Choosing To Homeschool
I am almost 99% sure that I want to homeschool my children. However, there is a little part inside of me that says I may be making the wrong decision. I want to know for sure that I am doing the right thing and that I am making the right decision for my children. But how can any parent ever really know for sure that any decision they make for their children is the right one? It's kind of trial and error and see what works.
Maybe my feelings are not really coming from inside of me but is being put there by the reactions from friends and family when I say I want to homeschool. I have received nothing but shock and mostly negative reactions. I have mentioned this before but I think the reactions are getting worse as our oldest is kindergarten age this year and could potentially start kindergarten in the fall since he will be five and a half year old.
I have been thinking of this over and over for the past few months. The thoughts won't get out of my head and I can honestly say I have been losing sleep over it. When I even think of considering public school I get this weird sick feeling inside of me. I don't know if its me being kind of crazy and not wanting to let go of my children and trust them with other people and the government or if deep down I truly know public school is wrong for our family because of our beliefs and lifestyle. We have always been a close-knit, less-structured, few-rules sort of family. I'm not sure if that fits with the public school system.
If my five year old son wants a drink of water during the day I want him to be able to get a drink whenever he needs it. I don't want him to have to wait until 2 hours later. If a person is thirsty and uncomfortable, how can they possibly learn?
If my five year old needs to go to the bathroom, I want him to be able to go when he needs to go and not when the teacher's schedule says he can go. Again, if a child needs to go the bathroom and they are not allowed, how can they can concentrate and learn?
This is an excerpt taken from an article at LeapingFromTheBox.com
"A primary goal of kindergarten is to make good little soldiers/workers out of children. Their most important lessons include learning that they must ask permission before doing anything (including bathroom privileges). They are trained to follow the schedule at all costs. They learn to eat, play, learn, and even nap according to schedule with no consideration given to the individual child’s needs or requirements. They learn to follow directions, stand in line quietly, and get along with other children and the teacher without resorting to violence. And probably the most important lesson is to break the emotional bonds with home and family. This is one result of the institution of public school that I believe few parents realize until they remove their child from that system. Only then does one fully appreciate the extent to which authority and control of one’s children were given away". To read the entire article go here
http://www.leapingfromthebox.com/art/kmg/kindergarten.html
THAT SCARES ME. I don't like it at all!
Is there anyone that can relate? Does anyone else homeschool?
>Go to the Mom blog Homepage
I am almost 99% sure that I want to homeschool my children. However, there is a little part inside of me that says I may be making the wrong decision. I want to know for sure that I am doing the right thing and that I am making the right decision for my children. But how can any parent ever really know for sure that any decision they make for their children is the right one? It's kind of trial and error and see what works.
Maybe my feelings are not really coming from inside of me but is being put there by the reactions from friends and family when I say I want to homeschool. I have received nothing but shock and mostly negative reactions. I have mentioned this before but I think the reactions are getting worse as our oldest is kindergarten age this year and could potentially start kindergarten in the fall since he will be five and a half year old.
I have been thinking of this over and over for the past few months. The thoughts won't get out of my head and I can honestly say I have been losing sleep over it. When I even think of considering public school I get this weird sick feeling inside of me. I don't know if its me being kind of crazy and not wanting to let go of my children and trust them with other people and the government or if deep down I truly know public school is wrong for our family because of our beliefs and lifestyle. We have always been a close-knit, less-structured, few-rules sort of family. I'm not sure if that fits with the public school system.
If my five year old son wants a drink of water during the day I want him to be able to get a drink whenever he needs it. I don't want him to have to wait until 2 hours later. If a person is thirsty and uncomfortable, how can they possibly learn?
If my five year old needs to go to the bathroom, I want him to be able to go when he needs to go and not when the teacher's schedule says he can go. Again, if a child needs to go the bathroom and they are not allowed, how can they can concentrate and learn?
This is an excerpt taken from an article at LeapingFromTheBox.com
"A primary goal of kindergarten is to make good little soldiers/workers out of children. Their most important lessons include learning that they must ask permission before doing anything (including bathroom privileges). They are trained to follow the schedule at all costs. They learn to eat, play, learn, and even nap according to schedule with no consideration given to the individual child’s needs or requirements. They learn to follow directions, stand in line quietly, and get along with other children and the teacher without resorting to violence. And probably the most important lesson is to break the emotional bonds with home and family. This is one result of the institution of public school that I believe few parents realize until they remove their child from that system. Only then does one fully appreciate the extent to which authority and control of one’s children were given away". To read the entire article go here
http://www.leapingfromthebox.com/art/kmg/kindergarten.html
THAT SCARES ME. I don't like it at all!
