Without going into too much detail, I received a disheartening email yesterday.
One of my online students is a homeschool student. But, she is not a Christian. Her parents are homeschooling her simply because they believe homeschooling is better for their daughter.
In a note to me, her mother tells of a time when their family was shunned because they were not homeschooling correctly.
Here is my reply:
By the way, part of your note below made my spirits sink. I am sorry you were shunned by the “Christian” homeschoolers.
Not sure why that is such a common story. Everyone is simply trying to do the best for their kids. Does anyone really have the right answer?
I am a Christian. But, honestly, that is not the main reason we educate our kids at home. I have been in the classroom for nearly twenty years now. School, I can tell you from experience, is the place children are taught to shuffle paperwork. What exactly does that prepare kids to become?
In my opinion, it trains them to become bureaucrats.
No thanks. I don’t want that for my kids. That is why they are home. I want them to become readers. I want them to be creative, to think outside of the box. I want them to be entrepreneurial. I want them to start businesses. School, by its very nature, cannot pass these skills on to children. After all, most teachers are not these things. How can teachers pass on to children skills they themselves do not possess?
You are right. Homeschooling is a luxury. I was homeschooled in Germany and England during the 1980’s. I did not know it then, but, I know now that my parents were taking an enormous risk. Much easier these days. I am thankful for that.
Thanks for the note.
Have a great day!
Dwane
