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Homeschoolers 'quit and ignore the community'
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Were you shocked to read the title of this article? I know I was shocked to read an article by Amy Platon from Orlando FL, telling the world that homeschoolers have given up on the educational system, causing future generations untold problems because we are not part of the community. This line of thinking seems to be one of the newest ways to lob criticisms at homeschoolers; not so much by telling us that it is wrong to homeschool, but rather by telling us that we are threatening the greater good when we choose to homeschool. Again, I find myself needing to defend the different educational choices made by homeschoolers.
Ms. Platon asserts that a homeschooled child cannot have compassion for his community because he is not a part of it. The dictionary definition of 'community' is: all the people living in the same place; the people of any district or town; a group of people living together or sharing common interests. The online definition is: a unified body of individuals; an interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location. Nowhere could I find a definition that mentioned attending school as a prerequisite for being part of "the community." Often what draws people to homeschooling is the fact that children are encouraged to interact with their living, breathing community on a daily basis. They don't wonder what the world is like, because they get to experience it as part of their education. Homeschoolers participate in weekly co-ops, and take classes at community colleges. They have part-time jobs, they volunteer at shelters and soup kitchens, and they belong to scouting troops and church youth groups, as well as playing soccer, taking dance class, and competing in LEGO competitions. Homeschoolers are forging relationships with the community in a multitude of ways, so I fail to see why Ms. Platon feels that homeschoolers are not part of the community. Furthermore, people have been attending (compulsory) schools for over 100 years, and homeschooling, until recently, has only been practiced by a small percentage of the population. If schools were so able to make everyone feel a sense of compassion for their community, then why is there still so much discord in our country?
Another point she brings up is that the well-parented children need to remain in school, so that they can be a good influence. She seems to be implying that many well-parented children are all being pulled out of school, in favor of homeschooling. I am fairly certain this is not true, as I know many "well-parented" children who do attend school. As a homeschooler, I am appalled to think that my "well-parented" child is responsible for monitoring/mentoring other kids who may act/believe differently that she does. Is that what kids are supposed to do, try to make other kids act like them? Is that why kids go to school, to impose their beliefs on their peers? I agree that kids do influence one another, but in no way do I think that children are responsible for helping to raise other children. That is a task, that sadly, some parents do not take seriously. We cannot ask our children to take on the burden of their failed parenting.
Ms. Platon says that "the future society needs homeschoolers to be checked in with the rest of us, so we can grow together." Does this mean that people can only grow together when they are doing the same things? Surely, that cannot be our goal as a nation, as the world is becoming more of a global community with each rising of the sun. Our children need to learn to accept and respect people with all kinds of different beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences. Can we only learn to do this in school? In all of this acceptance of differences, shouldn't there be room for homeschoolers, as well? Doesn't learning mean to open your mind to something new? If children all learn the same things, in the same way, what would they have to learn from one another as adults? Homeschooling is simply a different way of pursuing educational goals; it is not an abdication of learning, nor is it another term for becoming separate from the world.
Additionally, she says that homeschooling teaches children only to care about themselves, that they are quitters because they leave something that does not work. These are harsh words, and completely unfounded. As I mentioned earlier, homeschoolers tend to be involved with their communities, so they certainly know something about caring for others. As for being quitters, choosing a different path does not make one a quitter. Some might even argue that doing something different takes courage and vision.
Ms. Platon further implies that homeschooling will result in adults who do not take an active role in improving education. I would like to offer the possibility that today's homeschoolers will offer a unique perspective on how to enhance our educational system! Perhaps some of today's homeschoolers will decide to work in the field of education, as teachers, professors, or administrators. Because they will not have the "school experience" of many of their peers, maybe they will be able to help forge greater educational systems for the children of the future, because they will have a different view of what education can be.
And isn't that the goal--to prepare children to move confidently into the future, ready to take on what the world brings to their doorstep? Or is the goal to homogenize everyone, to have the same thinking, beliefs, and abilities? Do we all need to have the same experiences in order to function as adults? In her article, Ms. Platon says fear-based reasoning is leading many people to choose homeschooling. Not only do I disagree with her conclusion, I wonder perhaps if fear isn't the reason that she dislikes homeschooling. Is she afraid that homeschoolers are a threat to what she holds dear? Is she afraid that homeschoolers will succeed in school, and indeed in life, without having relied on the traditional educational system; thereby perhaps adding fuel to the arguments which say that there is more than one way to teach a child?
I am sad for Ms. Platon, truly I am, because she does not seem to understand the many amazing blessings and benefits homeschooling can offer to children. She has taken aim at a group of people with a poorly formed argument. She says that fear is what drives most homeschoolers, but she has no proof of that. She says that homeschoolers exist separate from the community and have chosen to to be separate. Yet, as I have shown here, (and is shown every day by homeschoolers in the DC area!), homeschoolers are incredibly well-integrated with their community. One of my favorite quotes, from Robert Frost sums up what I am trying to say: "two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Should we not encourage our children to seek out new experiences, to strive to accept new things, and to have the courage to follow "the road less traveled"? When we do this, through homeschool, public school, private school or boarding school, we will be helping our children to reach their full potential.
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