I just read a post by a mom regarding her fear of pulling her kids out of school. She mentioned "I don't want my kid to be clueless about the world".
Really? I don't feel clueless. I was homeschooled for nearly all of my education, and for all but a few years of schooling. (yes the bulk of my education was before schooling). And I feel a bit insulted to think that anyone would assume homeschooled kids are 'clueless'. Quite frankly I get bothered by most anti-homeschooling when I think about it. I am a product of that 'terrible scary path'. Whatever you fear for your kids, do you see it in me?
I am far from perfect, and my parents left plenty of gaps in my education (or maybe I did since I had a great deal of choice in the matter). And yet I don't blame homeschooling any more than I blame the date my parents started me on solid food for my picky eating. I might be a product of my parents decisions, but what I chose to do with that raw material is all me. Flawed and faulty, I am what I am, no need to point fingers. (what I ain't is an English major!)
One of my flaws is failing to be more understanding of how a public schooled person might feel in turning their back on public education. If I am insulted by assumptions of 'clueless homeschool kids' how much more so might 'they' be insulted at assumptions of an inferior education? Or implications that the school they packed their kid off to is unsafe? Or any other 'terror' of public school.
I think this may be one reason why I often simply say I homeschool because I can't wake up early enough to pack kids off to schools. It is a fault of mine, not of the school. So no one tends to take offense.
Though it also doesn't encourage anyone to try homeschooling. I mean what kind of parent wakes up one day and says 'you know I am tired of dragging my kids out of bed, I think I'll let them sleep in and guess we will cover the education when they wake up'....
Nope only homeschoolers worry that intentionally dragging their kids out of bed might be damaging (if they were getting enough sleep they would get themselves out of bed right?)
Ah well, one day I will have the perfect answer to the 'why do you homeschool' question, one that doesn't insult the asker, or a homeschooler.
Yes, so many are worried about what their children won't be getting....others worry about what they are getting. Either way, it is not a perfect world, but I prefer homeschooling. We went to public school....and I'm still trying to undo the damage done there. For private school.....well, nothing to say about that one, either.
ReplyDeleteIt is fear of the unknown.
ReplyDeleteI think as parents we all worry about whether we're making the right choices - you only get one shot. But hey, at least we get to make those choices on a full night's sleep - it's not that bad a reason for homeschooling! :)
ReplyDeleteYOu can always tell them you don't have time to go into all 2 million reasons. What if you asked why they don't!
ReplyDelete