Escapees March/April 2016

Is an RV the new mobile school room? Think back to when you were a student in school. Picture yourself learning about Gettysburg—the battle, the struggle, the death toll, Abraham Lincoln’s quest to reunite the Union and the rousing Gettysburg Address. Chances are, you learned of this and other critical periods of American history from a book. You were lectured and quizzed about these turning points, and then you moved on to the next chapter and event in your book. But what if you could learn about Gettysburg while standing on that bat- tlefield? What if you could see the same vantage points that Generals Lee and Meade observed to determine their battle strategies? How would this experi- ence change your perception of the event? How would it change you?

Socialization One of the first impressions one may perceive when picturing a roadschool- er is that of a lonely child, forced to live in under 350 square feet, with limited toys and even more limited social interactions. The good news is, this is far from the truth. In recent years, roadschooling and full-time RVing families have become prevalent in every corner of the country. Call it a change in priorities, disenchantment with the American Dream, reducing the pressure of a housing crisis, but whatever you call it, families who have chosen an extended mobile life- style are a growing trend. This increase in location-indepen- dent families is creating a movement (pardon the pun) of road scholars. It is not uncommon for families to con- nect over the Internet or at rallies and then create intentional neighborhoods

R ight now, roadschoolers across the country are learning about the events that formed this great nation while walking in the footsteps of the historic figures that led the charge and made the decisions that shaped our history. Like their home-schooling coun- terparts, roadschoolers are children educated primarily by their parents, using methods and curricula that suit

their learning style. Unlike home schoolers, roadschooling families have made the intentional choice to travel across America for extended amounts of time, in some cases for years. This alternative education option yields pros and cons for both the students and parents. Let’s explore the implications of this unique learning approach of roadschooling.

“…what if you could learn about Gettysburg while standing on that battlefield?”

Travaglino family at the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

20 . ESCAPEES | March/April 2016 | www.escapees.com