Podcast Summary
Living and Learning through Unschooling on a Homestead: Unschooling allows children to learn in a self-directed way, essential skills can be taught through everyday life, and staying grateful is important for maintaining a simple lifestyle
Ben Hewitt and his wife made a conscious decision to unschool their two sons and live a simple lifestyle on a homestead they built themselves in Vermont. They didn't follow a traditional curriculum but instead put their children in situations where they had to learn essential skills like math. This approach, called unschooling, allowed the boys to learn in a more natural and self-directed way. Ben's decision to live on a homestead and farm was not an early life goal but a gradual process. He did, however, have a clear vision of becoming a writer and making a living from it. Their lifestyle may seem romanticized, but Ben acknowledges the challenges and the importance of staying grateful for their circumstances.
Feeling Unfulfilled in High School, Speaker Drops Out and Finds Personal Growth: Leaving the conventional educational system can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth, despite initial concerns from parents or societal pressure.
Sometimes, not fitting in the conventional educational system can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth. The speaker shares how he felt unfulfilled and disrespected in high school, leading him to drop out at a young age. Although his parents were initially worried, they supported his decision, and he went on to forge his own path. He wonders if the financial burden of higher education would have hindered his writing career, but also acknowledges the possibility of thriving in academia. Ultimately, he is grateful for the freedom and experiences that came from leaving the traditional educational route.
Embrace the unplanned journey of life: Be open to new opportunities and trust that good things will come if you stay flexible and adaptable
Life doesn't always follow a predetermined plan. The speaker shared his experience of dropping out of high school, experimenting with unproductive habits, and working in construction, which seemed aimless at the time but provided valuable skills and experiences. He also mentioned being influenced by a friend building his own place at a young age. The speaker encourages young people not to worry too much about having everything planned out and instead, just get started with life and be open to new opportunities. He believes that if you leave yourself open to serendipity, good things will happen. The speaker warns against placing too much emphasis on creating a rigid life plan and encourages a more flexible approach.
Living Frugally to Achieve the Dream of Owning a Homestead: By setting low material expectations and living below their means, the couple was able to easily satisfy their needs later in life and pay off their debt to buy a homestead
With determination and creative living, it's possible to achieve the dream of owning a homestead even with limited resources. The couple shared their experience of living frugally, saving money, and eventually buying a piece of land in Vermont. They lived in substandard conditions, such as a tent or small, rundown rentals, and bathed in a river. Through Olympic-level frugality and hard work, they managed to save $15,000 and borrowed additional funds to buy a $30,000 piece of land. The key takeaway is that by setting low material expectations and living below their means, they were able to easily satisfy their needs later in life and pay off their debt. This strategy is a powerful one for those looking to achieve financial goals, as it's often easier to maintain a lower standard of living than to increase it.
Building a debt-free homestead: Couple prioritized debt freedom to live autonomously and pursue interests, learned skills through experience, and maintained focus on self-sufficient lifestyle goals.
The couple's decision to live debt-free and build their own homes was driven by their desire to have autonomy and control over their lifestyle, allowing them to pursue their interests in farming and homesteading. They prioritized paying off debt before taking on new loans and relied on their community for help when needed. Their experiences from their first home-building project gave them the skills and knowledge to approach the second project with more confidence and clarity on their goals. While there may not have been a grand philosophical underpinning at the start, their shared vision of creating a self-sufficient homestead remained a consistent motivator throughout their journey.
Living Simply and Finding Joy on a Homestead: The speaker cherishes the connections and pleasures of a self-sufficient lifestyle, including manual labor, relationships with animals and land, and community, despite trade-offs like limited resources and travel.
The speaker values the simple pleasures and connections that come from living a self-sufficient life on a homestead. They find purpose and joy in manual labor, the relationships with their animals and the land, and being embedded in a community. They acknowledge the trade-offs, such as limited travel and resources, but prioritize this lifestyle over the flexibility of a more transient society. Additionally, they have chosen to unschool their children, allowing them to learn through their experiences and interactions with the world around them, and continue to value the importance of place and community in their lives.
