Thursday, July 9, 2009
To homeschool or not to homeschool...
I have a little venting to do. I live in a town with very closeminded people who have an opinion about everything. We go to a church that we do not love, but it is good for the kids. We own a business in a struggling economy. Times are tough! Because of this, I have been doing a lot of reflecting on what are the important things in life. FAMILY! It is the most important thing in life. Raising a family that loves God and loves eachother. Nothing else needs to matter. I am really hating the direction this country is heading, and it really makes me scared for my kids. So I am really trying to decide whether or not I will home shcool. I am a firm beiever that kids learn at home, and it is up to the parents to teach their own kids. The problem is that parents are really dropping the ball on that. They are teaching their kids the ways of the world, and this is the problem we face. Our country was founded on CHRISTIAN Beliefs!!!!! People can argue that all they want, but the fact remains that this country has been and always will be in GOD'S hands. I don't want my kids going to school learning about the separation of church and state. I don't want them to think that because suzie has two mommies it is okay! I don't want my kids to be told that, we, the people are destroying the earth. I don't want them to think that public affection to your parents is gross! WE KISS AND HUG AND IT IS NORMAL! I will be kissing and hugging my family til the day I die! So get used to it AMERICA! I don't want them to be punished for opposing evolution and then being in trouble for stating their belief in God. I am in college, and last semester I was told if I stated anymore of my christian beliefs in regards to science, I would not get credit. Boy did this teacher not know who he was challenging! My sister in law is a high school teacher, and it is a rule at her school that is a child does not turn in an assignment, the teacher is not allowed to give them a zero. It might hurt their morale. I will tell you one thing, if one of my kids does not turn in an assignment, they better get a zero and have to work their little butts off to bring the grade back up. I want my kids to work hard for what they have! I want them to know that there are winners and losers in life, and if you want to be a winner you have to work for it. I have always said I was not cut out for homeschooling, but I don't know if I have a choice these days. Our local high school is going to have uniforms next year, and it has caused a huge debate in town. PARENTS are saying, "you can't do this to the kids, because the way they dress is how they express their individuality." This is so sad to me, the way a person dresses should never define them. Plus when you are in high school, you dress like all of your friends, so how is that being an indiviual?! I will be a public schools worst nightmare! So I am thinking about homeschooling. I still have a while before I am set on my decsion.
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7 comments:
nice venting girl :)
willy and i have decided to do homeschooling and im excited about it. i too am disappointed in the public schools for various reasons, especially in california. with all the cuts and large class sizes, i don't think kids get the attention they deserve..it's like glorified daycare. i also want to be my child's teacher and think its a great way to bond as a family too. i've been really encouraged about doing it by reading other blogs like rose starr. she makes it look so fun and like something i can and want to do. public school is not horrible and i dont look down on anyone for choosing that...i am just excited to homeschool and have chosen it for a lot of reasons too! go families!
First off, I LOVE your new blog design!! Secondly, I have MUCH to say on this homeschool topic as I have taught in both public school and in a university model setting (homeschool & private school mix). I can honestly say that the majority of my kids that were only homeschooled are FAR behind. Plus, in order for homeschooling to work, the parent and student have to get along well. That is certainly not the case in many families, and it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them, or that they are bad; it just means that they have trouble working closely together day in and day out. And that makes for an ugly homeschool experience. Now, I have seen and been in some very poorly run public schools where expectations were low and therefore the education offerred there was well below the standard and extreme behavior problems were the norm. But, I have also been in INCREDIBLE public schools with FANTASTIC teachers and high expectations, and behavior was still a problem (always will be), but in a lesser form. Since my kids are zoned to an EXEMPLORY public school, I very much plan on them attending that school as there is NO way I can offer them the same education at home - no way, no how. I don't have the resources and continuing education that these teachers do, and that's a big deal to me. However, if my kids were zoned to a lower level public school (and they certainly DO exist), I would be considering my options: A)Moving so my kids would be zoned to better schools B)Homeschool (Wow!!) C)Enrolling my kids where I teach right now - a homeschool, private school mix.
