Four years after the pandemic changed the world and our education system, most school districts across the United States have returned to an educational model similar to those they used pre-2020. During remote learning, many parents and guardians had to teach their kids much more than they did when they attended school regularly, and it proved challenging. Some families loved having their kids learn at home and even permanently changed from traditional schooling to homeschooling their kids.
Although many parents are doing their best to find a way for their kids to thrive in a traditional school environment after years of setbacks, some families have abandoned schooling altogether and are taking a more controversial path to learning. TikToker Mami Onami, who posts on the app as @mami.onami, says she is “freeschooling” or "unschooling" her children and not intentionally teaching them anything. Her videos have caused quite a reaction on social media, and a lot of people think she is doing her children a disservice.
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Onami claims she only teaches her kids what they are interested in.
Her way of schooling is not to really school them at all. Instead, Onami believes that interest is the basis of a love of learning, so she teaches her kids what they want to know.
“So we don’t teach our children anything. Everything that they learn is in response to either interests or their questions,” she explains in the video clip. “We have no curriculum, we have no school hours. We really just respond whenever they wanna know something and do our best to make sure they really get it.”
She took her freeschooling approach to the max.
Onami explains she had some concerns at first.
“My big fear about freeschooling was if my kids only went toward what they were interested in, saving all of their real estate only for things they’re interested in, not cramming it with anything necessary. I was concerned they would never be interested in things like reading, and writing and math,” she admits in the clip.
Then she shows her 6-year-old son’s notebook, which had some letters scribbled in, but to many, it didn’t seem like what a typical kid his age should be doing.
One homeschool mom chimed in, commenting, “Homeschooler as well. This is quite behind for a 6 yr old. ”
The mom got roasted in the comments.
TikTokers were quick to criticize her techniques.
One person sarcastically pointed out they could do something similar to what her son can, writing, “That’s awesome that he can write a word while looking at it on something else. I can copy quantum physics while looking at it written down too.”
Another person noticed Onami’s tattoos and asked, “Would you let your tattoo artist learn this way?”
Adults familiar with her methods were not impressed.
“My parents ruined my life doing this. RUINED it," one person wrote. "I have never been able to catch up. I will never be able to live the life I wanted to.”
The method concerned teachers as well.
“Me. A teacher. I’m shaking my head and crying for your kids," one comment reads.
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Traditionally homeschooled people chimed in.
This person was not impressed and commented, “I was homeschooled without a curriculum K-9th. Child led learned should start reading & writing at 3-4. By age 6, they should be able to read and write full sentences ESPECIALLY if home schooled.”
“I think homeschooling is great," another person wrote. "There should be routine and curriculum though. Even if it’s through play. They should be further along than that by 6. Unless there’s other issues.”
But Omani has no plans to stop freeeschooling and continues to post about her kids seemingly without a care. In a follow-up video, she claims to be mentored by people making big incomes who were all unschooling their children. She says it was "validating" to know there are very successful people using the same methods as her and encourages them to "go get 'em, kids."
