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Homeschooling is the word!
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WOW! There has been quite a buzz about homeschooling on the Examiner.com site these past few days. When I saw the headline about "criminalizing homeschooling," I did indeed lose the ability breathe for a few minutes. Ms. Donna Gundle-Krieg, Education Improvement Examiner, made it clear in the beginning of her article that she was providing a spoof, and although parts were hilarious, I wondered if there would be any fallout. Sadly, much of what her article mentioned does seem to pop up in conversations. People may use different words, but their meanings are quite clear.
After six+ years of homeschooling, I am still amazed at the comments people make. I have heard people refer to homeschooling as "almost child abuse." I have had people tell me that my kids will never be "normal" (whatever that means!) People often try to quiz my daughter, to determine if she is "learning enough." I wonder if these same people would be so eager to quiz kids who attend school? And do they truly believe that people who choose to pursue a different educational path for their kids are on par with people who commit heinous acts of cruelty against children?
The query I receive most often is about "worry." "Don't you worry about what she'll be missing", or "don't you worry about her not learning enough" are common questions. No doubt I offended the last person who asked me a similar question, because I rolled my eyes and sighed before I could help myself.
My usual answer is that there is always something about which to worry, school or no school. What I find frustrating is when people suggest that if my daughter attended school, my worries would be greatly reduced. To be truthful, I would feel responsible for the quality and depth of my daughter's education, whether she attended public, private, charter or a home school. Going to school does not guarantee any future job, happiness, or success. If it did, our country would be a vastly different place. Homeschooling does not provide any guarantees, either. However, the vast majority of homeschooled children are as equally prepared as their friends who attend school, to take on the world as they move into adulthood. This can be well-illustrated with the fact that many colleges and universities actively seek out and welcome homeschoolers. This would not be the case if homeschool parents did not have the goal of providing an outstanding education and a myriad of opportunities for their children. I believe that my goals are similar to parents who choose school for their kids. I want my children to grow, learn, and prosper. Homeschooling is simply a different path to achieve these goals. I, too, begin with the end in mind. But in my mind, there is more than one way to reach that "end."
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