When we began homeschooling 11 years ago it was not
a well known alternative.
People often asked questions like, "Is that legal?!", "What
about socialization?!"
After many years of actively home educating my children
I've come to the realization that for as many homeschooling
families as there are, there are as many reasons for each family.
At first, for me it was
partly shear terror at the idea of sending my innocent
little one (at the tender age of 5!) out into the world knowing
that she did not know much more than her own phone number.
Partly it was the recall of my own school experiences. I don't feel
that I ever learned much from a textbook. Partly the realization
that she would have to deal with peer pressures long before she had the
ability, knowledge or values to effectively do so. When I first began, spiritual foundation
was not one of my reasons, though now I see how important it is.
.
So, I thought, "We'll
take it one step at a time, we'll do Kindergarten at home."
Well, kindergarten came and went. It was a wonderful year. My little girl could
now recite the alphabet, knew her numbers, could paint a mean Picasso
and was even beginning to read! Ohhh! There is nothing to compare
with watching your first child read her first book. The
tears flowed from my eyes. It was an experience
I'll never forget.
And then came another choice: Do we continue?
Family and friends asked, "Are you STILL going to homeschool?!"
It was so foreign to them:
The idea that one could actually teach one's own child.
I believe that we've all been conditioned to think that
teachers have some mysterious power, that they know everything.
If you have a teacher in your family you know there is nothing
further from the truth. Public school teachers are just like anyone else.
They have their favorite pupils, and their least favorite.
They can have good days and bad. Why on earth would I want to send my
child to a place where her sense of self worth would be uplifted
or broken on the whim of a stranger? A stranger that I could not even select.
No, I was not going to send her this year either.
Well, the years have come and gone and I have never been able to
find excellent reasons to send my children to school.
The rest is history. I got used to the questions and funny looks.
I no longer doubt myself or my capability to teach my children.
I've seen first hand how they have turned into well adjusted,
social individuals. Their test scores speak volumes for their academic ability.
I've come to realize that the Lord has called me to
homeschool. He set my heart in that direction and there was nothing I could
have done about it. He has a bigger plan that goes beyond me.
He has made clear to me some of the reasons:
*My children get spiritual
training. They are learning to walk with God.
This will sustain them through
the troubles and turmoils of their life.
And, they will know who to thank
for their blessings and joys as well. They will certainly not be
punished for bringing a bible to this school.
*Freedom to live a real life,
rather than a prescribed, robotic existance.
Think about it. If you
don't like your position you can change your career.
Children in school have
no say. They learn, or don't learn, whatever the school prescribes.
Homeschooled children are allowed to follow their own interests.
They learn because they want to. They put a high value on education because we do.
They are able to pursue their dreams right from the get-go.
*Freedom from restrictive textbook learning of facts and figures to
motivating lessons of human drama through
various mediums, such as biographies, historical fiction, videos, software,
magazines, museums, interviews, unstructured and structured interaction,
internet, clubs, individual classes, seminars, timelines.......
There are just so many reasons and at first it's scarey.
We've been conditioned to believe
that we are not capable to teach. The fact is studies show
that homeschooled children far outrank their
traditionally schooled peers by 20-30 test points,
regardless of their parents' income or education. When we
are not sure of the material ourselves,
we learn it right along with our children. Living in an
age of boundless information makes it quite easy
to acquire a wonderful, well-rounded education
without ever attending a public school.
