Not Learning Math

...one thing you really are avoiding (i think) is his underlying comments about how one who for whatever reason did NOT pursue much to do with MATH (due to no interest; or little interest; or let's face it, heather, maybe due to being born in a family who can NOT create comfortably the terrific environment that you can provide due to your own obviously academic intuitive bent).....so if someone is NOT into pursuing MATH, what a rip for that person to reach adulthood and find that job options are NOT available that they might actually be interested in at THAT time. our interests today are NOT what they always will be (in many cases). we're ever changing. i think steve graham said something like "they would be unable to pursue jobs that they might then otherwise be interested in". please answer more specifically this point (i think you can do it given your background and probably have a sound answer) (all your other points were perfect, but on this last issue i too need more help from you)

You know, I'm trying to imagine a family in which the parents do anything interesting that doesn't use math. And I'm having a really hard time doing it. Math is so everywhere, so much a part of everything we do. How can you grocery shop without math? Do carpentry? Sew? Cook? It seems so obvious that basic mastery of arithmetic is necessary in order to do anything that I'm really stumped.

Now, if the parents themselves are math phobic, then they might tend to pass that on to their children. Yes, I can see where that might be a problem. In that case, the obvious answer (to me) is for the parents to set an example and learn math.

Or, conversely, a homeschooled child who reached adulthood ignorant of math could still learn it, yes? Some public-schooled children certainly reach adulthood with little knowledge of math. Certainly a child raised in a family that values lifelong learning would be able to learn math.

On the other hand, I suppose that some homeschooling families could be downright negligent. If no one in the family does anything but watch TV, then the kids will surely have problems as adults (and more than just not knowing math, I'm afraid.).

It's kind of ironic. Math education was one of my earliest reasons for choosing homeschooling. My own primary and secondary math education was atrocious. And I'm very mathematically apt. If I had been homeschooled, I'd have done calculus much earlier than college.

and i'm not suggesting it is BETTER to be or do a math oriented job over a manual laborer's job AT ALL. but many carpenters, want to do OTHER things in later life AND vice versa. so my philosophy (while UNschooling) has been to not go overboard on UNschooling....but to encourage/foster a love of learning of everything that you DON'T like!!!!! in order to prepare for the future of options!

Well, the question was: Can an unschooling child get a math education?

My answer is still "yes" and I still believe most children want to learn math as much as they want to learn to walk. (Go ahead, call me a nerd ;-)

I agree with you about not going overboard on unschooling. To quote my husband, "Moderation in all things -- including moderation.".