Finding Contentment

Homeschooling on the homestead

08:58 AM, Friday, March 16, 2007 .. Posted in Homeschooling .. 2 comments .. Link

A friend of mine that I have known since high school came over for dinner last night. She and I get together once or twice a year to catch up, and this year’s talk centered mostly on homeschooling.

Our family started homeschooling in December, before the thought of homesteading ever crossed our minds. But really, teaching our own children instead of having others do it for us is a big part of becoming self-sufficient.

I know many families who need two working parents think that homeschooling is not option – I thought the same way. But now that I see how much good it does the kids I wouldn’t have it any other way. Even if at some point I have to go back to work, my kids will not go back to a public school, or even a private one. I have heard of single, working mothers who homeschool, so I know it can be done.

I could go on and on about my reasons – of which there are many - for homeschooling, but there is no point in boring everyone. Instead, I’ll just list my family’s five main reasons and let you come to your own conclusions.

1. Socialization – Yes, everyone who hears we are homeschooling says “What about socialization?” Well, first I’ll point out that my kids are involved in extra-curricular activities and church. Secondly, I say this: I would rather them be hermits and not have any socialization at all than get the kind of socialization they were getting at public school. Socialization was one of the reasons we DID decide to homeschool, not one of the reasons that kept us from it.

2. Individualism – Classroom settings do not allow for individualism. Students are expected to do whatever the other students are doing, in whatever way the other students are doing it. Bells rule life at public school and state tests rule the teacher’s efforts. I believe that school is now less about true learning and more about scoring on a standardized test.

3. Independence and critical thinking – Neither of these things are encouraged in classroom settings. Though we just started homeschooling and aren’t at this point yet, most homeschoolers are self-motivated and independent. They know what they need to learn and they take the steps necessary to learn it.

4. God – Even though our country was built upon Godly values, God has now become illegal. As for me and my house, we will worship the Lord – in ALL we do, including learning and teaching.

5. Family values – It amazes me that for many families, this no longer exists. The family is a unit that, with God’s help, can stand together against all odds. So while being independent and self-motivated, family members learn to be part of a unit. A unit that doesn’t bully each other or compete against each other, but one that encourages and lifts each other up. Not that the kids don’t have sibling rivalry, they do. But we are trying to instill in them the values that my brothers and I grew up with. Even today, my brothers and I are still very supportive and turn to each often for help and advice. We all see each other several times a week. We share hopes and dreams with family members that we wouldn’t share with anyone else.

THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON TO HOMESCHOOL: When one day we present ourselves to Jesus, it won’t be the public school teachers or administrators who will be held accountable for what our kids learned. It will be us.