It's not an unusual question. In fact, if I've answered it once in the last 20 years, I've answered it dozens of times! I'm sure you won't find it hard to believe that I have a few reasons "at-the-ready" for when I'm asked this question! In a somewhat controversial post last week I provided an explanation of my 20-year old vow to never send my children to public school. The post evoked a bit of emotional discussion from both sides of the debate.
On a somewhat lighter note, I'd like to share a few more points that help to explain my decision to homeschool. I first posted my Top 10 Reasons Why I Homeschool nearly 3 years ago. My reasons haven't changed. Enjoy!
The Top 10 Reasons Why I Homeschool
- Pajamas are less expensive than school clothes.
- Not all kids can color in the lines for 3 hours at the age of 5 1/2
- The lines are shorter at Disney World in early October when all the other kids are in school.
- I want to be the one to experience the joy of teaching my child to read and to watch the joy on his face when he reads his first chapter book!
- Kids need socialization that doesn't involve being made fun of for wearing the wrong shoes to school.
- Kids are allowed to pray and sing "Away in a Manger" and "Joy to the World" in my school.
- Learning is more effective when the student/teacher ratio is 1:1 than when it's 25:1.
- No one is better equipped to teach my child than the person who knows him better than anyone...me!
- I like my kids and I want to be with them all day!
- Homeschooling WORKS!!
My kids LOVE pajam math!
ReplyDeleteAt 2:00 p.m.
I linked to your post last week and got bombarded on Facebook. I read it, agreed, and clicked the innocent looking little f at the bottom of the post. It definitely sparked a debate and a lot of defensiveness from my public school teaching friends. I tried to encourage them that having Christian teachers in the system is a great benefit to the school system but I can't be guaranteed they would be my child's teacher. My concern is more what the students would teach my child. As I've said more than once, my 7 year old will be more influenced than influential at this age. The whole "salt and light" aspect of putting Christian children in the system ignores the simple fact that you are asking me to throw my children to the wolves hoping they are able to not only withstand the influence of the masses, but also make an impact at 7, 8, 9? Ultimately I am held responsible for their upbringing and I can't see sacrificing them so that other children may or may not have a good influence in their lives. My desire is create in them a confidence and understanding of their faith so when they are H.S. age or older they can make a serious impact.
ReplyDeleteOh Shannon, I agree 100%!! I've had MANY people over the years try that "salt and light" argument on me. Many adults cannot withstand the pull of our culture. And in terms of worldly thinking and conduct, there aren't many places more influential than our nation's public schools. Why would we expect our children to be the "catalysts of change" in such a dark place? A few children are equipped emotionally and spiritually to swim upstream in a very worldly culture. But many (most?) are not. And you can't always know which ones aren't ready until it's too late!! As Arby said in one of his follow up posts to mine, it's kind of like playing russian roulette. It is simply not worth the risk.
ReplyDeleteSorry you got lambasted!!! :-)
Linda
Arby, to this day, my girls (all in their 20's now) wear their pajamas whenever they are home. If I see one of them at home wearing clothes, my first question is always "Where are you going?" Jimmy has a fit if I tell him to get dressed!! I've had people tell me that they won't ever be disciplined in life if they don't get dressed in the morning! Where do people get this stuff from?
ReplyDeleteLet's see, when I was teaching kindergarten, one little boy went to the pencil sharpener before class started to sharpen his pencil. Sounds like a smart idea. This was done so that he could go back to the table and stab another child in the side, since the child was standing beside a gameboard he wanted to play. His parents thought this was okay. This was the second attack he had made on another student. His parents didn't think he should be dismissed from the class. (I was at a church related school). Another kindergartener raspberry spit in another child's face out on the playground. When the playground monitor brought her back in, we decided to call her mom, so she could explain to Mom what she did. I'd had encounters with Mom about consequences for her child already. Mom came up to the school and chewed me out up one side and down the other. She didn't think her daughter deserved to stand in the corner for 5 minutes after apologizing to the boy. She called me a drill sergeant. I decided then that working with the three boys that I love with all my heart would be worth no paycheck, no classroom of 12, no parents from families where kids were in charge, or kids who are allowed to use violence to get what they want.
ReplyDeleteWe homeschool because 1:3 ratio will beat any schoolroom ratio hands down. I love helping the boys learn. I love being with my boys. I wince when a parents says they couldn't homeschool because they couldn't spend all day with their child. How sad is that?
Homeschooling works.
Thanks, Jane!! You are so right. Our local school (where my son would go) was just voted the best school in the Chicago area by Parenting Magazine. I've subbed there a number of times. The 2nd grade teachers (a team-taught classroom where most lessons are taught to 50 children sitting on a rug in the middle of the room) have a large jar of Jolly Rancher candy that they give to children who behave during the rug lessons. The days I was there some "good" children walked away with 5-6 pieces of candy. The "bad" children walked away with no candy. And no discipline. The kids were so distracted by the presence of the candy and by the bad kids that I don't think ANY child ever got a single thing out of the lessons.
ReplyDeleteIn the 5th grade classroom, most assignments are completed in small groups...children rarely work alone. The teacher raved and raved about the value of this type of instruction that develops teamwork and cooperation in her children. It was a joke. There was not cooperation. My observation over several times working in this classroom? In a group of 4 children, one child does the work while 3 kids goof off. All 4 children receive the same grade for the assignment. Hmmmm...we're even sharing the wealth in public school classrooms, now?
And this is all from the best school in the Chicago area? What must the worst be like?
I lost a friend over sharing a pro homeschool article once. Sad, and yeah it was the reason I did not share the aforementioned controversial article.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO glad to know it's not JUST my girls who prefer pajamas over going out clothing when they are home. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying reading this blog when I get the chance.
Thanks, Martie! Glad you can stop by occasionally!! :-)
ReplyDelete