Narrator: Imagine an educational approach that flips everything you know about schooling on its head—no classrooms, no teachers, no tests. Children are given total freedom to learn whatever they want, whenever they want. It’s not homeschooling; it’s unschooling.
For many, the concept of unschooling might seem radical or even irresponsible, but as 60 Minutes reporter Michael Usher discovered, the results can be surprising.
A Different Kind of School Day
Narrator: While three and a half million Australian children fill classrooms every morning, a growing number of families are opting for something entirely different. For children like those in the Clark family, the traditional school day is a completely foreign concept.
Instead of desks and tests, their education revolves around natural learning through everyday life and personal passions.
Rachel Clark: “For us, the education system didn’t work. My daughter Jemima, who has Asperger’s, was struggling with anxiety and frustration in school. When we removed her from the system, she thrived. We realized the problem wasn’t her—it was the system trying to force her to fit in.”
Learning Through Passion
Narrator: In the unschooling philosophy, traditional subjects like reading, writing, and math are not taught through rigid curriculums. Instead, they emerge naturally through a child’s interests.
Rachel Clark: “Our nine-year-old Millie loves reading, and William, our six-year-old, is starting to pick it up as well—all through everyday activities, like jigsaw puzzles or games. We don’t push it; it happens when they’re ready.”
From Rural Farms to Google Offices
Narrator: While the Clarks are in the early stages of their unschooling journey, another family, the Singhs from rural Victoria, has seen remarkable outcomes.
Carly Singh, a former teacher, unschooled her five sons, all of whom have followed their passions into successful careers. Joel, the eldest, has a PhD in Information Technology and now works for Google. Dion is a social worker specializing in at-risk teens. Tarly is studying music at university, and Liam is a farrier working with horses.
Carly Singh: “When I learned that children naturally love learning, I simply allowed it. Joel, for example, began taking computing courses at 13 and ended up completing two years’ worth of coursework in just one year. He later graduated from university younger than most students.”
The Critics’ Perspective
Narrator: Despite its successes, unschooling faces criticism. Dr. David Zinger, a senior education lecturer at Monash University, raises concerns about the lack of regulation.
Dr. David Zinger: “Unschooling doesn’t meet the accreditation requirements set by state authorities. If children are left to choose what they want to learn, it’s unclear whether they’ll gain the basic literacy and numeracy skills essential for modern life.”
But unschooling families argue that traditional systems aren’t always the best fit for every child.
Carly Singh: “If my boys were in school, they might have learned to read earlier, but they wouldn’t have become the unique, passionate individuals they are today.”
The Global Face of Unschooling
Narrator: In New Hampshire, USA, Dayna Martin is one of the most prominent advocates of unschooling. A bestselling author and mother of four, Dayna practices what she calls radical unschooling.
Dayna Martin: “Our kids don’t have set bedtimes, screen time limits, or restrictions on what they eat. It may sound chaotic, but they make great choices because they’re trusted to do so. They go to bed when they’re tired and wake up rested. Freedom and trust are the foundation of our family.”
Freedom in Learning
Narrator: Dayna’s eldest son, Devon, spends his time learning practical skills like woodworking and blacksmithing. When asked if he misses traditional schooling, his response is unequivocal:
Devon Martin: “Why would I want to leave this life and go to school? If I’m interested in something, I learn about it—whether it’s through books, hands-on experiences, or YouTube University.”
The Challenges of Unschooling
Narrator: While unschooling produces success stories like Joel Singh and Devon Martin, it isn’t without its challenges. Carly Singh admits that some of her boys struggled with reading.
Carly Singh: “Two of my sons didn’t learn to read until they were 14, and my youngest, Liam, still finds it difficult. But he’s thriving in his chosen career as a farrier. The lack of pressure allowed him to grow into who he truly is.”
No School Holidays, No Breaks—Just Life
Narrator: Unschooling doesn’t mean unparenting. Parents take an active role in facilitating their children’s learning, making every day an opportunity to explore and grow.
Rachel Clark: “It’s actually easier than traditional schooling. We’re not trying to force our kids into a system that doesn’t work for them. Instead, we follow their interests and watch them thrive.”
A Growing Revolution
Narrator: As unschooling gains momentum, families like the Clarks, Singhs, and Martins are challenging long-held beliefs about education. For them, learning is no longer confined to a classroom but is a natural, lifelong process.
Michael Usher: “It’s clear that unschooling isn’t just about education—it’s about rethinking the way we view childhood, parenting, and the pursuit of knowledge itself.”
[Music outro]
Narrator: To learn more about unschooling and its growing community, visit DaynaMartin.com. For more stories like this, subscribe to 60 Minutes Australia and download the Nine Now app for exclusive content.
Extra Minutes on 60 Minutes Australia
Interviewer: How do you think your children will fare as adults in their career lives, especially in structured environments that require qualifications and discipline? Do you worry about how they’ll integrate into society?
Dayna Martin: I don’t worry at all about how they’ll integrate into society because they’re already living in society now. They’ve been involved in real-world experiences from a very young age. For instance, my son Devin, who’s now 14, started his first business when he was just four—a small chocolate business.
I’ll admit, my kids likely wouldn’t slip into a traditional role of working for someone else easily. They haven’t been conditioned to take orders the way children in school often are. However, I know they’ll be happy and able to make a living by pursuing what they’re passionate about. That’s the foundation we’ve built for them.
Interviewer: So your children aren’t living in a bubble?
Dayna: Not at all. There’s a misconception about homeschooling and unschooling being isolating, as though we’re trying to shield our kids from the real world. But unschooling is the opposite of that. Children in traditional schools are the ones in a bubble—they’re in a brick building, segregated from the wider world for 12 or more years.
Unschoolers are immersed in society every day. We’re deeply connected with our community. My kids socialize with people of all ages, not just peers of the same age. They’ve grown up interacting with a broad range of individuals, giving them a rich and diverse understanding of relationships and communication.
Interviewer: What about the social aspect of going to school? Do you think your kids missed out on anything by not being part of a classroom environment?
Dayna: Having a large family was a great advantage for us. Socially, I think my kids actually developed stronger skills because they were constantly interacting with people of different ages. Instead of being in a classroom with a group of peers all competing for the same resources or attention, they were learning from older people and mentoring younger ones. That dynamic is far closer to how real-world relationships work.
Another benefit was that I had to be intentional about seeking out friendships. For instance, the friends I made at 12 are still some of my closest friends today because those relationships were built on genuine connections and shared interests. My kids have experienced the same—they’ve formed lasting, meaningful friendships and continue to maintain those bonds.
Unschooling isn’t about isolation. It’s about creating a deeply connected, enriching life outside of the traditional structures, and it’s given my children the tools to thrive socially and emotionally.