I came across a Huffington Post blog where the writer/parent listed the reasons she would never homeschool her children.
I found it mildly disturbing that each and every one of her reasons started with I. I-I-I-I-I. I need time away from them. I am afraid of math. I don't like refereeing my kids when they fight. I like dropping them off at school. But here's the deal. It's how she feels. It is her truth. She is being honest. I sense an inability to see things from her kids side, but considering her reasons for not homeschooling, her kids
definitely belong in public school.
However, just as I disagree with her reasons for not homeschooling (for me and mine), I also disagree with the peanut gallery... the homeschoolers-in-arms. Many have gone as far as to say that this woman does not love her kids. Chances are she does love her kids- a lot! She just isn't the homeschooling type and cannot envision herself our shoes.
But even for myself it took a jarring, traumatic, life-changing realization to make me see the value in homeschooling. I don't love my kids more now than I did then, do I? I understand them better, but I don't love them any more or less.
I remember back when I started homeschooling, I went to a co-op meeting where women took turns telling the audience that unless GOD told them to homeschool, they should not do it. Maybe GOD hasn't dubbed her as a homeschooler.
So let's stop being so judgmental, OK?
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
I found it mildly disturbing that each and every one of her reasons started with I. I-I-I-I-I. I need time away from them. I am afraid of math. I don't like refereeing my kids when they fight. I like dropping them off at school. But here's the deal. It's how she feels. It is her truth. She is being honest. I sense an inability to see things from her kids side, but considering her reasons for not homeschooling, her kids
definitely belong in public school.
However, just as I disagree with her reasons for not homeschooling (for me and mine), I also disagree with the peanut gallery... the homeschoolers-in-arms. Many have gone as far as to say that this woman does not love her kids. Chances are she does love her kids- a lot! She just isn't the homeschooling type and cannot envision herself our shoes.
But even for myself it took a jarring, traumatic, life-changing realization to make me see the value in homeschooling. I don't love my kids more now than I did then, do I? I understand them better, but I don't love them any more or less.
I remember back when I started homeschooling, I went to a co-op meeting where women took turns telling the audience that unless GOD told them to homeschool, they should not do it. Maybe GOD hasn't dubbed her as a homeschooler.
So let's stop being so judgmental, OK?
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
ahermitt.com
Comments
I was like that mom you spoke of. I had lots of reasons why I couldn't do it, but when my kid was looking at failing out in grade 8...My husband (not God) suggested I should homeschool. It was a good choice for all of us. Like the mother who started the school for learning disabled kids, I had my degree in special ed. Only, I only had one student. But I knew enough to know a lot of kids with learning differences are sent up the river at public schools. They don't fit the factory model.
I forget, was there a question? Just got all blabbery with my choice. And it is a choice I would have hated to have been without. I've no doubt my son would have been part of the 25% who drop out. As it is, he is going to Tech school after doing real well on his GED.
I can't say GOD called EVERY mom to homeschool ALL of her children (I don't), but I think the huffiness homeschoolers sometimes have results from dopey people being ignorant about homeschooling.
PS. I love to talk curriculum, though. I have rarely to never seen "fights" on it. You must be "blessed." :)