deschooling
Shedding classroom conditioning
Deschooling is the process of unlearning habits, assumptions, and attitudes acquired through formal schooling—particularly the idea that learning requires institutional structure.
The term comes from Ivan Illich's 1971 book *Deschooling Society*, which argued that compulsory education stifles genuine learning.
In homeschooling communities, deschooling refers to a transition period when children (and parents) adjust to learning outside school: We took six months of deschooling before starting our curriculum.
Absence of constraint
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
independence · deinstitutionalization · unshackling · unchaining · disentanglement · detachment · extrication · unleashing
One who teaches themselves
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- child-centeredFocused on children's needs
- inquiryRequest for information
- explorationTraveling through unknown regions
curiosity · experiential · hands-on · flexibility · play · discovery · self-motivation · intrinsic motivation
Art of instruction
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
- holistic educationTeaching all dimensions of development
- human potentialInnate capability for growth
- radical educationTeaching aimed at systemic change
free schools · democratic education · progressive education · Sudbury · Montessori · Waldorf · social change
Establishing as norm or standard
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- conformityAdherence to norms
- standardizationImplementing uniform technical specifications
- credentialismOvervaluing formal qualifications
compulsory · hegemony · regimentation · rote · socialization · propaganda · orthodoxy · dogmatism
Groups formed for shared education
- resource centersFacilities providing information and support
- lifelong learningOngoing self-improvement through study
- open educationUnrestricted access to instruction
- self-educationIndependent pursuit of knowledge
online courses · libraries · museums · travel · immersion · cooperatives · hackerspaces · makerspaces
freedom
Absence of constraint
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
empowerment · independence · deinstitutionalization · unshackling · unchaining · disentanglement · detachment · extrication · unleashing · deconditioning
autodidact
One who teaches themselves
- self-taughtEducated without instructors
- child-centeredFocused on children's needs
- inquiryRequest for information
exploration · curiosity · experiential · hands-on · flexibility · play · discovery · self-motivation · intrinsic motivation · project-based
pedagogy
Art of instruction
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
- holistic educationTeaching all dimensions of development
- human potentialInnate capability for growth
radical education · free schools · democratic education · progressive education · Sudbury · Montessori · Waldorf · social change
institutionalization
Establishing as norm or standard
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- conformityAdherence to norms
- standardizationImplementing uniform technical specifications
credentialism · compulsory · hegemony · regimentation · rote · socialization · propaganda · orthodoxy · dogmatism · certification
learning communities
Groups formed for shared education
- resource centersFacilities providing information and support
- lifelong learningOngoing self-improvement through study
- open educationUnrestricted access to instruction
self-education · online courses · libraries · museums · travel · immersion · cooperatives · hackerspaces · makerspaces · workshops
deschoolingschooling
Formal education received
formal education · compulsory education · traditional schooling · public schooling · school enrollment
school, schooling, schoolgirl, scholarship, classroom, schoolboy, preschool, unschooled, schoolhouse