On a message board I occasionally read, there is a person who really hates homeschooling and thinks we're all doing our children a disservice by 'keeping them locked away from the world'.
What do you even say to someone like that? Not only is he completely off base with his idea that our kids are away from the world, he's rabid and not good at understanding what people on that board have tried to explain about homeschooling.
Personally, I don't bother saying anything to him. It's like politics or religion. Everyone has their own brand, and it's a colossal waste of time to make any sort of effort to change his mind.
That's okay. A person like that could talk to me for a hundred years and not say anything to change my mind about my religion, politics or school choices.
I am not trying to convert him. I really don't care how his children are being educated, because his kids aren't MY problem. I have enough problems of my own!
Anyway. This guy is laboring under the assumption that people homeschool because they hated their own public school experiences. I wonder if that's true?
I didn't hate school most of the time. My feelings were more of boredom, indifference, and impatience. Do I wonder what would have happened had I been allowed to learn and grow in my own direction without coerced learning? Yes. Without pointless testing? Uh-huh. Without being forced to be with shitty people who really ruined a lot for the rest of us? Absolutely. But I can't say I hated the whole experience. There were things I enjoyed, too.
I homeschooled because I hated my SON'S public school experiences and knew I could offer him a better education without the emotional and physical abuse he was suffering at the hands of a 'good' teacher in a 'good' school.
After having him at home a few years and seeing his growth and his joy in learning, I knew I would not be sending my daughter away to learn.
Our choice has been successful for us, and we're content.
Why did you choose to homeschool?
Or, why do you think having your child in school is a better choice for you?
I won't cast aspersions on your choices or reasons, I'm just curious. And whatever your chosen location for schooling your children, did you hate school?
Did I hate school? In elementary school, absolutely. Up until then I thought the world was a nice place. Those years taught me otherwise. On the other hand, junior high and high school were a lot of fun for me. I have some lousy memories but mostly positive.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I homeschooled was simply because it felt natural. I was far from ready for these small people to leave my arms and spend the day under someone else's watch. It felt neglectful. It felt tragic. It felt wrong.
In the years since, I have noticed how I hear people say that hating school is NATURAL. That it is just something our children have to SUFFER through. That it is just one of the responsibilities of life they have to ENDURE. And I think, WHY? Why should education be something to ENDURE? That doesn't make sense. Childhood should be a time of wonder and awe and excitement and imagination and discovery. None of that, to me, can be regularly obtained in public school. Sure, there are moments, but at home, they get to do it all the time, surrounded by people who love them. I would have given absolutely anything for that opportunity when I was their age. I'd be a better person for it and I think they will be happier people for it as well.
We homeschool. And I liked public school. I thought it was a fine experience, and don't regret attending. Well, other than the fact that it shielded me too much from the real world (wait, isn't that an objection to homeschooling, that we're shielding our kids from the real world? Funny, that.).
ReplyDeleteWe started homeschooling because we didn't want someone else setting our schedule, determining when we get up in the morning, when we can go on vacation, when we can be a family. Of course, our reasons for continuing vary. Once you get in the swing of homeschooling you realize just how much it has to offer as a lifestyle.
We homeschool because after school and then umpteen hours of homework(and they only went through third grade, I can only imagine higher grade homework!!), we never got to have our kids. Weekends and summers just wasn't enough for us. I have no regrets.
ReplyDeleteEven though I don't understand homeschooling I can understand why some people would choose to homeschool.
ReplyDeleteI hated school. Two of my three kids love it. My middle boy hates it.
If I had more patience, maybe I would homeschool just him.
I loved school - the food (seriously), the teachers (mostly), the books, and sometimes the other students. It didn't prepare me for the "real world" though - it was its own world with its own rules, which I did well in.
ReplyDeleteWe started homeschooling our kids because public school was failing them - badly. We continue homeschooling because that's what they choose.
We waited too long to start homeschooling because I liked my school experience and because I thought I could make it work better for my own kids and for the other kids who didn't have a choice. But after spending up to 14 hours a day at the school and my kids having some really horrendous experiences, I wasn't willing to sacrifice my kids any more for the greater good. I have lots of guilt that it took me so long.
On a positive note, homeschooling has worked out very well for us. Our oldest is doing well in college, our kids get along well with each other and us, and we love having had that time together. If we had it to do over, we would have started sooner.
I loved school. I loved everything about it. When my oldest daughter started school she loved it too. But her experience was so different from mine. I did not like the influence from the other children, she didn't learn anything new, and I didn't have a good experience with school workers and by the end of kindergarten I had decided to homeschool her. My son has never been to school. We love homeschooling and the only regret I have is that I lost that whole year with my daughter that she went to school.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you, Ami. I didn't hate school, but, for the most part I was bored and indifferent.
ReplyDelete