Homeschooling and education
The Learning Circuits Blog: Homeschooling and the Creative Class
Hm… Until a few years ago, I didn’t know much about homeschooling. Then I met my wife. Her brother and sister were homeschooled. Her family has unfortunately endured a certain amount of ridicule because of that. It became a topic of conversation between us, and though still not resolved completely, was important in the decision to marry.
I have absolutely nothing against homeschooling. I do still have some questions about it, but the biggest thing holding me back from being gung-ho about it is me: I’m not sure I’d be a good homeschooling facilitator.
I barely have the self-discipline to do my work. I see how my sister-in-law and my friend handle homeschooling their kids, and it takes a lot of work and organization. It’s a job, really. Very rewarding, and certainly worth the effort if I’m to hold those kids up as examples, but I don’t know if I have that kind of energy. And that’s a depressing thought. If I don’t have the energy to teach my kids,
- what does that say about me and my relationship with my kids?
- I have to pay for a private school, or
- I have to send them to public school
Honestly, I’m not too thrilled with spending the extra cash for a private school. And I’m not sure I trust the public schools anymore. (In general, I do support public school teachers. After all, I almost joined their ranks myself. But the environment in a public school is getting worse, both culturally and academically, and it worries me.) So, that leaves me with homeschooling. And I’m not sure I can pull that off either.
hmm…. good thing I have a few years to noodle this one over some more.
Tags: kids, Learning
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February 15th, 2006 at 10:33 am
I have known a few home schooled people in my life. They run the gamut of types of people that everyone else does, some are very smart, well spoken kids, some are introverted, ummmm, not-so-smart kids…
My wife and I have had this debate as well. We tried private school for a brief period, I was seriously unimpressed. Our kids go to public school now and are doing fine, well adjusted, learning a lot and very social…in the future we may home school…however, we have a hidden advantage…my wife is a licensed and experienced teacher.
As I have seen the kids and their parents, the biggest factor in the success of a home school program is the facilitator, some parents may be great parents, but have no business teaching…
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April 9th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I have thought about this very issue as my son (now almost 2 years old) will be entering school before we know it. For years, I have been against homeschooling, claiming that it took away from the needed social interaction and athletic chances. However, given the state of public education today, the more I wonder if homeschooling is the way to go.
For crying out loud - when I hear that teachers in Washington State have banned legos b/c the students were practicing capitalism, it makes me wonder what it going on?
The unfortunate thing is that I am not sure I have the patience to teach homeschooling either. Augh - the decisions that have to be made!
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April 9th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Hi David,
I hadn’t heard that legos thing. That sounds pretty weird.
In the year since I wrote this, I haven’t spent a great deal of time concentrated on the topic, but I have thought a little about how it might work best for my family. I have a tendency to lean a little toward a cooperative method of homeschooling, though I have no idea if there are any “cooperatives” in this area. Something to look into.
I’m also considering going with public school for some of the early grades, then moving to homeschooling. I don’t know… you put it well: “Augh”.
Btw, I can’t say that homeschooling seems to have hurt the social interaction of the children I know - nor the athletic opportunities, for that matter. The trick seems to be to have them involved in other social situations: church, community groups, etc., and to take advantage of athletic activities in your area (though there’s obviously a cost involved there beyond what you might get in a public school).
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