Interview with Canadian unschooling mom, Amy from WorldSchoolAdventures.com
“My grandmother wanted me to get a good education, so she kept me as far away from schools as possible.” ~Margaret Mead
This podcast series, which include Episodes #22 #23 and #24, Parts 1-3 called ‘A World of Learning’, explore in greater detail the concept and application of unschooling. In the Part 1, we spoke with Peter Kowalke, an unschooled adult, filmmaker and journalist. He shared with us how unschooling was applied to his childhood and the effects his unschooling experiences have on his life now.
In addition to the the podcasts, you will find a series of articles we are publishing about child-led education on our web site. Here are links to the first few in that series:
Unschooling – Our Genesis
What is Unschooling?
The World is Our Classroom
Shifting the Educational Paradigm
In this podcast episode, Amy from Worldschooladventures.com speaks about her introduction to unschooling and how she’s been able to apply the concept to her son’s education while earning credits through the Canadian Education administration. Amy also shares some of her family’s travel preparations with us.
In a recent blog post, Amy shares her Pre Travel Preparation: A list of all the things we need to do before departure.
Here are the first 6 of 19 and we urge you to visit her site to read the rest:
1. Commit.
2. Finance.
3. Plan a route.
4. Education.
5. Set a date.
6. Vaccinations.
If you’ve been following our podcasts, you will know Miro and I have considered our travels as an opportunity for education. I believe the biggest gift I can give Miro is preparation for his life ahead, the future of a well rounded global citizen, as I believe everything as we know it, is changing, including archaic systems that are no longer working.
“In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” ~Eric Hoffer
We are on an 8 year journey without an itinerary to follow, rather, our inspiration is our guide. Our approach to my education is as fluid as our travels. I am not obligated by a mandated curriculum or the formality of lessons. Rather, my inspiration and virtue of being in the world, open to participating is the inspiration to learn.
“Children are born passionately eager to make as much sense as they can of things around them. If we attempt to control, manipulate, or divert this process, the independent scientist in the child disappears.” ~ John Holt
“There is no one way to unschool.
Unschooling is primarily about process not content. The process of learning, the process of knowing yourself, openness, confidence, self-determination, independent thinking, critical thinking….none of which one gets when following other people’s agenda. Making one’s own agenda is what it is all about. Again this is done not in isolation but in the context of ones family and community.”
~Joel Hawthorne from the article What is Unschooling?
Lainie Liberti is a recovering branding expert, who’s career once focused on creating campaigns for green – eco business, non-profits and conscious business. Dazzling clients with her high-energy designs for over 18 years, Lainie lent her artistic talents to businesses that matter. But that was then.
In 2008, after the economy took a turn, Lainie decided to be the change (instead of a victim) and began the process of “lifestyle redesign,” a joint decision between both her and her 11-year-old son, Miro. They sold or gave away all of of their possessions in 2009 and began a life of travel, service, and exploration. Lainie and her son Miro began their open-ended adventure backpacking through Central and South America. They are slow traveling around the globe allowing inspiration to be their compass. The pair is most interested in exploring different cultures, contributing by serving, and connecting with humanity as ‘global citizens.’
Today Lainie considers herself a digital nomad who is living a location independent life. She and her son write and podcast their experiences from the road at Raising Miro on the Road of Life.