Is there anyone that can relate? Does anyone else homeschool? >Go to the Mom blog Homepage
Maybe my feelings are not really coming from inside of me but is being put there by the reactions from friends and family when I say I want to homeschool. I have received nothing but shock and mostly negative reactions. I have mentioned this before but I think the reactions are getting worse as our oldest is kindergarten age this year and could potentially start kindergarten in the fall since he will be five and a half year old.
I have been thinking of this over and over for the past few months. The thoughts won't get out of my head and I can honestly say I have been losing sleep over it. When I even think of considering public school I get this weird sick feeling inside of me. I don't know if its me being kind of crazy and not wanting to let go of my children and trust them with other people and the government or if deep down I truly know public school is wrong for our family because of our beliefs and lifestyle. We have always been a close-knit, less-structured, few-rules sort of family. I'm not sure if that fits with the public school system.
If my five year old son wants a drink of water during the day I want him to be able to get a drink whenever he needs it. I don't want him to have to wait until 2 hours later. If a person is thirsty and uncomfortable, how can they possibly learn?
If my five year old needs to go to the bathroom, I want him to be able to go when he needs to go and not when the teacher's schedule says he can go. Again, if a child needs to go the bathroom and they are not allowed, how can they can concentrate and learn?
This is an excerpt taken from an article at LeapingFromTheBox.com
"A primary goal of kindergarten is to make good little soldiers/workers out of children. Their most important lessons include learning that they must ask permission before doing anything (including bathroom privileges). They are trained to follow the schedule at all costs. They learn to eat, play, learn, and even nap according to schedule with no consideration given to the individual child’s needs or requirements. They learn to follow directions, stand in line quietly, and get along with other children and the teacher without resorting to violence. And probably the most important lesson is to break the emotional bonds with home and family. This is one result of the institution of public school that I believe few parents realize until they remove their child from that system. Only then does one fully appreciate the extent to which authority and control of one’s children were given away". To read the entire article go here
http://www.leapingfromthebox.com/art/kmg/kindergarten.html
THAT SCARES ME. I don't like it at all!
Is there anyone that can relate? Does anyone else homeschool? >Go to the Mom blog Homepage
12 Comments:
I think it's an individual choice. It is the right one for some families and not for others. Only you will truly know if it is right for you.
I'm sure you could find quotes out there that would shed a bad light on home schooling just like on public school - but in the end it shouldn’t be what you hear from others it should be what your heart and head are telling you to do.
I wasn't going to comment but I came back....I think the person above me is right. It's your choice.
I do not know your beliefs but the whole bathroom thing and drink thing is not something I worry about. I don't even give in at home. If Tyler wants a drink and if I am busy, he will wait. We have rules here.
So if you don't like the rule thing, it may be better to homeschool him because he may not be ready for those kind of changes. In Tyler's Pre school they focus on those things already to get children prepared for Kindergarten, so he may have a hard time or not know how to wait for things if you were to send him.
I guess...why don't you just homeschool him for the year and see how it goes, if it doesn't work out then you will have your answer. If it does work out, well then great! He will already be home.
I don't know ANYTHING about homeschooling, but you could do that right? Do it and if it don't work out send him to school next year?? Or the opposite...send him to school and if it gets bad, then you know that you need to homeschool. I think you should try one or the other and then you will know:)
It's just kindergarten and it's just one year. I don't think you can go wrong either way. Just try it out.
I don't homeschool but we've talked and I am considering it for high school. This is a hard decision and my family or friends would not support it in any way. But, what it boils down to is I have to do what feels right. We all make mistakes with our kids no matter what the issue is. If you don't feel that a school is safe or a good educational source, then I think that you would be doing a disservice to your child. If you have a good school that is safe and he would do well there, then I feel that you should probably send him. We all have jitters about sending them. Mine is in the 4th grade and I still hate having to send her. If she wasn't thriving, I would keep her home. You and hubby are intelligent and caring people, so I know that you will make the right decision. As far as using the restroom and getting a drink, schools allow that for the most part. They have a schedule but they also are allowed to go on their own. I agree with what Tasha said concerning the structure. I think that in life we all follow schedules if we work outside the home and even inside the home to an extent. He would adapt well to that I believe. Just follow your heart and don't worry about what other people are saying. Sorry this is so long!
