Jul 25 2005
The Homeschool Scene- an option, not the solution
Saturday we went to the CSTHEA Curriculum Fair to check out what?s what on the homeschool scene. We really want to homeschool our kids for at least their early years and we thought it would be interesting to go to the fair and see what is offered in the PreK range and what kind of organizations are available in this area. We spent some time in the Bright Beginnings (*?) booth because they indicated on their signage that they had PreK materials (most booths indicated that they start at Kindergarten level).
Now, I know that the perception about homeschooling is that it is mainly something that Christian families participate in and since we are a Christian family, this doesn?t really bother me. But, I think I went into the fair thinking that it would be a mix of Christian and? what?s the word? Mainstream? Secular? I don?t know. I just got the feeling that if you weren?t Christian but wanted to look at homeschooling, that you might be turned off. **
And then there was the workshop we went to named ?Homeschooling Foundations.? I don?t know exactly what we thought it might be, maybe something about getting started on how to homeschool, but the message I went away with was, ?God makes all children unique and putting your children in school (any school- public or private) would not meet the needs of your unique child and in fact, the concept of school is unnatural, founded by men who wanted to create a workforce and not build up the unique characteristics of our children.?
This left a bad taste in my mouth and hard spot on my heart.
I want to homeschool my child because I think I can and that it is an option available to me. I think that there are basic life foundations as well as educational skills that I can teach my child and that I don?t need to send my child to a school for him to learn them.
But if I wasn?t confident that I couldn?t do it, or I could do it but there were other circumstances keeping me from proceeding with home education, I have no problem sending my child to school. I don?t think the public schools have failed us (though I wonder about their spending habits), and I don?t think that people who send their children to school are outsourcing parenthood. And I don?t think that putting your child in a school is going to ruin their ability to learn or stunt their creative thinking.
What I do think is if you put your child in school and don?t participate in the process in some way, that you are in danger of becoming less of an influence in your child?s life. But I wouldn?t personally know about that because my parents were very involved in my education and are still rather large influences in my life today.
And everyone needs to make education decisions for their children based on what fits their family lifestyle and children?s needs. What I choose to do may not be what another family picks, and that is fine. Homeschooling is not the end all be all to educating your child.
Since Fuller is only 9 months old, we have a little while before we have to invest money into the homeschool concept. But it was nice to have some place to go to see what the landscape is here in Chattanooga. It was unfortunate that we sat in on that workshop because it kind of made me want to say, ?HA! I?ll show you that school isn?t evil! I will put my son in school and he will be intelligent, creative, and proof that putting your child in school will not harm his input into society.? But I didn?t because Fuller was sleeping in my arms at that moment and it gave me time to calm down and say to myself, ?That is their view. And Alli, you have a different view. People having different views is ok and there is nothing wrong with you as a person.?
And I am really glad that right now, Fuller?s education is as easy as getting him to pick up his blocks.
*I’ll have to check on the name of the organization. I don’t think it was Bright Beginnings, but I can’t find anything on the CSTHEA website that jogs my memory.
** Of course, the CSTHEA website does indicate in their “About Us” section that they are a Christina organization, so maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised.
what a crazy topic. homeschooling. my wife and i have felt the homeschool pressure–whether it’s real or imagined, i can’t tell you. but i feel like everyone secretly condemns people who send their kids to public school. in a lesser sense, some do it to those sending their kids to christian schools.
i don’t think public school is unnatural–i think school in general is. when did they start them up? what happened to just learning a trade? if i’d been homeschooled i would have wasted just as much time learning history and math (no offense, just a point) as i did in public and private schools b/c i make money writing about medical stuff all day.
so…
rambling…
i don’t know what to do. some people at church are considering doing a co-op w/ different parents teaching different stuff. i like that idea. lets kids hang out together and still get done w/ school by noon. but i, like you, want to support public schools. what if my daughter is the only christian some kid would ever come across? but b/c i’m scared out of my gord to let her go to public school, that one kid will never hear of Jesus until it’s a “day late and a dollar short”?
my thoughts are you teach kids fundamental truth at home. i don’t depend on any school system to teach my kids about God. that’s what i’m for.
keep thinking and let me know what you decide. education is becoming a bigger topic with each passing day as the public schools get crazier and my daughter forges ahead toward school age.
Alli, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have feelings very similar to yours… Sometimes I want to simply do the OPPOSITE just to spite the folks who believe that one route (be it homeschooling, private or public schooling) is the only way.
