Opting Out: How Refusing To Do Homework and Tests Can Really Benefit Kids' Education

[Anonymous]

Unschooling: A Wonderful Option That's Not Always Versatile:

I LOVE the general idea of unschooling, which is a form of homeschooling in which the kids aren't forced to follow a particular curriculum or any kind of structured learning, and instead can choose to research and do whatever they want with their 'school' day. It might sound a little extreme to quite a few people, but many Unschoolers actually end up going to college, and even receiving scholarships after studying hard and getting high test scores. Some of them even simply go to community colleges in their early teens, and take remedial or even honors classes, and use the credits from those as their transcript, instead of a highschool transcript or diploma:

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The Freedom of Unschooling

I think the freedom that unschooling gives kids can be fantastic, but what if it's not an option? Both parents might need to work, it might be very important to the kids that they see their friends at school everyday, and the family may not be able to afford for the kids to take community college classes or do extracurricular activities.

However, what if there was a way to get all the benefits of public school and unschooling at the same time? I'll preface this next paragraph with saying that of course I realize that laws vary state to state, and that parents would have to talk with their local school districts to see what they could do. BUT: There is NO law that says parents can't give their children permission to refuse to do homework and tests. The option that I'm talking about is called Opting Out: The option that says parents and kids can choose to refuse homework and tests, and still attend public school.

How To Do It:

Here are three really awesome opt out letters:

Homework Opt Out Letter

The homework sample letter showcases how parents can specifically decline for the teachers to force their children to do homework at home, outside of school hours, and actually make their own family homework policy that also specifies that the teacher not count the undone homework towards their children's grades.

Testing Opt Out Letter 1 Testing Opt Out Letter 2

The opt out of testing letters show how parents can refuse to let kids participate in standardized testing, even if their specific states and districts don't usually allow refusals.

Overcoming Potential Complications

Obviously, there could be many issues with telling teachers that your children won't be doing homework or tests, but I wanted to let people know that it's an OPTION, so they could at least give it a try.

Also, I think parents should tell teachers before the school year starts about their homework and tests policies to avoid any confusion over anything. However there have been some parents who've opted their children out without any huge problems:

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Success Isn't Impossible

A lot of people think that kids (highschoolers especially) HAVE to complete homework and tests, if only to make sure that they're able to pass finals and eventually graduate. However, there are quite a few examples of unschooled highschoolers who have gone on to colleges and even universities...It's not impossible to be successful just because you didn't follow a standard curriculum:

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Explore Your Options

More than anything, I wanted to let everyone know these were all options because I wish someone had told me!!! I'm a senior in HS now, so opting out of anything would be pointless since I'm almost done with school. Also, I know homework and tests can be an extremely stressful for a lot of families (mine included definitely), so this #myTake at least shows there's a chance of having a different option instead of everyone just suffering.

[funkipunk]

I don't think it's a good idea to ever do this for your kids. Homework and tests can be stressful, but they're the components of school that actually force kids to learn material. Without the stress of grades on HW and tests, kids can get away with slacking off saying that they've actually "done the work." There has to be motivation for people to do anything in life. Nobody pushes himself/herself to do something unless there's a reason for having to doing it. And the motivation in this case, is the fear of failing.

Removing that fear won't do kids any good in the long run. Life's stressful. Learning to cope with the responsibilities of school (mainly HW and tests) is a lesson in life in itself. You shouldn't be rewriting the curriculum just to avoid adding potential stress to students.

Life can be tough sometimes... you need to learn to cope with it.

[MysteriousFlower]

I have been to a dozen of schools and I was homeschooled for a while in high school then done college through 'home-schooling' while doing a trade. I HATED it. But to prevent myself being stabbed and going through hell I had to do it. I am now in science degree at uni but it was so hard, not necessarily educationally but emotionally. I was very lonely.
Most of the times kids get home schooled because of the lack of discipline at school and if they are unwell. I think everyone should go to school but it is unrealistic but the education system is fucked. Unless you come from a wealthy family or have other additional power to make school heaven, home-schooling is not necessarily better. Statistically would of worked with many students, but definitely wasn't for me. And if I ever have kids they won't be doing the same.

[xHoneyxBeex]

I don't agree with this. I don't see how opting out of taking tests and homework will benefit a child. Most kids don't want to learn which is why these things are mandatory in the first place. If given the option, most kids wouldn't want to have anything to do with school. Plus, why should a child go to public school and opt out of tests and homework which all of the other kids have to do? That's pretty ridiculous.

Just because homework and testing is "stressful" doesn't mean anyone should have the option to "opt out" of it. In the real world, no one can "opt out" of things that are stressful. That's the reality of life that children need to be aware of.

[Anonymous]

as awesome as you make this out to be, the hard reality will be kids with no formal education and a poor grasp on basic level stuff entering the work world. for every 1 or 2 kids that actually work hard and go to college there will be hundreds if not thousands more that see this as an opportunity to avoid learning and use their school day as a chance to mess about and do nothing. why should kids who refuse to take tests be allowed to even get into college when other kids have to do them? how will we measure how well or badly students are learning without tests and graded homework?

seems like a load of hippy, hand holding optimistic rubbish to be quite frank

[kingfish]

I disagree that the best of both worlds is opting out of the only part that makes schooling effective. I think the best way was achieved by my parents. I went to a public school, did all sorts of extracurricular activities, and made time for my own research and learning on the side of things that interested me. I am considered to be a genius now, learnt my way around a difficult learning disability, and am an engineering student. Seems to have worked!

[JackKerouac77]

Hell yeah. Formalized school is terrible for real learning, in my opinion.

Although with the way the world is now, they will have a hard time getting a job somewhere that demands structure. But as long as they're entrepreneurial, you've won!

Here's to the next Steve Jobs!

[arashmenalagha]

hahahah What the shit. I still don't get how not taking tests to measure your knowledge of the subject can benefit someone who doesn't want to do them. lol

[AshleyMD]

Wouldn't the problem with this be that the person being unschooled would have to be interested in learning?

[lovebae55]

Is this legit?