Meville

Why, with all of the wonderful resources that public schools make available, would parents choose to keep their kids at home for schooling? Especially when most of these parents aren’t even teachers or have had any formal training as an educator. Isn’t it a disservice to deny their children of a proper education, one that will ensure that they will possess the knowledge in the necessary subject areas, so that they will go on to be successful citizens? Let’s also not forget the fact that they rob their kids of the opportunity to socialize and interact with their peers. After all, how are these kids supposed to learn how to function in a normal society when they are deprived of the chance to form meaningful relationships with kids their own age? It seems strange that any parent would take the chance of possibly refusing their child a well-rounded education by not sending them to school.

Wait a mintute . . . could it be because our country’s public school system is in complete shambles and because sending our kids to the neighborhood school does not guarantee that they will receive a quality education? Or that there is no way to make sure that your child gets a teacher that is not yet burned out, still cares about children, and is allowed to take risks in his/her classroom by pushing the boundaries of the dictated curriculum in order to really engage the students in meaningful learning experiences? Or perhaps it’s as simple as the fact that there is no one in this world that will care as much about a child’s success in life, and be willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that they move forward in life, than its own parents.

Now, my purpose here is not to bash school teachers or to comment upon their ability or inability to help in shaping successful citizens. I would merely like to applaud the efforts of homeschooling parents in taking the power to make the decisions which best benefit their children, into their hands. Thanks to a healthy dose of some good ole fashioned ignorance, this former public school teacher used to agree (along with many of my peers in education land) with the afore mentioned wonderings regarding parents who homeschooled their kids. After much research and a tad of real life exposure to some of these families, I am a believer!

I must say that I am thoroughly impressed by the innovative techniques, original approaches, and creative ways in which some of these parents jump on the many teachable moments they encounter throughout their day. A box doesn’t even exist when some of these parents (or this one) think of ways to expose material and content to their children. It’s enough to make any teacher, bound by the constraints and guidelines that only a public classroom can offer, envious of such freedom!

A big hat tip to you all out there! You’re not that weird after all.