I don’t think every mom or dad is cut out to teach their children in all educational subjects, and therefore I think it’s a shame that many Christians are pressuring their peers to homeschool. When I think about my own education, in Christian and public schools, I’m profoundly thankful for the creative strategies my teachers employed. And as a certified teacher myself, I’m aware of many benefits of a child learning in a classroom with other children. That being said, I’ve heard that Nebraska is instituting all day kindergarten (which is basically half a day of daycare!) in 2008 — and I’m not at all eager for Livia to jump into school for 6+ hours a day when she’s so young. So who knows what will happen in our household? No decisions have been made yet.
U wont feel any condemnation from me for sending your kids to a public school. I suppose if I care about anything (I don’t have kids yet) its that you’re at least thinking about it. There’s some pretty good public schools in the area, and frankly, if you don’t want to homeschool your kids, that’s your perogative. As far as I can tell, you and your wife care about Esther so no matter where she goes you guys will be involved in her life.
The whole homeschooling/public schooling thing is a red herring. Kids can do great in public schools if they’ve got parents raising them right, and you guys are trying to do that. So any folks who might look down on you are, quite frankly, not very thoughtful individuals. They might be “morally passionate”, but that doesn’t make them right.
thanks josiah. i wasn’t wanting to make an issue out of it, but i’ve felt this pressure since being at cstone. crap…it’s spreading all over the place now. and as i said before, i think part of the pressure is assumed b/c so many are taking that route, we feel it’s what they feel is the only right way. i don’t know…
thanks for the props. i’ll have to post more so everyone will find out what a great dad, husband, worker, and lover of all things bird i am.
Daniel, I don’t think the pressure is overt. But maybe that’s just ’cause I don’t have kids yet. Maybe once I do they’ll start turning the screw in. Should be interesting. Everybody needs a little-j jesus.
Josiah- when you become a parent there is pressure (imagined or not) everywhere about every little thing you do. Breastmilk or Formula (or both)? Cry it out or drop everything for every little sound (or somewhere in between)? When to start solids? Schedule your child to your routine or let your child determine his/ her own schedule? Co-sleep? When should your child wear shoes?
And I don’t think it will stop… But if we could all accept that there are different paths that each family takes, and to not voice that one path that isn’t yours is a direct path to hell, then I think the pressure would lessen a little.
I like what you said earlier, some people might be “morally passionate”, but that doesn’t make them right.
ali you sound like a compassionate thoughful parent and i imagine those are greats tools for success with your child. not sure how i wound up reading this issue along with all of you - i do not have children and know little about the homeschool industry. i must comment though that from where i sit your expereince at the fair in regards to the homeschool/christianity lock-up, all seems to be fairly consistent pressure/judgemental tactics in the name of christianity that these organized churches cast on anyone who who doesn’t come thru their particular doorway. i am further saddened to read here how pervasive this manipulation is even when “preaching to the choir.” but that is probably fodder for some other blog. you will make the right decision for your family.
I totally agree with you that you have to do what is best for the child and family. We don’t have kids yet, but I have thought about homeschooling for alot of the reasons you listed. I had a great experience with public schools and my husband was homeschooled all 12 grades so we have both ends of the spectrum in our family. So we are living testimony that both work out just fine. Plus I know people that my husband grew up with whose parents used homeschooling as an excuse to have the older kids home to watch the younger kids and as a result the older kids never really got any good schooling and only have the basic functioning skills in areas such as reading and writing. So homeschooling isn’t always the best option either.
Wow.Great topic! I have thought long and hard about homeschooling Jade. I would absolutely love to– and NOT because I am a Christian– not becasue I think most schoolsare “bad” (I kinda do tho!! haha) but because I know that every child is different. I am NOT for standardized testing– the “no Child Left Behind Act” makes my blood run cold. I want my son to learn about LIFE– and how to add 2+2– Luckily I know that I could teach him lots about lots— BUT… I am a single mom. I may not be ablt to homeschool– so I have found what I feel is the next best thing– Waldorf, or Friends School, or Montessori… or there is a co-op around here— different parents pulled together and its like a great big homeschool commune. Jade’s still pretty young but these are the decisions that I am faced with. Being an AP parent (attachment– you know– i wore the baby, nursed a long time, he sleeps with me– so on and so forth…) I have found a HUGE community of AP parents who homeschool down here in Florida. So– its not just “Christian” families!!! hahaha Do you ever read Mothering Magazine? If not you should subscribe immediately!!! Its wonderful— here is link to a recent article they published on homeschooling: http://www.mothering.com/sections/about_us/press_releases.html#homeschool
Hey– if I ever move to Chattanooga– I’ll send Jade to the School of Hard Knocks with his Crumley Cousins!!!! hahaha
I am so glad to hear all of your considerations– you are a good mother Alli.
Love to you and Fuh-Yer.
Lissa