Former Concordia professor writes on unschooling

“If you free your children from all obligation, you will see them blossom like flowers in the sun.”

And indeed Léandre Bergeron calls his daughters, “my Abitibi wildflowers.” For the Sake of Our Children is the English translation of Comme des invitées de marque, by Léandre Bergeron. The French title echoes a sentiment expressed throughout the book, that one's children should be treated like honoured guests rather than possessions.

Born a Franco-Manitoban in 1933, Bergeron settled in Quebec in the 1960's and found his place among academics and artists during the Quiet Revolution. He lectured at Sir George Williams University (now part of Concordia) and wrote several popular books, including a history of the province and a dictionary of French in Quebec that is still in use today.

Upon retiring from teaching Bergeron took up a life of voluntary simplicity, settling with his wife Francine on a sheep farm in the Quebec countryside. The book is written in a diary format, in which beautiful scenes of domestic bliss are interspersed with discussions of child-rearing and educational methods, as well as reflections on the harshness of his own childhood and schooling.

This book is not for those who cling to conventional child-rearing and schooling, and would be easily offended by frank critiques of them. But for parents who don't mind being challenged this is a much recommended exploration. Bergeron cites a variety of sources, from Rousseau to Gibran to Time magazine. His language is rich and poetic, especially in describing domestic scenes and his pride in those blossoming “wildflowers.”

Even for the less conventional parent this slim volume will not be “an easy read.” The reader should expect to lay the book down at intervals – to reflect, to disagree and perhaps even to be angered sometimes. This book on unschooling and unconditional parenting is the sort of text from which one emerges transformed, having been taken to task for any number of practices previously unquestioned.

For the Sake of Our Children is available from Life Media, who kindly sent the review copy upon which this commentary is based. The translator is Pamela Levac and the editor is Wendy Priesnitz. There is a foreword by award winning educator John Taylor Gatto, who like Léandre Bergeron promotes homeschooling – and particularly unschooling – as a healthier alternative to compulsory schooling.