The thing is I am not talking about me, my family. I am sure we could do it if so desired, it could be an option for us under certain scenarios, I am sure, I feel lucky that we could probably manage it. Any barriers that we have I am sure could be removed, that is not the case for everyone.

One of the definitions of choice is "The power, right, or liberty to choose" - society would not let people choose to be homeless/without any income so they could unschool. It wouldn't be allowed so people don't really have the liberty to choose that option. While the numbers are small maybe people could choose that, but as numbers grew things would change, to prevent it.


I'm not sure why you are opposed to it being described as a choice?
I could ask the reverse, why does the unschooling/homeschooling literature all like to insist on the fact there is a choice for everyone?

Why not just accept it works for some but for others schools will always be their only option.

I have always been very interested by the Finnish schooling model which is based around achieving equality in education for all - maybe that is why I don't like the notion that unschooling is a choice for all, it isn't an equitable system. It is probably the most expensive model financially (both for individuals in terms of lost income for a significant proportion of their life and the government due to lost taxes from those not in the workforce) - and is unlikely to provide any form of leveling between disadvantaged and other students.


I love unschooling, and support it, but I also think I have what it takes to navigate my kids through the system fairly unscathed. Our local school is small and has some excellent programs, including philosophy, and the kids I know going through it have some great emotional outcomes, which I just don't think there's enough of in schools.
I love that phrase - that is exactly how I feel - I think I have what it takes to bring my kids through the system unscathed, and maybe the more people who like the philosophy behind unschooling stay involved in the mainstream education the more there is a chance of changing it. I mainly think about what choices I would like my kids to have as adults, and one of them would be to have the ability to choose an education system that would allow their children if they have any to develop naturally, and to have a job/career that fulfils their desires too - and if their desires are around unschooling/homeschooling their children be able to do that also.