Yes, I Am Going to Homeschool

Well, I ended a wonderful day reading an article that just put me up in arms about my education choices for my kids. If you are interested to see the article and all the counter-responses you can read it at http://teacherrevised.org/2009/05/30/the-case-against-homeschooling/ I totally believe the person wrote such controversal and biggoted statements on purpose to get the reaction that he did. Homeschooling parents have responded in force. Some to our detriment and some with good arguments. It makes me mad that in a country with so many so-called "freedoms" that our choice to believe in God, be a average american "white" family, and wanting the best education for our children is questioned. I have absolutely no intention of insulating my children from "real-world" issues and subjects and I can't believe that people still think that socialization is even an issue anymore. Since when is forcing children in a box filled with 30 other children their own age for over 6 hours a day preparing them for the variety of people and age ranges they will meet in workplaces, colleges, grocery stores, and every other place in the world except for school? The only thing I learned in public school was how bored I was, how mean other people are, and that being "average" and part of the norm will get you nowhere. I was not part of any major social group. I had good grades but didn't stand out and I wasn't a trouble-maker and so did not stand out that way. Because of this, even though I could have attended college and fulfilled any dream I had, nobody helped me or even pointed me in the right direction. Some would say "Well, then where were your parents?" But I thought the whole argument was that public schools knew better than parents on what was right for their kids?

Now don't get me wrong. I think there are many good things that can come from public schools and I have seen good kids come out of public schools with their faith intact. (My husband and I are good examples.) But in my opinion, I think it is much much harder. And much has changed in the public school system in just the 10+ years since I graduated and I thought it was bad then. If I have the ability and desire to keep my kids from some of those struggles, then why not? Well, then some would come back and argue that my kids would not be able to take insults or deal with these tough situations. They would be "insulated" from the real world. I would argue that I would prefer my children be children as long as possible. That they gain the maturity only gained from age and introduce them to those situations when they are physically and mentally mature enough to handle them. I do not feel that they need to be insulted, put-down, or exposed to unfair prejudices at an early age in order to function successfully in our society.

I fully intend to homeschool my children for as long as the Lord puts the desire in our hearts and we are able to. If at some future point that is no longer a viable option, then I am grateful we live in a country that values education and has provided parents several alternatives and choices. I intend to expose my children to many different cultures, opinions, and alternative life styles including all the so-called "dirty" ones; homosexuality, evolution, magic, witches, fantasy, sex education and belief in other gods. I will offer all sides and opinions on a subject, grateful that we have the time and ability to actually offer both sides unlike the public system that will only give you the popular or "left" opinion, and then, yes, I will give the biblical truth regarding these subjects. I hope to have open, honest discussions with my children and that no subject will be taboo. How many other "average" American parents and families can say the same? I believe in the Bible and that Jesus is the only way to salvation and will pass those values on to my children. But last I looked, freedom of religion was still part of what makes America so great.

I intend to involve my children in sports and music activities provided by the local communities, YMCA's, and private lessons that will expose them to all kinds of people of different ages, colors, and creeds. We will visit museums, zoos, aquariums, ponds, rivers, lakes, and plains to learn about our wonderful world and ecosystems hands on. If I was a child, I would much prefer this then the one or two field trips that might happen a year where adults are so busy sheperding kids from one place to another and keeping the trouble-makers in line that I didn't really get a chance to learn anything or stay at something that caught my interest. They will be able to "socialize" and know how to deal with many different kinds of people. Then I hear people argue, "It is good for kids to know how to socialize with their own age group." Since when is hanging out and learning from people your own age all the time considered socialization? I believe you are starting to argue yourself in circles.

I'm so grateful that the Lord put the wisdom in my husband's heart to ask me the question shortly after Sam was born, "What do you think about homeschooling our kids?" To be honest, it had never crossed my mind until then. I went to public school and just assumed that is what was going to happen with our children. Sure, I had cousins and knew people that were home-schooled but to be perfectly honest, I had some prejudiced opinions about it and didn't really know all that much. So instead of shutting the whole idea down. I did my research. I googled like crazy about homeschooling and met with some mom's at our church who homeschooled. I started asking questions. I have had 3 years to research curriculum, learning styles, and teaching styles. I've learned about reasons for homeschooling and some reasons why it might not be a good idea to homeschool. If you are unsure, start to do research yourself. You will find a huge community of homeschoolers of varied backgrounds and beliefs. And I can guarantee that a good majority of them are not isolated Christian fundamentalists.

Well, as you can see, my reading today has put me on the defensive and I could argue on and on and on. I will undoubtably make mistakes along the way as a parent and as a teacher. I'm just grateful that I believe in a Lord that has already forgiven me and I can move forward confident in that knowledge. I am so excited to get started with them in schooling that I sometimes wish that they were a little older so we can get started. Then I remind myself that these years will go by fast and I'm sure I'll be wishing they were little again. I have found a curriculum that I hope to be using for many years to come that has me so excited. It is a literature-based curriculum that is very different from the typical textbook learning called Sonlight. You can find their website at http://www.sonlight.com I didn't even know that you could teach using other methods besides the textbook way. I even thought homeschooling was pretty much doing the same textbook way of public schools but the freedom of doing it in your own home. Please do your research! Their are so many more options available now and homeschooling has branched out considerably since the time of our mothers. Email me if you have questions and I can point you to several resources that I've picked up along the way to help you get started.

Thanks for listening to my rant. I will stop now.