Worldschooling Is Not a Vacation (and Yes, Your Kids Still Need Math)

The internet is full of educational hot takes, some are good, some are funny, and some are just plain wrong and useless. Nothing gets teachers fired up quite like a near-viral TikTok casually tossing the entire school system, and, you know, core subjects, in the trash.

Recently, I came across a video of a woman who said she’d pulled her kids out of school to pursue “Worldschooling.” Sounds great, right? Alternative education! Global experiences! Cultural immersion!

But then came the kicker…and I’m paraphrasing here:

We just took a three-month trip through several countries in Asia. My kids loved it, specially because they didn’t do any math, science or language arts. We don’t need to teach that anymore. You can plug it into ChatGPT and it gives you the answers anyway.

Ma’am.

First of all, that is NOT Worldschooling.

That’s a vacation with a side of wishful thinking and a sprinkle of tech dependence.

Second, just because ChatGPT and other generative AIs can help with schoolwork doesn’t mean it should replace education, not to mention all the inaccuracies that are rampant in AI. That’s like saying, “Why learn to cook when DoorDash exists?” You can, but you probably shouldn’t live like that forever.

Let’s break down what Worldschooling actually is, why basic academics still matter, and why this TikTok take is doing more harm than good.

What Worldschooling Really Means (Spoiler: It’s Not Just Travel)

At its core, worldschooling is a form of education that uses the world as the classroom. Families who worldschool often:

• Travel (sometimes long-term, sometimes short-term)

• Explore different cultures and places

• Integrate academic subjects through real-world experiences

• Embrace a flexible, often interdisciplinary approach to learning

• Often have the guidance of an on-call educator who might even travel with them in small family “pod” groups (several families worldschooling together)

Worldschooling doesn’t mean “we’re on a plane, so we’re learning by osmosis.” It means intentionally designing educational experiences around the places and cultures you’re engaging with.

Think:

• Visiting historical landmarks in Vietnam and writing essays about them, their history, their cultural importance, etc.

• Calculating currency exchange rates in Thailand (hi, math!)

• Learning basic Japanese phrases to navigate Tokyo (language arts in the form of syntax and survival skills!)

• Observing coral reefs in Indonesia and keeping a science journal

• Studying geography through mapping your travels

• Reflecting on cultural differences, history, and ethics

Worldschooling is still schooling. It’s just not bound to a desk or a classroom.

Why Ditching Academics Entirely is…a Problem

Look, I think generative AI has a place in education…as a TOOL. But saying that kids don’t need to learn math, reading, writing, science or even problem solving because a chatbot can give them answers?

That’s like saying kids don’t need to learn to walk because Uber exists.

Information isn’t the same as understanding.

Kids still need to:

✔️ Learn how to ask the right questions

✔️ Understand why things work the way they do

✔️ Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills

✔️ Practice analyzing and organizing information

✔️ Communicate ideas clearly in writing, in conversation, in life

If they don’t learn how to think, how will they know whether the information they’re getting (from AI or anywhere else) is correct, biased, outdated, or just plain nonsense?

You can’t outsource understanding.

Travel is Enriching, But It’s Not a Curriculum by Itself

Taking your kids on a three-month trip to Asia? Amazing!

Calling it “worldschooling” while skipping all structured learning and proudly announcing they learned nothing in core subjects? Concerning and borderline neglectful.

Because learning to adapt to new cultures is increasingly and incredibly valuable. But that doesn’t replace the need for:

• Math (how else will they tip at restaurants or understand interest rates?)

• Science (So they know how planes fly, why street food might cause stomach issues, or what climate change is)

• Language arts (so they can communicate clearly, think critically, and not fall for conspiracy theories because the grammar was convincing)

This TikTok isn’t promoting educational freedom. It’s promoting educational negligence, disguised as innovation.

Let’s Not Give Worldschooling a Bad Name

There are families all over the world who have taken up worldschooling the right way:

• With intention

• With structure (yes, flexible structure is still structure)

• With a focus on both academic growth and cultural awareness

• With curiosity, respect, and planning

They’re not uploading their vacation highlights and calling it a lesson. They’re teaching their kids to learn from the world and from books, people, science, math, and meaningful reflection.

Let’s not let one TikTok turn Worldschooling into a punchline.

Final Thoughts: Yes, your Kids Still Need Math

Worldschooling is beautiful, powerful form of education when done thoughtfully. But it’s not a loophole to skip learning.

Traveling the world without teaching your kids how to think, calculate, read, write, or question the world around them? That’s not progressive, it’s irresponsible.

So please, by all means:

Take the trip. Eat the food. Learn the language. Watch the sunsets. Explore the temples.

But also:

Do the math. Write the journal. Read the books. Talk about science. Ask the hard questions.

Because the world is an amazing classroom, but it still needs a teacher.