ever watched them struggle with something and then step in and do it for them? That's basically what she's trying to do with unschooling.
I'm sorry to rant but it's just crippling and imo it's borderline neglect/child abuse.
sicko - I'm not familiar with what unschooling is, but my initial impression is that schooling is to employment, as unschooling is to unemploymentEven the name sounds fucking outrageously retarded.
Unschool
Sounds like the wife is lonely and having separation anxiety issues with the kid.
She wants to keep the kid at home to be with her, even if just to be around.
Something is up with her mentally and/or emotionally that might need to be addressed. But I'm no expert.
Besides learning their ABCs and 123s, children need to be around different types of kids to learn social skills as they grow up. Sometimes a kid is the hammer, sometimes the nail, and learning how to deal with different types of social encounters is important at a young age.
hell I'm not sure that I should even be left alone unstructured...and I'm 47 fucking years old!
"Get her to be a part of the child's schooling not the source of it. She can volunteer and make a good relationship at the school with the teachers and keep a close on your child and that'll be encouraging for everyone. She can do it in the mornings and still be home in time for Ellen."
This sounds great, but generally speaking, teachers don't want parents taking a proactive or, rather, a participative role in the school.
I'm not saying I know tons of parents who homeschool, but those that do all took a similar path.
Want to take more hands on role in child's education - - - > volunteer at school - - - > teacher gives them office/clerical work. Grading papers in a work room outside the class, gathering materials, making copies in office, etc. - - - > parent gets frustrated they aren't allowed to help with in class education - - - > makes decision to home school
Think of it this way, someone volunteers to help you at your job. Are you going to give them work AWAY from you so that you are not constantly being monitored or are you going to keep them close where they can essentially scrutinize everything you do? That's basically the attitude they felt was taken with them.
Badmonkey - The worst part is the bitch is a Princeton graduate; double major.
Meaningless really.
I have lost count of the broads I've come across in life that did really well in school but I wouldn't trust to keep a goldfish alive. I used to think it was some sort of anomaly but after a while you come across it at an astounding rate.
Maybe in the female mind that makes education an irrelevant thing, but it is indeed necessary to build structure in a developing mind.
So I suggest you acknowledge your wife's stupid fucking opinion, then make it clear you are in no way shape or form going to entertain such nonsense based off some inane buzzword.
Bad Moon Rising - "Get her to be a part of the child's schooling not the source of it. She can volunteer and make a good relationship at the school with the teachers and keep a close on your child and that'll be encouraging for everyone. She can do it in the mornings and still be home in time for Ellen."By volunteering I meant being a lunch or break time mediator or crossing guard. Parents grading papers?
This sounds great, but generally speaking, teachers don't want parents taking a proactive or, rather, a participative role in the school.
I'm not saying I know tons of parents who homeschool, but those that do all took a similar path.
Want to take more hands on role in child's education - - - > volunteer at school - - - > teacher gives them office/clerical work. Grading papers in a work room outside the class, gathering materials, making copies in office, etc. - - - > parent gets frustrated they aren't allowed to help with in class education - - - > makes decision to home school
Think of it this way, someone volunteers to help you at your job. Are you going to give them work AWAY from you so that you are not constantly being monitored or are you going to keep them close where they can essentially scrutinize everything you do? That's basically the attitude they felt was taken with them.
Parents should take a more involving role in schools, I don't mean it in a way by telling their teachers how to do their jobs I mean it in having a good relationship with teachers and be notified if their kids are being assholes at school.
TTT
Can't begin to tell you what a horrible idea that is.