By: Cynthia Litman
Pearl of the Day: A New Time Out
When I think of homeschooling I think of Robert Frost’’s pearl “education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self confidence.”
As far as homeschooling goes, I think I’d lose both and am fairly certain the experience would push my whole family over the edge.
Imagine waking up everyday and setting a lesson plan for your kids. I find it’s hard enough to wake them, clean them, dress them, pack lunch, send them off to a "conventional" school and remember to pick them up, but being responsible for ALL that they learn and sticking to a game plan each day? Oye!
I love finding the teachable moments for my kids, especially as my son is grasping letters and words. I’ll stop mid street to point out a sign and ask him to read off the letters and driving is a whole new exciting adventure to read the exit signs, stop signs and mark all the colors and objects we spy.
We count at home and I’m beginning to re-learn, I mean, teach basic math with the apples in the fruit bowl. As parents, we naturally teach our children everyday yet there’s a whole other layer added to the parent/master – child/student relationship when the parent is also the primary educational teacher.
Next time you are sitting at a holiday meal with your family, picture your uncle teaching your kids science, your aunt – math, your grandpa – history, grandma – English and cousin - art. Wow, I’m scared.
Despite certain beliefs, homeschooling is not just for hermits or extreme religious groups. Over one million American children are homeschooled, with many of the parents being well educated and the numbers are on the rise. Many families do opt to homeschool their children primarily for religious reasons, safety concerns and overall dismay over local public schools yet there’s another crop of "normal" parents who just want to do it for their children. Yep, homeschooling is making a comeback and the stigma is alleviating.Homeschooling used to be the primary way to receive an education. Back in the day, before public schools were even established, kids learned at home and from their community. Many cultures around the world still implore this methodology. I instinctually picture “tribal life” where different members of the tribe taught the youngsters. The women taught domestic skills, men - hunting skills, the shaman – mystical skills, the elders – wisdom. Rites of passage being the equivalent of standardized testing.
Our modern society is organized like a super-sized tribe. We all assume different roles and take up expertise in our fields to help, provide for and teach our fellow man. Our school systems follow suit. Teachers have their subjects of expertise and the kids move from teacher to teacher for the next enrichment.
You have freedom to choose how your kids are educated. While there are mandates and “compulsory” education requirements, which vary by State, you can opt for a different setting, same curriculum as your neighbors but different setting. The US Supreme Court believes that “States may set educational standards but may not limit how parents choose to meet those educational standards." (Wikipedia, Runyon v. McCrary)
There are resources and support groups available to aid families who embark on this endeavor. You are not alone. You also do not have to home school all by yourself. Depending on your State, groups of families can create their own private schools and switch off days and subjects. So instead of a playgroup, it’s a school group.
Many parents feel relief when they drop their kids off at their "conventional" school, a glorified child-care system that gives parents a few precious hours “off duty”. In New York, my kids pre-school is techinically considered “day care”. Do homeschooling moms have downtime? It’s a great sacrifice of your “free” time to make to home school your kids.
This week finds me asking more questions then usual. I’m particularly excited to speak with 2 moms on the Mommas Pearls radio show about their homeschooling successes and failures. I mean, is there such a thing as a sick day? Snow day? Spring Break? Does home economics merge with lunchtime? Is all the work “homework”? If every moment becomes a teachable moment then what is the home school equivalent of a time out?
My sister would be teaching her kids all about the different fashion designers and I'm pretty sure my family's school uniform would be our pajamas.
Lots of homework this week!
Copyright © 2010 Cynthia Litman d/b/a Tigris Imprints. All Rights Reserved.
Resources:
Wikipedia
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.