Unschoolers aren't typically big fans of schools. While there may be some exceptions, that's no secret, really. Parents have a variety of reasons for stepping away from school or deciding not to go that route educationally.
Once you've taken a big gulp and courageously ventured out on your own, it's not uncommon to look back thinking,
"Oh yeah. That wasn't good either!"
We asked our unschooling community on Instagram and Facebook to share what they were taught that turned out to be untrue.
Sure, science is always evolving and new information comes to light. And, from a history standpoint, we've begun looking at what we've been told through a different lens. This too is evolving as we speak!
But in school, we were taught to memorize "the facts," as they were being presented. And a lot of it was wrong.
Here are some of the responses from Instagram and Facebook.
35. It's cheating to use a calculator.
36. It's cheating to collaborate.
37. It's cheating to listen to audiobooks.
38. Learning is not fun but must be endured.
39. Some schools seemed to really have emphasized Line Dancing. (?)
40. Favorite non-academic activities held no value.
41. Long division is necessary for adulting.
42. Cigarettes are not addictive.
43. School is only about educating.
44. You have to be a star athlete or straight-A student to be important.
45. Universities require high school diplomas.
46. Humans only have five senses.
47. Cursive writing is important to adult life.
48. Everything important to learn is in a book.
49. A career in the Arts or Literature "won't pay the bills."
50. Bullying and social drama is a preparation for adult life.
51. Working in fast food would be shameful.
52. Worksheets and grades are needed in the workplace.
53. Hiring administrators will want to know your grades.
54. History is factual - and not stories from the winner's perspective.
55. Going to college will guarantee a "good job."
56. Good jobs = lucrative careers.
58. Slavery ended in 1865.
59. Indigenous people are always inferior, uncivilized, savages.
60. No racists exists in the North during the Civil War.
61. Rosa Parks was the American to refuse to sit in the back of the bus.
62. Failure in academics = Failure in Life
63. Young teens are pressured to choose a career path before ready.
64. Milk is good for your bones and all kids need 3 servings a day.
65. You can't go to college if you do poorly in high school.
66. Public school is the only place to learn about diversity.
67. Popular kids are going to be the most successful in adulthood.
68. You can't do a problem in your head, it doesn't count if you don't "show your work."
69. You'll never make a living staring out a window. (transportation careers?)
70. You'll never make a living where you're "chatting with neighbors all the time." (hahaha! Me!)
71. Capitalism has no inherent problems to watch for.
72. Boys are good at math and girls are good at language arts.
73. Only path to success is going to college and working for someone else.
74. School is kids' "job".
75. Doing homework teaches responsibility.