Dayna is a freedom-loving mother of four, the author of Radical Unschooling : A Revolution Has Begun, and a teacher for other unconventionally-minded parents who welcome her into their homes as The UnNanny.
I hope that you'll find her take on education as fascinating as I do... ENJOY!
To learn more about Dayna Martin & radical unschooling, visit DaynaMartin.com.
I really enjoyed this. We have just started homeschooling with our daughter. It has wonderful so far. I would say that we are somewhere between homeschool and unschool. It works great for us since my daughter is one who likes structure. Our family is definitly closer for it because it is a family effort. This is a great perspective and I appreciate you doing this interview.
ReplyDeleteI think that "sounds" like a wonderful way to raise your family! More power to you, Mama Rai -xo
DeleteI love it! Thank you for the excellent, insightful interview. I always love the stuff that you put out!
DeleteTHANKS so much, Jenn -xoxoxoxoxo
Delete"who could we be if we were allowed to be free?" This is the best that I have ever heard concerning an unschooling life, especially a radical unschooling life. I had a conversation with my 7 yo daughter today, Sunday, as all of her new friends left the beach resort one by one until there were only adults and toddlers left. She asked me where all of the kids went and I explained that they had to go back home, to school and work, that they were not free to stay at the beach during week days. The look of horror on her face! "I will never go to school," she yelled as she adjusted her goggles and ran back into the waves. She uses the word free daily, and at seven she gets what it means to be free. On our walk home we encountered butterflies which led to looking up their names, dragon flies, mushrooms, a dead mole, varieties of tropical flowers, dozens of people to speak and share with, a mother and baby which brought out her maternal instincts. We took our dog for a walk, talked to more adults and toddlers, many seniors and went out for a late moonlit dinner. We didn't need to be home for baths and bedtimes and pack a lunch and check her homework, etc. She and her sister just now before midnight fell asleep in my bed reading books that they chose from 3 trips to the island library this week. I didn't have to tell them to brush, floss, rinse with sea salt, that's part of their rhythm. Dayna said it best, they are free to be present in the moment, to be who they are now and who they are going to be tomorrow without "preparing" for the next school phase of their lives. My daughters are living their natural lives because they are free. I am still in the deschooling process, still deprogramming after graduating from college in 1990 and birthing my first child in 1991. He was mostly unschooled except for 2 yrs of high school and less than two years of middle school for my second son. They both chose to return to the freedom of unschooling. The oldest is in college on his terms, only two days a week. He pursues his passion in music the rest of the week. Tennis is my second child's passion and he chooses to attend a tennis academy 5 days a week and unschool. It has been a 20 yr learning process. I am really liking who I am and who I am free to be now despite not having such a free childhood. The radically unschooled child is truly free to be.....Adults can have the same freedom, it is never too late. Wonderful interview, my favorite!
ReplyDeleteWow- what an epic comment to wake up to this morning! Love it. THANK YOU for sharing a bit of your story- adds so much to the convo! MUCH LOVE to you & your family :O)
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