I can relate because I am also thinking about homeschooling. I have a few years yet before I have to make that decision so I am not sure how I will feel at that time. It will be a huge sacrafice for me since I really want to finish my degree and doing that with kids at home all the time will not be easy. I am also a bit scared about having to teach them math which is my worst subject. But then maybe by me teaching them from the beginning I may pick up on things that I misses, so who knows? It is a tough choice but it is one that you and only you can make for your kids.
Oh sweetie. He's your gift. YOURS. YOUR husband's GIFT. And my friend, when you lie your head down at night, shut out what everyone is saying, and you go to rest what does your gut say?
And hey, if you bomb and he bombs. Just do school next year. Try it!!!
I'm here for you whatever you choose friend.
Cheers,
Kdubs
(I meant try homeschooling ;))
You'll both do great no matter what. :)
Amanda,
I'm homeschooling my 4th grader this year and it's THE best decision I've ever made for her. I wish I had done it sooner. It really is an individual decision for each family. My daughter asked me to homeschool her and I agreed. We are taking it year by year. If she decides she wants to go back to Public school then I will let her. But as of right now, she loves homeschool so much and has done so much better than she says she's never going back. I got wierd reactions from my family at first too. They were all shocked and discouraging. But now that the school year is almost over and they see how well Casie's doing and hard we've worked together they always compliment me and tell me how much respect they have for what I'm doing. Don't worry about others. You have to decide what's best for your son. Hope this helps. :0)
Go homeschooling. As a teacher in the public school system, "school is bad for students!!". They are undemocratic environments that have been designed to churn out passive workers.
For some great books on the subject, go to amazon.com and look for:
Field Day - Matt Hern
Deschooling Our Lives - John Taylor Gatto
Or check out the Unschooling links at the top of our blog links!
Good luck!
John D
P.S some of the most intelligent, articulate and well rounded individuals I know were homeschooled. And don't listen to the arguement about your children not getting enough socialisation. There are other young people not in school, at birthday parties, sleep overs , museums, science centers.... and besides, I don't think the socializations that occur in today's schools are necessarily good. I'm sure you know many people that would characterise their school experiences as negative.
"I went to school ignorant and willing to learn. I left school ignorant and unwilling to learn"
I think there are pros and cons to both. But for what it's worth, I am a proud product of the public school system and never remember not being able to get water or go pee if I wanted to. We just asked, and we went. That was it. I think the only rule was, just one kid was allowed out at a time but other then that, it wasn't like est where they make you hold it in for six hours! I really loved school. But that's me.
On the other hand, if you're up to the challenge homeschooling can be great, particularly for truly smart kids that won't be challenged by the school system or for kids with special needs of various types who might fall through the cracks. My mother is an educator, like the poster above, and swears she'd homeschool us having done it all over again.
There are no right answers as mothers and no wrong answers. And nothing is permanent. You can always switch. Go with your heart.
I just want to encourage you in your choice to homeschool. You can do it and your kids will be better for it!
Just yet another reason to homeschool:
http://www.becausemomsaidso.com/2006/05/no-more-recess-now-that-just-sucks.html
:(
My son started school and loved it- I helped out a lot, which I think was good for him and me too (so I could see how things went and how he felt about being there)- he's going inot 7th grade this year. My daughter will be in 4th this year and I have always homeschooled her- we have moved a lot and she was my baby, so I worried more. I think they are both doing well in school and they both like going to the school that they go to- it really depends on the child. You can't really mess up K!! I will tell you that K and 1st are the hardest because you are teaching them letters and how to read, numbers counting- all the building starting point things. But, my daughter is a far better reader than my son and I do think all the time one on one that I spent with her made the difference. You probably are teaching K concepts now at home- colors, letters, numbers, etc- it just gets tricky when it comes to the reading, but it just all of a sudden will click for them- you just have to be very patient. I taught both my children to read, my son didn't learn in school. First grade is the tough one in my opinion, but 2nd grade is a breeze- because they can read then and you just build on it and the same goes with math.
You have to choose for yourself, but I wish someone would have told me that it's fun too and so rewarding- your kids won't be socially challenged- my kids both play with every child in the neighborhood and my daughter makes friends every week- she isn't shy and sheltered.
Anyway- had to respond when I read your entry. Good Luck- also there is so much out there to choose from- go to a homeschool fair if you can- I just went to my frst one last week- I didn't know there were so many options!!
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