Learning about Home Schooling

This is a fueled topic for some people. It's an emotional one because it deals with our kids, something most people don't take lightly. One thing I've learned (and mentioned before) from years of helping kids learn the violin, is that although it looks different in every home, most every parent wants what is best for their child. So with respect to those who disagree with me, here is my disclaimer that this post is in no way a judgement on you or what you think may be best for your child. I truly don't know your child like you do. However, for those parents seeking to learn about homeschooling, my thoughts may be helpful in some way.

I have a 4-year old, and I know that in these early years the fundamentals of learning how to learn are being woven. Practicing how to truly focus, how to master hard things, instilling values, and finding the joy in working are not things I take lightly. I've seen these skills give someone confidence that they ride on through the rest of their life. I am not about to hand over the reins to someone else, and just hope they do a good job.

As a parent who has practiced the violin almost every day with my child for over an hour since she was the age of 2, I know very intimately how she learns. I know her strengths, and her weaknesses, very, very well. Because of this, we can move quickly, much more quickly than if she was held at the pace of an entire classroom.

I am just as passionate about her NOT learning some things that are now being integrated into the common curriculum as I am about her learning other things that are omitted. God, for example. I mean, wouldn't it be great if we could study the Gospel as an integral part of our education?

Donna Garner, a Texas educator, has said "National Standards leads to National Assessments, which structures National Curriculum. Teachers salaries become tied to students test scores, which leads to teachers teaching to the test each and every day. Common Core instills a National indoctrination of our public school children, and begins a National database of students and teachers." Have you ever sat in on a class a few months before state tests? I have. For half a year I watched teachers count down for the test, and throw all other learning out the window. Once the test was over, the teacher had half a year to twiddle their thumbs. Your school may be different, but have you sat in to find out? Anything "across the board", "equal opportunity", with more "commonality" and less "competition" is just code (to me) for lowering the standard, loosing touch, and letting others raise our children inside their philosophies. We've lost our public schools to the government. I think they waste time, money, and indoctrinate children on what they value, which is often not in the same line as what I value or want my children to value.

I went to public school and loved it. Years later, after getting my Masters degree, I went back to High School as an aid for my younger brother Matt, who has a physical disability and was enrolled in several honors courses. With new eyes, as an adult, I was left shocked and horrified. I couldn't believe the hours - HOURS - wasted in classrooms. I couldn't believe the lack of respect given to students by faculty in the halls and in the classroom. One day I dressed down (typically I wore professional attire) because I had less time that day and thought I'd hit the gym right after work. I was on an urgent business phone call in the hallway during class when a teacher passing by came at me with vengeance for being on my cell phone on school property. He thought I was a student. I will never forget how belittled I felt being treated that way. I can't imagine adults treating other adults the way he treated me. But this teacher - this person in charge of educated our children - felt it just fine to treat a student this way. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a major incident. In fact, it was so small that it made me realize it was second nature to him. I've thought a lot about that exchange, and come to the conclusion that the only situation that compares, truly, is a prison guard talking to an inmate. Total authority, zero respect. And thats the learning environment we've placed our children in to help them learn, grow, and develop into independent, thinking human beings.

I also got so tired of seeing the exhaustion of honors students trying to practice their instruments before school, participate in sports after school, study for AP tests, and be in the Student Body Presidency, all while attending 8 hours of school, knowing that so MANY of those hours were a complete waste of time.

Think through your child's timeline for a minute. Do you want them to gain a specific skill? Do you want them to attend college? Do you want them to become a contributing member of society? Do you want them to serve a mission? Do you want them to have time for adventure? Do you want them to love learning? Do you want them to get married, and have a family of their own? Do you want them to be able to do this without much debt? Looking at these questions, I see the element of time as a major factor. For most, these options are choices typically to be had, one pitted against the other. It's like we say "well, pick three", because that's realistic. It is realistic, if you've put your child on that timeline. But what if they were all available, and those choices were open doors when your child arrived at them, with nothing but time on their side?

I am not saying that our schools don't give children opportunity. I am saying that in general they limit the opportunity.

Would it close a door or open a door if we allowed our children to learn at their own pace? Would it help or hurt them if we found mentors that were passionate about their subjects of learning? Would it be a benefit to them if they entered college at a younger age, so that by the time the years of specializing started, they had no sense of a ticking clock? The world seems to teach that as a woman, you can be a stay at home mom, OR you can be successful in your career. Would it eliminate or add stress to have the option of continuing school to the highest level, while also having plenty of time to start a family, without having to choose? Would it help them or hurt them if they were able to spend the adequate hours studying in something that provided a scholarship to the schools of their choice while easily balancing the other demands in their young life instead of joining the red-eyed zombie frenzy of students trying to get up at 4:00 in the morning to fit it all in? Throw in there a thinking person who has to justify to the world, in an articulate manner, why home schooling didn't ruin them, but instead, gave them these opportunities.

I really think that if you don't waste all those hours in a school day, they can add up to years on the other side.

There are programs out there that try to solve the problem of teaching to the masses and learning in the herds, such as the Montessori method. I think this is a great step in the right direction. Ultimately though, hundreds of studies, and common sense, show that the best situation is one on one learning. What could be better than one on one learning in the home, with the people who know you best and will continue to know you best?

Now. There is a HUGE spectrum of home school learning. There's just about as many methods and philosophies as there are families doing it. Because of this, like anything, it has a reputation from the extremes. In my experience, Homeschool is associated with lazy parents who want nothing to do with structure and have found a good excuse to let their kids run wild in the woods while they watch daytime television. But then I ran across this article, and I started to identify with a movement of parents looking for a better option.

I read this article and was completely inspired. Then I bought her book, (now not available until fall) which I'm in the middle of right now, and have continued to feel motivated to travel this homeschool journey.

There are so many programs out there, all with their own strengths. Many people go with a single program. The benefit to this is that everything is somewhat streamlined. We've chosen to highlight a few different programs that seem to have subjects they excel in, for example Saxon Math. I have heard great things about Aleks online Math, and Math-U-See depending on your child's learning strengths. Brooklynn has been doing Saxon at home for a year now, and she's confidently working at a 2nd grade level. I wouldn't be honest if I tried to hide my pride in the fact that my 4-year old is easily thinking through problems that a public school setting reserves for those twice her age. For our general studies, we just found and started the Life School, an LDS based curriculum. We're very new to this material, so I can't comment on the results, but I can say that the idea of starting our History lessons in the Pre-Existance and working through Gospel doctrine as an integral thread in every subject is very inviting, and seems to enrich the reasons I already had for home schooling.

So there are some thoughts. I challenge you to become educated about what and how your child is learning. Develop opinions about different methods, and then challenge those opinions until you're sure you've found what is best. What is best for your child, that is.