This is the real issue, the one that I wanted to post yesterday, but the back story got a little long. Sorry about that.
Schprid is 17 months old. It's probably a little early to start worrying about the school issue just yet. I mean, it would be good if she could start her schooling years with the ability to say Mommy. We'll want to get her out of diapers first, too.
Regardless, the method of schooling I want for my kids has been on my mind a lot over the past few years. Here's what I've come up with so far:
Public School: This is the way to go for a "normal" childhood. There will be all sorts of socialization, and learning to work under deadlines and with various types of personalities, both in peers and in teachers. Extracurricular activities will be easily accessible. Homework is pretty much a given, which means that my children will spend 6+ hours in school only to come home and have more schooling that I will need to help them with.
Private School: There are still many opportunities for socialization, for working under deadlines, and for extracurricular activities. This option costs more than the public schooling option. Homework may or may not be given, depending on the school and the method of teaching used. Travel time to and from school may be significantly increased. The amount of time spent in school each day is still 6+ hours.
Homeschool: Socialization, working with different types of teachers, and working under a schedule will take significantly more effort on my part. School time can fairly easily be shortened to 4 hours per day. I will have complete control over what my kids are taught and the amount of one-on-one attention they receive. I will know that my children are being taught at the pace that works best for them. Field trips can be an integral part of schooling. My house may never ever be clean.
I was homeschooled for half a year, before we moved to Hollister. Because I was used to the public school system, I didn't feel like I learned very much because I didn't spend a lot of time doing schoolwork. At the same time, that is when I was introduced to the Saxon Math program, which I completely love, and I also discovered one of my all-time favorite books, My Side of the Mountain.
I love the idea of homeschooling. I think there is so much to be said for the family togetherness that results, for the chance that kids have to learn things besides the basics in school, and for the opportunity to integrate various interests into the curriculum. I love the idea that kids have time to have a life besides school. And, admittedly, I like the idea that sometimes school can be done in one's pajamas.
I'm nervous, however, about the administrative side of homeschooling. I'm not a morning person. I would have a hard time getting everybody up and started on the day by 9 AM. For goodness' sake, it's 8:30 right now, and I'm still in my bathrobe. Usually at this time in the morning, I'm still asleep. I'm afraid of administering tests. I'm afraid that a child of mine is going to get stuck on some concept and I'm going to get stuck right there with them, because I want them to understand it and so keep grinding it into their heads and they're going to give up on it and then we're going to collapse in a mindless puddle of non-progression.
At the same time, I don't trust big schools. Apparently there are some private schools with really good teaching philosophies, but they still have to waste a lot of my child's time because there are so many kids in each classroom. Plus, it feels like I'm just throwing my kids out of the house to be raised by somebody else for 6 hours of every day. While the break would be nice, is it worth it?
Public schools make me extremely nervous, and I was pre-"no child left behind." I've heard that things have gone downhill since then. I hate the idea of homework. I also don't think that being in a public school is a good indicator of whether or not a child will learn how to work well with others. I didn't learn how to make friends until I had been in college for a couple years, and I almost always felt awkward and unsure of myself.
Where do you weigh in on the school issue? What type of schooling did you have? What type of schooling do you plan to use/did you use for your kids? Why?
4 comments:
i have to admit i am pretty anti home school mostly because everyone I have ever know that was home school didn't learn anything and then were even more social awkward than I was. The problem with a lot of home schooling programs is there is no real way to ensure the child is being given a proper education and then when they are thrown into college the system is so completely foreign to them they tend to give up.Home schooling puts a lot of responsibility on the parent and unfortunately not many take the job seriously and the kids end up teaching themselves and I have to admit I would not be a good school teacher and I would be concerned about helping with high school level math when I don't know it all that well myself. but there are some cases where it works.
I plan on using the public system, because I know I can't afford private and we actually have a good district where we live. of course I kind of dread the idea of homework, especially in elementary school because I think they get enough school during the day and shouldn't have to spend the afternoon/night doing hrs of homework. honestly children should be allowed to play.
I hate the Idea of Homework also. Why when a child spends 6 hours a day in school do they then need to come home and spend 2 or more hours doing homework?
But I also know I would not be good at home schooling. Still not sure what the best option is yet but I have a few more years before I decide.
Homeschooling isn't easy, but there are some ways to simplify things. For starters, you could move someplace that has a good support system. (Like here)
Secondly, there is no reason why school has to start at 9:00. What's wrong with an hour or so before lunch, and then afternoon school?
Third, you can purchase curriculum. I tried Christian curriculum but I preferred to use secular and then teach scripture and morals myself.
What was hard for me is that I felt that it interfered with parent/child relationships when parent also became teacher. It doesn't have to be that way, though, especially if Dad gets more involved.
For high school, 3 of my boys used American School. It's fairly easy, but they did learn discipline and study skills. My role became "see that they have incentive to get it done" rather than "teacher/critic."
As for socialization: why would you want your kids to be socialists?
We did a mix of school/home school/dual enrollment school, and I'm not saying it was perfect. We just tried to do our best.
Children who are socially challenged will be awkward no matter whether they are in home school or not. As I mentioned in my last comment, the two years of home school gave me a lot of confidence, from which I was able to reach out, decide to get over my shyness, and have a pretty good time in high school.
My kids have various levels of social skills, most of which they've had to figure out on their own, whether in home school or not.
As for homeschoolers failing college---well, I expect their success rate is about as good as any other students' success rate, if not better. I do recommend for them--or anyone--a smaller college for the first year or two.
If anything, I think home school students would do better in college because they have learned to take responsibility for their studies, and a big failing for public school students when they find out no one is taking roll is simply getting to class, while a homeschooler is more used to a flexible schedule.
When T was in high school, he had a mix of dual enrollment with even/odd days, and was responsible to get himself there on the right days and times. Great practice for college!
However if you don't want to deal with homework, then home school might not be for you, because it's all homework!
If you're worried about missing out on concepts, a purchased curriculum can help. It's probably still cheaper than private school. And K struggled with fractions all the way to 5th grade, most of it in public schools, until I finally took him all the way through the fractions lessons in every single Saxon book up through his grade level, and then he got it. A teacher in a large classroom can't possibly see that every child has that kind of attention.
Emotionally, however, K was by and large better off when he went to school, whereas for J. the social pressure was too much, but he did do well with part-time enrollment, as did D and T.
Most parents commit wholeheartedly to one way or the other, but we prayed about each child each year, and so did the child, before we made a decision for that year. One year I was really struggling about what was right for them, and we'd all been through emotional trauma that year, and I don't know why I talked to my brother about it, but he looked at me and asked, "Lynn, you are worried, rightfully, about what is right for your kids, but have you asked what is right for you?"
Wow! You know what? All my kids went back to school full-time for the next three years! Then one by one they pulled out, generally for high school.
Well, that's my long treatise; I should just email you. Just some thought to consider all around. And you don't have to decide right now. Just examine the options and make it a matter of prayer.
WV: emsand...ums...and ers...are best to be avoided.
Thank you all for your input. You've all given me things to think about. :)
Post a Comment