Who would you be without school?
I recently came across a video that described the horrendous way in which Americans tried to turn Native Americans into ‘civilized’ humans:
I find this deeply disturbing and sad. I have Native American ancestry, and for years I’ve wondered how my family in Peru can know the painful history of our ancestors—forced to accept a foreign religion under the threat of violence—and yet still go to church, still spread the teachings of a belief system that was once brutally imposed upon their great-grandparents.
The history of compulsory schooling is built on the idea of molding children to fit into a predetermined societal framework. Schools were not just places of learning but instruments of cultural assimilation, often under the guise of “civilizing” or “improving” lives. For Native American children in the U.S., schools aimed to erase their native identities—cutting their hair, banning their languages, changing their clothing, and instilling a foreign set of values. The slogan “kill the Indian, save the man” symbolized a disturbing agenda: schools were to reprogram these children, severing them from their roots, families, and even their understanding of self.
When I consider this history and reflect on the many ways children today are still molded by the institution of school, I can’t help but wonder: What is being lost in the process? We’ve normalized sending children to school and accept the structures and curricula that dictate what they must learn and how they should act. But beneath this familiarity lies the same principle: school doesn’t just educate; it shapes minds and hearts to align with a particular version of “normal.”
At A Place To Be, we embrace the freedom for children to learn naturally and follow their curiosity. Children don’t need to have their identities molded or be told how to think. By keepeing children away from the rigid structure of conventional schooling, we’re reclaiming a more organic, respectful way of raising the next generation—one that allows for individuality, creativity, and a true love for learning.
Asking the Real Questions
As parents, we want the best for our children, yet we often overlook the power of school to mold them in ways we don’t intend. So, let’s ask ourselves some questions:
1. **Who would our children be without school?**
Who might they become if given the freedom to explore the world on their own terms, unbound by standardized tests, grades, and the daily pressures of fitting in? Would they be more confident, more compassionate, more innovative?
2. **Who would YOU be if you hadn’t gone to school?**
How much of our personalities, our interests, and our self-worth have been shaped by the years spent in classrooms? What if we had been allowed to explore and grow outside the confines of conventional schooling? Who might we have become?
3. **Do we want schools to shape our children’s beliefs and personalities?**
Schools inevitably transmit values, often emphasizing conformity over individuality, obedience over critical thinking. Do we want our children to be molded to fit into a pre-existing structure, or do we want them to have the freedom to discover who they are?
4. **Can we trust our children to find their own path?**
Allowing children the freedom to guide their own education may feel risky, especially when schooling has taught us that learning requires control and oversight. But history, as well as our own instincts, suggest that when children are given space, support, and a stimulating environment, they naturally grow into capable, thoughtful individuals.
Embracing the Power of Unschooling
At A Place To Be, we encourage a learning environment where children can be their authentic selves. Rather than following a rigid curriculum, they’re encouraged to ask questions, pursue passions, and learn through real-world experiences. This approach doesn’t just reject the hidden curriculum of conformity—it empowers children to discover the world and their place within it on their terms.
Unschooling offers a radical, liberating alternative to traditional schooling. It trusts that children have an innate curiosity and an ability to learn through exploration, problem-solving, and play. Instead of learning what to think, they learn how to think. They cultivate critical skills and resilience by pursuing their interests and making their own decisions.
Imagine a Different Future
Imagine a world where we don’t ask children to fit into boxes, where we don’t hand over their precious formative years to institutions that prioritize standardized knowledge over individual growth. Imagine a community—like A Place To Be—where children are encouraged to build a sense of self, to value their roots, and to approach life with an open heart and mind.
Let’s break the cycle. Let’s raise our children not as “permanent students” but as capable, self-directed individuals who can create, think critically, and grow into compassionate, authentic adults.
So, next time you think about education, ask yourself:
Who would you be if you hadn’t gone to school?
And would you want school to change who your child truly is?