Unschooling vs Homeschooling: Different Approaches to Education: Unschooling emphasizes creating a learning environment that allows children to explore their interests freely, while homeschooling can encompass a variety of educational approaches.
Unschooling and homeschooling are related but distinct approaches to education. While all unschooling is homeschooling, not all homeschooling is unschooling. Unschooling emphasizes creating an environment where learning can naturally occur, allowing children flexibility and freedom to pursue their interests. The public education system and standardized curricula aim to make learning happen. The unschooling parents in the discussion prioritize ensuring their children have essential skills but prioritize learning through experience and exploration over structured lessons. They recognize that each child's educational journey is unique and that unschooling means different things to different families.
Impact of cultural beliefs on children's learning: Unschooling can foster valuable skills and self-reliance, but requires a supportive and engaged environment. Traditional education's negative trends limit opportunities for hands-on learning.
Children's natural ability to learn can be significantly impacted by cultural beliefs and societal norms that prioritize formalized instruction. The speaker shares her personal experience of raising children who learned to read without formal instruction due to constant access to books and parental engagement. However, she emphasizes that this style of learning requires a supportive and engaged environment. Unschooling, or learning outside of traditional schools, can be misunderstood as a hands-off approach, but in reality, it often requires intentional facilitation and mentorship. The negative trends of modern education, such as long hours spent in school and excessive screen time, limit opportunities for children to learn essential skills outside of the curriculum. The speaker's children have learned various skills, such as proficiency with hand tools, wilderness survival, and domestic tasks, which are valuable in everyday life. These skills are not the sole focus but rather an outgrowth of their interests and environment. Ultimately, the speaker values the resourcefulness and self-reliance her children have gained from their unschooling experience.
Empowering children to learn: Parents can foster resourcefulness and self-reliance by providing age-appropriate responsibilities and experiences, building children's confidence and supporting their learning process effectively.
Children learn best when given the responsibility and resources to do so, rather than being confined to a standardized instructional environment. Confidence is a crucial aspect of learning, which can be eroded by the belief that learning only happens in specific ways. Parents play a significant role in their children's learning journey, and providing them with age-appropriate responsibilities and experiences can foster resourcefulness and self-reliance. For instance, allowing children to use knives and handle minor injuries can help them develop essential skills and build confidence. By observing and recognizing when children are ready for new responsibilities, parents can support their learning process effectively. Additionally, it's essential to remember that children learn continuously, and their experiences outside the classroom contribute significantly to their overall development.
Overlooking risks of excessive screen time: Parents need to balance safety concerns with potential risks of excessive screen time and consider its impact on children's development.
While we as parents focus on tangible risks to our children's safety, we often overlook the potential risks of their excessive screen time and its impact on their physical, intellectual, psychological, and spiritual development. This conversation rarely happens, yet it's crucial for their overall growth. Contrarily, overprotection and creating an expectation of danger can inadvertently make situations unsafe. Parents, including the speaker and his wife, have doubts about their decisions but trust their choices overall and make adjustments when necessary. They prioritize their children's future success and confidence in their ability to navigate life.
Balancing Scheduled Activities and Downtime for Children: Encourage a balance between structured activities and downtime for children to fully absorb and appreciate their experiences, rather than focusing solely on their future economic productivity.
While parents may question their decisions regarding their children's education and exposure to diverse experiences, it's essential to remember that no single path can provide every opportunity. Ben Hewitt emphasizes the importance of balancing scheduled activities with downtime for children to absorb and appreciate their experiences fully. He also criticizes the contemporary expectation for children's education to turn them into productive economic units, leading to excessive scheduling and exhaustion. To learn more about Ben Hewitt and his work, visit his website at hewitt.net. Remember, as parents, we must prioritize our children's well-being and growth, not just their future economic productivity.
