The school day is in full swing at the Stoltenow residence in Moorhead one December morning
In his room, 17-year-old Seth sifts through hours of footage for his latest movie, “Jamie Bond,” a 007 spoof featuring original music by his brother Cale, 18, and his sister Faith, 13, as the protagonist. Cale studies for a final at Concordia, where he takes two classes as a high school senior.
Faith, who served gourmet breakfast burritos as a self-imposed home economics assignment this morning, hangs out with sisters Libby, 10, and Claire, 6. Graham, 15, studies math before his afternoon tae kwon do class. Kenan, 8, takes a break from the piano to whoosh down the second-floor stairs on a cardboard-and-comforter sled.
As mom Lyn puts it, “It’s us going about our lives, and school is just a part of that.”
Experts say more home schooling parents embrace a more relaxed, less structured take on education, defying the reign of standardized tests and the kiddy rat race. These parents often reject grades, conventional textbooks and rigid curricula; instead, they let their children’s curiosities and passions steer learning
The approach is most widely known as unschooling, though many parents prefer less easily misunderstood terms such as child-directed learning, relaxed home schooling or eclectic schooling.
Critics question if parents might be setting children up for a faltering entry into a structured workplace. Parents counter that children have an astounding capacity for finding their own way.
Kids as teachers
Claire, left, and Kenan Stoltenow read books at their Moorhead home. These two are home-schooled full time along with their other siblings. Dubbed “unschooling,” home school teachers let their students’ curiosities and interests guide lessons and activities. Jay Pickthorn / The Forum
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