The 'Unschooling' Movement: Letting Children Lead Their Learning

This show originally aired on Oct. 30, 2018. 

Is a child who spends the day watching videos or playing in the backyard actually learning? Yes, say advocates of the “unschooling” movement.

Guests

Maleka Diggs, founder of Eclectic Learning Network, a secular, black and brown-centered home-education network. She unschools her 11- and 13-year-old daughters.

Peter Gray, psychology  professor at Boston College. Co-founder and president of the nonprofit Alliance for Self-Directed Education. Author of “Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life.”

Michael Apple, professor of curriculum and instruction, and educational policy studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Interview Highlights

On a typical day for children being unschooled

: “Every day has a different tune, and for our family, unschooling or self-directed learning is something that we’ve embraced over the years. It allows them the freedom to be able to explore ideas, thoughts, whether it be read a book or maybe start off and kick off the day watching television. Either way, it’s their decision and my focus becomes to guide them through whatever decisions that they make to ensure that their experience is as fruitful