Bottom line: You have to do what's best for your kids. And what may work for Scarlett might not work for Owen. I've seen that happen over and over in my nine years experience. But the other thing that parents don't think about is that if they homeschool their child, they are usually putting them at risk - a very high risk for being educationally below their peers. The parents think they can do it and pull it off, but in reality, public school (and even private school kids) are truly offerred a much more well-rounded grade appropriate education. I know families that have some kids in private school, some kids in public school, and some kids are being homeschooled. I know families that start off doing homeschool and then move on to public school and visa versa. So again, you have to do what's best for your kids. There is certainly much to consider!! Are your kids zoned to a good school? That would certainly be a major deciding factor if I were in your shoes. And the good news is that you still have time to look into all of this. :)
Thanks for the encouragement on both sides. And thanks from the persepctive of two teachers and two moms of young kids! I see both pionts. Allison lives in California, and if I were still living there, I would not have this delima, I would be homeschooling. I mean the kindergarten that Ashlyn went to in California lost her!!! I know that the school system in Texas is very different from California. The crappy thing is that I don't have a choice about schools. The high school here is just AWEFUL. I think I know enough of the teachers in the kindergarten and elementary school here that I could trust my kids to go there, but at what cost? I mean, a good education is great, but I don't want my kids to be taught lies. I know plenty of teachers that are amazing teachers, but I worry more about the other kids and the parents. I completely agree that what might work for Scarlett might not work for Owen. I have no doubt that Scarlett will tell someone exactly how she feels and when something that is being taught is wrong. Owen on the other hand, I do not know what to think about him. I guess the biggest and most important issue to me is the fact that This country is the way it is right now because, as a nation, we have strayed so far away from the belief that God should be the center. God should guide us, and we should allow him to work in our families. We as moms have the power to change the world for the better, and we have to do what is best for our kids. Thanks for the input, I need all the help I can get.
I actually know some homeschool kids who got a great education and are not far behind at all! There are many ways to do it and different curriculums to use. It is really left in the parents' hands. If you look into it ahead of time, study up on curriculum and different styles, and are prepared, then it should be no problem! Some parents do just throw their kid a packet and tell them to do it and leave them alone...this really is a rip off too. I don't see you as that kind of parent though! You are so involved and already educating here all the time! Scarlett is already a genius and that says a lot about you too! (not that slower children have uninvolved parents all the time either!)...do your research and do what you feel is best for your family! this is such a controversial topic and there are pros and cons for both sides!
I know it is controversial, but that is why I posted it. I want to hear both sides of the topic, so I can make the best decsion possible for my kids. I know that this would be the best forum to talk about this, because all of my frineds on here have young kids, and can understand. Thanks for taking the time to read and respond!
I love this post. Such fun for teachers and parents - especially opinionated ones like me. ha ha
I would spend time dwelling on the following before making my decision =
1. Remember that our kids will always have to deal with bullies and those that do things quite differently from us. That's a great thing about public school - they learn life lessons that have to do with the real world that they will truly be a part of someday. (Keep in mind that I know little about California and New Mexico school systems.)
2. But just what kinds of life lessons are they learning? I mean, if your kid is going to be surrounded by drugs and lies, then I would not send my child there (remembering that drugs and "bad" are everywhere). But in order to stand up for the teachers across America, I must say that not a one of them (except for a few crazies) wakes up each morning and says, "How can screw up a child today...???" Teachers are incredible people!
3. I have found that giving people: kids, parents, teachers a chance, I am usually impressed with the final outcome. There are a lot of good people out there. There are a lot of good parents out there, and a lot of good kids out there, so don't automatically assume the public school experience will be full of druggies and "bad". You may be pleasently surprised.
4. Honestly, most kids that are homeschooled are behind, and their parents tend to be quite surprised that their child is behind as they thought surely they were right on target if not above it. But be aware that teaching is much harder than people think. And so many think it will be "fun". Not true. Sure, they enjoy the overall experience of spending time with their kids, but I know all too well a number a NORMAL families that butt heads while homeschooling. It is not always all daisies and roses. I think for a few it is, but I think that many parents struggle with getting their kids to go along with the plan. Matter of fact, I KNOW they do as they come to me for advice all the time since I am their child's "other" teacher.
4. Remember that public school teachers are constantly being monitored and taught and they are constantly attending classes given by their state or district to keep them up to speed and as perfect as possible. Parents that homeschool do NOT get this. Therefore, the children usually suffer, and it's not fair to the children.
5. Public schools have so much to offer in terms of technology and equipment (like science labs). You can't do that at home. Most learning occurs through hands-on activities, and schools are really good at offerring such experiences.
6. What is best for Scarlett? What is best for Owen? Do they have specific needs that would be better met at home or a public school? Good news: You'll know the answer by the time kindergarten rolls around for both of them.
This is FUN!
Carrie, I love your courage! The beauty of homeschooling two very different kids as a mom is that YOU are the one who knows each of them better than anyone else, so your teaching can be tailored to that child. God calls parents to "train up a child while there is hope...". The Lord will not let you down. The most effective tool the devil uses is "doubt". Gen. 1 the serpent says to Eve..."did God really say...?" A parents influence in the child's life is the most important. The public schools will be right there to place that "doubt" in the minds of precious innocent children. Then they come home and hear their parents tell them something else. They are not mature enough to know how to deal with that. I have literally known hundreds of homeschooled kids. Many of them are now in College. It is true, that the kids who's parents take it seriously will thrive. Keep praying, the Lord will direct.
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