Can Christians Unschool?

Can Christians unschool?

We’re Christian unschoolers. Maybe you’re Christian unschoolers too? There are lots of us living this way of life. But are we doing the right thing? Or are we side-stepping our responsibilities when we choose to unschool? Are we choosing the easy, lazy path?

I often hear of parents who are struggling with homeschooling. Their kids aren’t doing their required school work. They’re protesting and battling with their parents. Life is hard. Despite the difficulties, these parents often say, ‘We just have to keep going. It doesn’t matter whether we’re enjoying homeschooling or not. We have to do it because it’s our duty.’

But I don’t think God wants us to regard parenting as a duty we have to endure. Instead, does He want us to enjoy our kids, and take delight in them just as He takes delight in us? Our homes should be places of joy and peace. Kids learn and thrive in such an environment. So do we.

Our homes also need to be safe refuges from the world because, unfortunately, regardless of the way we parent and homeschool our kids, difficulties will arrive that will challenge us all. There will be times when we’ll need to work together as a family, encouraging and supporting each other. It seems to me that we’ll be more able to solve problems or endure the hard days if we’re a strong family team, not divided over such things as homeschooling.

So, is unschooling the answer when homeschooling is a struggle? Or have Christian unschoolers just given in to their kids to avoid conflict? Could we have chosen the easier pathway because we’re too lazy to do the hard work of parenting? Surely it’s not good to let our kids do what they want because won’t they grow up to be self-centred if we allow them their freedom?

There’s no doubt that there are a lot of people in the world who think they should have the right to do whatever they like regardless of how it affects others. All they care about is themselves. If we unschool, will our unschooled kids end up like this too?

Or is unschooling not necessarily about doing whatever we like? Could it be about having the freedom to choose to do what is right? We could force our kids to do what’s right, but wouldn’t it be better if they’re intrinsically motivated to do this?

But how do kids learn right from wrong? Could strong connections between parent and children allow us to guide them? Is our example important?

Many times, I’ve been asked this question: ‘If kids are free to make their own choices, why would they choose to do what’s right when that option is often difficult?’ Yes, knowing what we should do doesn’t mean we’ll actually do it. But, in my experience, unschooled kids do choose to do the right thing. (Of course, they sometimes fail, but so does everyone.) Could this willingness to make the better choice have something to do with unconditional love, the kind of love that shows our kids they are uniquely valuable people?

Do we need to love our kids unconditionally like God loves us? Is this what’s at the heart of Christian unschooling?

Unconditonal love: that’s why we’re Christian unschoolers. It might be why you chose this way of life too.

So, what do you think? Is it okay for Christians to unschool? I’d love to hear your thoughts. You could add a comment here on my blog or hop over to Instagram where I’m writing a series of Christian unschooling posts.