Alas!  I just watched an ABC News segment presented on Good Morning America about unschooling as a homeschooling philosophy without books, tests, or classes.  Needless to say, it caused me to cringe.  Although the reporter, Mrs. Chang, does not appear militantly opposed to homeschooling  in general, she does selectively emphasize the lack of discipline in two  unschooling families which she then uses to logically seque to the questions on everyone’s minds begging to be asked:  Is unschooling a good idea?  Is unschooling as a homeschooling option legal?  Mrs. Chang then displays a map of the United States coded by degrees of state regulation and leaves the audience wondering if it isn’t in the best interests of the child and the nation to standardize homeschooling regulations in general.

Unfortunately, the two teens that she interviewed projected an awkward and insecure demeanor which naturally made you wonder how they could possibly set their own course for enlightened self-education.   I know some Christian unschooling families who would have presented a much better picture of unschooling.  Sigh!  I just wish ABC News would interview some of the Christian homeschooling teens in my Indy REJO!CE speech and debate club.  The American public would see a completely different side of homeschooling which would knock their socks off and give them hope about what we are doing in the Christian homeschooling movement!

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Have you seen the ABC News video yet?  If not, you can watch it now.  What is your reaction?  I didn’t see any indication that the two families were Christian, so if you are pursuing a Christian unschooling philosophy, please  give us your perspective.  Leave a comment below so that we can process this report on unschooling without books, tests, or classes.