HOW NOT TO BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS

It probably seems like I spend an inordinate amount of time reporting on the activities of the local homeschool groups I belong to.  I truly can't help myself.  If I discuss it with my non-homeschooling friends and family, they only hear "crazy homeschoolers".  Obviously, I can't talk about the members to the members, so this is my only outlet (besides my husband, who can only take so much).

I mentioned before that we joined the local Unschooling group because the families seemed much more like-minded to our philosophies and way of life.  Since then, a new family who joined the "secular" group I have belonged to for years called me an unschooler.  I was caught off guard and told him that a Radical Unschooler would disagree with him on that.  Have I mentioned how much labels drive me nuts?  Anyway, that group is in the midst of a freak out, mainly (or maybe entirely) between two women. 

One mom dared to use the word grounded in connection with discipline, and it was ON.  It could have been an opportunity for a healthy discussion about parenting styles, teenagers, adolescent behavior, discipline (which means to teach, not to punish), etc.  Instead, one mother of an only child took it upon herself to claim that discipline has no place in the life of unschooling families.  She took the step of contacting other Radical Unschoolers not in the group about this other member's comments.  She then posted all of their answers.  The original poster is offended that her info was shared with people outside of the group, and it has degenerated into a fight.

I never really paid attention to the original comments about the grounding of the teenager, so I have no real thoughts on her behavior or her parents reaction.  I do know that she (the teen) credits her parents' involvement with setting her on a better path.  My issue here is that narrowly following a set of rules never leads to a broader view of the world.  If someone is confronted with a different way of doing something, and they only consult others who already share their beliefs, then how will they ever get a fresh perspective?  I am not saying that everyone is right or that some ways of raising children aren't better than some other methods.  (Read The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris if you suffer from the rational, thinking person's guilt at judging other cultures or belief systems.  His discussions about true morality, based on what is best for all of humanity will help, I promise.)  All I'm suggesting is that if you don't at least peek at what the rest of the world does, you cannot reasonably defend your own position.  You cannot say Radical Unschooling is best, if you have never honestly compared the outcomes with those of other methods of schooling/parenting.