Can't drop out of Unschooling!Unless you count that time....

Hello my Darlings,

Have you heard the term "Unschooled" before?

What comes to mind?

If you imagined "kids running around in their socks" You're absolutely right. That's what the school board wrote about us.

If you imagine a type of experience where a learner explores without an institution telling them how, you're absolutely right. That's what the school board missed while they were staring at our stocking'd feet.

Many folks don't consider institutions optional and I was taught at a young age that they are. First through experience as I failed to meet any adults expectations regardless of exceptionally excellent scores in English Comprehension that baffled my teachers and tutors.

I'm sure they called me impossible because I was there and I didn't make it easy on anyone. Precocious, they called me. I never understood the negative connotation with the word as the dictionary calls us Precocious children "having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual."

It was true. Like my dimples people commented on my old soul everywhere I went. I was absolutely certain that when I smiled, my face caved in and everyone would point out the disastrous sink-hole kid by gasping and pointing "THOSE DIMPLES!" grabbing their family members and telling me to stretch my face out again so they can see the craters in my cheeks fold inside out again, oh the shame. I tried as hard as I could to keep my face still along with my precocious disposition and deep vocabulary concealed and it was futile. I was born Opal Dar and I will perish with a ridiculous grin on my face laughing deeply at my own jokes and convincing kids to question the establishments that attack their sense of self worth and core value structures because they are as Sovereign and free as they allow themselves to be. I beg them to take up space, talk to lonely people, Be curious, kind and have fun. To let their unique ideas and minds reign over all institutions and carve new paths for their ancestors who are yet to be born because this world is theirs and we really messed it up. We really did.

The youth are already wiser than us. They seem different because they are. They're aware and becoming more-so each day and I'm so proud of them.

The unschooling program I attended was called Virtual High and was the first in-person adolescent aged in person child-led learning environment that the popular program many home learners know as Self Design developed by Brent Cameron, who was one of my personal mentors as a Learner in the program in the mid 90's. It led to me working as a Nanny, Personal Assistant and Production Assistant through my teens instead of attending and graduating school with my peers. I traveled and spent my time organizing community art gatherings for us to share music and poetry around East Vancouver and neighboring cities, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, etc. Always singing on the #8 Fraser.

Hey, does anybody remember that graffiti on Fraser St in the 90's that was an entire brick wall that just said in wobbly writing RALPH HATE WORLD. That was my favourite ever. I always wanted that on my body somewhere. Not because I hate the world. I LOVE this ridiculous dumpster fire.

Because I love Ralph.

Are you unschooled? Do you remember Virtual High? Were you learning about Id in 8th grade instead of maths as well? Cool. Please tell me your story!

Love

Opal