Access to Resources

Julian and Oliver examine a femur bone from a giant game of "Operation" at the Grossology exhibit.

            Access to Resources is another fundamental piece of the unschooling puzzle.  Resources can mean internet for research, videos and communication, or easy access to books and materials for projects, or access to outside spaces like mountains and parks.  This also includes the immediate community surrounding the unschooling family, whether it’s an unschooling community or simply the people who live in the neighborhood.  None of these things are essential on their own except perhaps the aspect of community.  For instance, if a family lived in a rural area they might have access to outside spaces, they may have many books or videos in the home, or they may have internet.  Because they have internet, they have access to the wider unschooling community, whether or not they have a community of people living near them.  Of course, if a family did not have internet and also didn’t feel a sense of community in their neighborhood, they may need to find a different way to connect with people in the world.  The need for connection is not singular for unschoolers, it’s a human need.  I won’t pretend that any of these things would be easy for all families to provide, but that doesn’t make them less essential to a healthy unschooling environment.