Debbie Crawford of Carthage wrote (Jan. 26): "If undress means to be unclothed, then unschooling must mean to be uneducated. That is where the major difference in home schooling versus unschooling resides."

I think the statistics speak for themselves. Schooling does not equal educated. A person can be educated without being schooled. That's what on-the-job training is. That's what many great inventors did when they 'daydreamed' all day.

Many great people in history were never schooled. It is simply not true that learning happens only in school, or a school setting. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Schooling makes it very difficult for many people to learn anything at all.

John Taylor Gatto and John Holt, the gurus of the home-schooling movement, spoke about this aspect of schooling all the time -- and what they called home-schooling was not schooling at home. It is not the setting that is the problem for many people, it is the way the teaching is done.

Why do you allow people to insult others by way of your newspaper? Unschooling and schooling at home or going to school are all valid choices, and parents have to decide what is best for them and their families.

We do not need to sling mud. I don't think anyone who chooses to do school at home or go to school is irresponsible -- even though I don't think it is the optimum way for my child, and many children like her, to learn.

It very well may be the best for them. However, I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to allow my child to learn in a way that best suits her. As a believer in unschooling, I would appreciate the same respect.

Donna Gilbert

Raleigh