Zander's Place

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. - John Lennon

Two major, but seperate factors are to blame for my expressing interest in Radical Unschooling. For starters, I grew up in an emotionally abusive environment, that ocassionally added some physical attrocities. And then there was my personal and observed experiences with public school, which is not so much a place of learning, but more a place for most teachers (some public school teachers actually do their best to create a safe learning space) to abuse their authority over students. And, like I said, I've come across a lot of teachers who dared to dismiss the approved curriculum, and express passion for something beyond what's in out-dated text books. I'll use my freshman (grade 9) math teacher as an example.

I was never good at math, and I've always detested it I think a lot of that had to do with cognitive delays from my CP. Mr. Morrey, however, seemed hell-bent on ignoring the time constraints of the school year, and would actually let the class speak during discussions. Most teachers, I hate to say, dislike their jobs and/or hate the age group they're told to teach. They want to breeze through the school year just as badly as anyone else. Mr Morrey loved his job, but hated the administration. I used to hear his higher-ups bitch constantly because he'd maybe spend five days on fractions, instead of two. And he had zero free time between having a wife and a new baby and spending his free periods and then some tutoring. And despite the pressure on him, and the rush to prepare for tests, my class could still chat him up about Star Wars or ask questions about his insulin pump, etc. And that pissed his bosses off more - but every student he had had been pulling A's and B's when it was supposed to be impossible (because kids who attend school in the ghetto and have families that flirt with the poverty line just shouldn't be capable of obtaining good grades, apparently! BULLSHIT!).

So I had some good teachers, some really horrible ones who expressed their disapproval for openly-queer students by sabotaging their grades, and some who just didn't want a damn thing to do with a classroom ever again. Then there was the social hierchy and the drama. But the worst was the propoganda Public Service Announcements. You know, the commercials that say marijuana is a gateway drug, and high school drop-outs are destined to be perpetual, adult-children with no promising career or future - and are most likely drug addicts. As if society doesn't already guilt-trip people who don't like school!

I graduated high school a month late, expecting this magic door to open and lead the path to an awesome and fulfilling future once I had that all-important diploma in my hands. But there was no heavenly choir singing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, no insta-awesome life... all that was there for me was junior college and/or a job that was most likely going to involve the phrase, "Would you like to make that a combo meal for $1.99 more?"

I first heard of Unschooling around age 17, but was not in a position to get away with quitting school. So after I graduated, I started reading information and wishing I could have had the option growing up. I wouldn't have ever thought I was stupid, I wouldn't have gotten in trouble for all the homework I never did, and I wouldn't have had to be grounded all the damn time or feel pressured to conform to social fads - not that I ever did... but there was one time in seventh grade when I tried dressing more like a girl to get everybody off of my fucking back. Anywho, I'm currently doing anything I consider productive - whether it be working on this site, or playing video games, or reading through web comic archives for several days (Venus Envy and Questionable Content are my favorites) looking for inspiration for drawing. It helps that I'm currently applying for SSI and can't do any job that isn't under the table.

LINKS!!!

Sandra Dodd's Unschooling Page
Of Daffodils and Diesels
Against School - How public education cripples our kids, and why
Grace Llewellyn - author of The Teenage Liberation Handbook: how to quit school and get a real life and education, Real Lives: eleven teenagers who don't go to school tell their own stories and Freedom Challenge: African American Homeschoolers
The Natural Child Project