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Difference Between Un-schooling and De-schooling

Unschooling and deschooling are two approaches to alternative education, but they focus on different aspects of learning and education.

1. Unschooling:

Definition: Unschooling is a specific educational philosophy that rejects traditional schooling in favor of a learner-driven approach. Children follow their interests and passions, learning naturally from everyday experiences rather than through a set curriculum.

Key Ideas:

  • No set curriculum or schedule; learning happens through life experiences.
  • Emphasizes freedom, exploration, and curiosity.
  • Learning is not divided into subjects but happens in a more holistic, interconnected way.
  • Parents or guardians facilitate rather than direct learning.

Focus: Unschooling is an ongoing, active process of learning outside traditional schooling structures.

2. Deschooling:

Definition: Deschooling is the process of adjusting from the mindset of traditional schooling to a more flexible, self-directed form of learning. It often refers to a transitional period after leaving conventional schooling, during which both the child and parent adapt to a different way of thinking about education.

Key Ideas:

  • Aimed at unlearning the habits, beliefs, and assumptions ingrained by formal education.
  • Allows time for decompression and rethinking the purpose of learning.
  • Encourages exploration and play without the pressure of structured learning.

Focus: Deschooling is more of a temporary phase or period of unlearning the norms of formal education to prepare for a new approach to learning, such as unschooling or homeschooling.

Key Difference:

  • Unschooling is a long-term educational philosophy where the learner’s interests dictate what and how they learn.
  • Deschooling is a transitional process that helps individuals move away from the traditional mindset of education, often as a preparation for unschooling or other alternative forms of learning.

Deschooling often comes before unschooling in families, shifting from conventional schooling to a more self-directed educational approach.

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