quote of the day and more on unschooling

"It is... nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wreak and ruin. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty." -Albert Einstein


I was talking with someone today and when I told her we homeschool, she asked if we use some sort of program or curriculum. I explained that we are unschoolers and we basically just have a whole lot of books and we let Jude choose what he wants to learn about everyday. She said, "Well, FYI- some structure now will pay off later." She went on to explain, "I sit down everyday between my two kids to help them with homework and they have to get it done before they can play video games, watch tv, or even go outside and play." I politely listened and kept my mouth shut. I never quite know what to say when someones says something like that. I know what we are doing is right for our children. Maybe what she is doing is right for hers. But really?? How is it healthy for a child to spend 6+ hours in school everyday then come home and have to do homework for another 1 or 2 hours before they can have any fun time? When do they get to explore, to free play, to be creative, to climb trees, to play in the dirt, to just absorb life and examine the real world? 


"Children do not need to be made to learn about the world, or shown how. They want to, and they know how." -John Holt