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Unschooling

A school counselor in silhouette, against a line graph showing a gradual and consistent rise. | Illustration: Lex Villena, Paul Florea

Public schools

Do U.S. Public Schools Really Need 77,000 More Counselors?

Schools were already staffed at record levels even before COVID-19, when enrollment fell by nearly 1.3 million students.

Aaron Garth Smith | 2.29.2024 8:00 AM

Close-up of a student's hand as they fill out a multiple-choice test. | Sengchoy2016 | Dreamstime.com

National School Choice Week

School Choice Is Popular and Increasingly Common

Kids have disappeared from public schools, with most opting for a range of alternatives.

J.D. Tuccille | 1.22.2024 7:00 AM

westendrf528797 | Phillip Waterman Westend61/Newscom

School Choice

Once Marginalized, Homeschooling Hits the Mainstream

DIY approaches to education—including homeschooling, learning pods, and microschools—are gaining popularity as public schools fold under pressure.

J.D. Tuccille | 8.7.2020 1:30 PM

dpaphotosfour570813 | Arne Dedert/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom

Homeschooling

Why Pandemic Pods are 'the Ultimate In Parent-Driven Education Innovation'

With public schools largely out of commission, parents are putting together their own ad hoc schooling alternatives.

Lenore Skenazy | 7.29.2020 9:00 AM

Unschooling_Coronavirus_thumbnail

Unschooling

How to Teach Your Kids During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Try 'Unschooling'

Education researcher Kerry McDonald sees this crisis as an opportunity to experiment with self-directed learning.

Zach Weissmueller | 4.8.2020 3:00 PM

kerry-mcdonald7-3 | Foundation for Economic Education

Unschooling

'Unschooling' Is the Ultimate Laissez-Faire Version of School Choice. But Can Your Kids Teach Themselves How To Read and Do Math?

Author Kerry McDonald explains why her kids flourish outside of conventional classrooms—and why yours might too.

Nick Gillespie | 7.3.2019 1:45 PM

Large image on homepages

Reasontv

Do Kids Need School? Inside the 'Unschooling' Movement

"School is a place where children go to learn to be stupid," said author and educator John Holt.

Zach Weissmueller | 1.24.2019 2:48 PM

Large image on homepages | Eugene Valter/iStock

Education

Don't Homeschool Your Kids, Unschool Them

Homeschoolers are increasingly ridding themselves not just of schools but of traditional notions about schooling.

Kerry McDonald | 9.2.2018 6:00 AM

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