tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887472375436189776.post2018232302786750783..comments2022-07-16T04:15:49.003-07:00Comments on Organic Mothering: Gospel of FreedomUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887472375436189776.post-4398623195429941042013-06-30T10:26:11.993-07:002013-06-30T10:26:11.993-07:00Thanks, Sue! For now, I simply have to abandon the...Thanks, Sue! For now, I simply have to abandon the Radical Unschooling moniker because it does teach a freedom without limits dogma, and as a Catholic and simply as a person living in this world, I don't believe in it. What I said doesn't assume anything about children, but about adults giving children too much responsibility for their choices when it isn't developmentally appropriate or responsible to do so. I am looking for a new path toward Catholic Natural Learning that does not depend upon unschooling philosophy, which as I have said, does have its positive aspects. It's just that those aspects are already found within our Faith and can be practiced using any homeschooling method. If unschooling is simply doing what works best in your family, then I am all for it. But secular humanism is so prevalent, and so many have been led on a path of neglect by trying to follow the RU dogma, that I feel the need to go deeper. Dayna Martin is right, that we are always on the journey. Thanks for sharing! Your blog is very inspiring. What I found with the unschooling Catholics in Suzie Andres' book seemed to be in reality relaxed/eclectic to me, so maybe that is closer to what unschooling is for most Christians. <br />Rita Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11438488311516548453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887472375436189776.post-1208755560555640842013-06-29T01:57:00.807-07:002013-06-29T01:57:00.807-07:00Rita,
We are Catholic. We unschool. We live by pr...Rita,<br /><br />We are Catholic. We unschool. We live by principles and not by rules, so I guess my children are free, in theory, to do what they like. They however choose to do what is right and necessary, in accordance with our Catholic beliefs. They do not choose to act in a manner which is alarming or harmful to their health or morals. Unschooling looks very different in different families which can be expected. What happens in one family won't necessarily happen in another. I am absolutely sure none of my children will ever choose to drink and eat nothing but soda. <br /><br />Parents have a huge influence on their unschooling children. Unschooling is not hands-off and anything goes parenting. I think the thread running through our lives is mutual love and respect, and grace from God. With those, a parent can share successfully with her children all she feels is true, without imposing control and rules. Children will listen. Connectivity... I've been thinking about this. My children are very connected to me. Why shouldn't they respect my values and want to follow my example?<br /><br />We initially thought of unschooling in terms of education only, but the longer we unschool, the more I come to realise it is a way of life. I can see why Sandra Dodd has applied unschooling to all areas of her life. This doesn't mean I adopt her values and beliefs. They are unique to her family. Our Catholic family is very different. That's okay. I have found it unhelpful to make comparisons between families. I wouldn't want to judge others because I know I would hate someone doing that to me. <br /><br />I can see you are spending a lot of time thoroughly researching unschooling. This is something I never did. We just arrived at unschooling in a gradual and natural way, and it is only now I am looking back with wonder at the whole process. I feel so blessed to live this life with my children. When it comes down to it, I think unschooling has to be experienced to be understood. It is like love. It looks so different as a theory on paper.<br /><br />"I don't think we can Catholicize an educational method and lifestyle that preaches a freedom without limits dogma." This assumes that unschooling children will automatically choose to use their freedom in a way incompatible with the Church. In my experience with my own children, this just has not happened. Sue Elvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04461161335483760142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887472375436189776.post-14915887308762679912013-06-27T12:47:20.427-07:002013-06-27T12:47:20.427-07:00Honestly, it drives me nuts when people "skim...Honestly, it drives me nuts when people "skim" an indepth article, and so fail to understand the whole picture, and then make irrelevant comments. I read that book and Suzie's other one, which I mentioned, and joined the FB groups. I have seen the "real" picture of radical unschooling, and it isn't pretty. That does not mean I am against unschooling, as I have written extensively about it's positive points in this blog, and my attraction to some of its philosophy. Please read the full article before commenting in future. Thanks!Rita Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11438488311516548453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7887472375436189776.post-72723770270777439552013-06-27T06:44:32.151-07:002013-06-27T06:44:32.151-07:00I don't have time to read your whole article t...I don't have time to read your whole article thoroughly but from skimming I want to say this: Unschooling is not unparenting. There are many different ways to unschool. Check out the book A Little Way of Homeschooling and also the FB Group and Yahoo Group Unschooling Catholics for a real picture of what Unschooling looks like.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13719787200607081852noreply@blogger.com