Making Unschooled Kids Learn Maths Just in Case
Should we make our unschooled kids learn maths in a formal way just in case? Is this sensible? We never know when they might need to prove they have covered all the skills presented in maths courses. What if they want to apply for a university degree course that has a maths prerequisite? What if our kids decide they’d like to go to school and so have to slot back into the system with their age peers?
These are situations some unschoolers have told me they’ve had to deal with. They’ve let go of maths and then later, they’ve regretted their decision because their kids have been behind in maths.
When responding to concerns about maths, I always say that maths can be learnt whenever a child needs it. It’s never too late for kids to acquire any necessary skill and catch up to where they need to be. Of course, catching up takes time. A child can’t learn everything overnight. But usually, when we have a need for knowledge, we learn at a faster rate. If there’s a particular reason for learning something we’re prepared to put in a lot of effort.
But even knowing that it’s possible for kids to catch up, some parents are still anxious. Maybe they’re worried about time. Could there be a reason why their kids don’t want to spend extra time learning the required maths skills? Are they working to a rigid timetable?
For most kids, time shouldn’t matter. The window of opportunity to get into university isn’t small. Anybody of any age can apply to do a degree course. No one misses out because they are too old. However, maybe we’ve got into the habit of thinking that kids must apply to university as soon as they finish school which is usually when they are 18. They work hard and complete their courses, and then they get jobs. It’s the way things are usually done. But kids don’t have to work to this timetable. They could continue studying for the skills they need after they have reached the official school-leaving age. If for some reason continuing to study full time isn’t an option, could a child work and study part-time? There’s more than one way of doing things. There really isn’t any need to panic because time is running out.
But time might matter when we’re talking about school. If kids enter the school system, they’re expected to be at the same level as their age peers. And unschooled kids might indeed be behind when it comes to maths. Catching up might not only be hard work, it could be discouraging as well. Wouldn’t it be better if all unschooled kids learnt maths in a formal way just in case they want to go to school?
I wonder if having one eye on school compromises our unschooling lives. Does it lessen our commitment? Does it prevent us from immersing ourselves fully in this way of life? Our family never talks about school. For us, it’s not an option.
However, even if parents are fully committed to unschooling, shouldn’t kids be free to choose? What if one of my kids wants to go to school? I don’t think this is likely to happen. Our life is too good to give up for the experience of school. But yes, my children are free to choose and anything is possible. If one of them wanted to go to school and they were behind with maths, we’d probably talk about what they would have to achieve to fit in with their age grade. Are they willing to work hard to catch up? Should they do this before entering school? If school is important enough, kids will find a way of getting there. This applies to university as well.
Of course, there are times when our unschooled kids learn maths in a formal way just in case and it has nothing to do with us. Parents don’t have to force them to do it. There are no battles: Why do I have to learn maths? I’ll never need it. We don’t have to point out that, despite appearances, the maths may be useful. No, sometimes our children freely choose to do a maths course.
When my daughter Imogen was about 17, she decided to complete an advanced maths course. At the time, she was interested in many things including medicine. She knew the medical degree course had a maths prerequisite. So she asked me to find her a suitable course to complete just in case she decided that she’d follow this passion. By the time she finished the maths course, Imogen was no longer thinking about a career in medicine. Instead, she wanted to study writing.
Imogen didn’t need maths to apply for her Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Writing and Publishing. So was completing the higher maths course a waste of time? Does Imogen regret doing it? It depends on how you look at it. Imogen is rather pleased that she is the only Elvis child who has ever completed an advanced maths course. But, a few years down the track, does she remember much of what she learnt? No.
“I never used the maths,” says Imogen, “so now I’ve forgotten most of what I learnt.”
Imogen’s maths result is a bit like my science degree. We both ended up with meaningless bits of paper. We did our courses, but remember little of what we learnt.
Sometimes I wonder what interesting things kids could be doing instead of spending time learning stuff just in case.
Just because we don’t make our unschooling kids learn maths, doesn’t mean they don’t have any maths skills. Children use maths all the time in their everyday lives.
My youngest daughter Gemma-Rose uses maths while she’s running. She mentally calculates distances and times as she runs along our local bush tracks or around the lake. She adds, subtracts, multiplies, divides and estimates. She uses whole numbers and decimal fractions. If she uses her GPS watch, she has extra mathematical data to delve into once her run is over. She can look at graphs – pie, bar, column and line – and find out her average pace and speed. She can work out which was her fastest lap. She can compare data from different days. Gemma-Rose can look at the elevation of the running location, the air temperature, the time of day, and she can view a map of her running route. She’s doing lots of maths. She’s also using geographical skills too. Except Gemma-Rose doesn’t think about it like that. As far as she’s concerned, she’s not doing maths and geography. She’s just enjoying herself. Running is one of her passions.
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you might be familiar with Gemma-Rose’s maths story, how I’ve had to tread carefully with her when mentioning the word ‘maths’. Well, I have another instalment in this story I could share with you. Recently, something changed. Do you want to hear about it? If you do, I could write another unschool maths post!