One evening last week, as I was putting E. to bed, he said, Mom, do I have to go to school tomorrow? It's so boring. Everything we do is boring.
I wasn't sure what to say. I had to agree with him. While his teacher is certainly caring and involved with the students, all he brings home are reams of photocopied worksheets.
Even the art projects are formulaic.
It's mid-February, and his class has yet to take a single field trip.
Yes, I said to him. You have to go to school tomorrow.
But then I said, without really thinking it through, what would you think about homeschooling for next year? I explained to him what it was, and he said yes, he thought he would like that.
The next day I went to the library and checked out every book they have about homeschooling (and ordered a few more through interlibrary loan). I've also looked around online and talked to an acquaintance who homeschools and looked into a cool alternative education center for homeschoolers.
Dan and I have been talking about it, and once I convinced him that, yes, there are plenty of opportunities for socialization when you're not sitting in a classroom for seven hours a day, he started to get excited about it too.
Are we going to do it? I'm not a hundred percent sure. But pretty close. I also really like the idea for R., who would be in kindergarten at the public school next year. From what I hear, kindergarten there is all desk-sitting and writing, which is not what five-year olds should be doing.
And since this is a typical bedtime scene in our household--the boys writing and drawing and reading to each other for hours until we turn out the lights--I have a feeling they'd take to it naturally.
Are we crazy? Quite possibly. But then again, some of the best decisions I've made in my life have also been the craziest.
8 comments:
public school for my kids scares me. why? I am a teacher in a public school.
kudos to you, my dear. I think I just may join you.
To add fuel to your fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
x Rebecca
Ironically I just watched, "Waiting for 'Superman'". What an eye opener. I am a product of public school and can honestly say I hated school from 5th grade on. That's a long time to hate school. I however also have a mom who taught in the public school system for 21 years. She is an amazing woman and an amazing teacher. I swear they almost had to hold a lottery to get into her class. The kid's loved her. At one point she had over 12 animals in her room to help educate. She unfortunately was the exception. I think it's great you are thinking of homeschooling. I too have thought about it, but I struggle with being able to get the respect from my kids to actually sit down and do their work. I fear it would just be one big play fest all day!!
Keep us all posted! Glad you live where you live where there is a huge homeschool support network.
Good Luck!!!
all I can say is EEK! I'm with you in spirit but don't think I have it in me, and don't think my kids do either. you guys are going to rule the world!
Thanks for all the supportive comments! Great video, Rebecca.
I have several online resources for homeschooling - check them out!
http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/
http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent/
http://greatsolutions.blogspot.com/
Also, look on my facebook for the author of the above book, Kris Bordessa, who is a homeschool mom. Her kids are teenagers now. She is very helpful and full of ideas.
Hey Ellie,
I may be the lone dissenter here, but I think Homeschooling should be something done by a person who is called to teach. Someone who wants their purpose to be a great teacher. Even though the school system may suck, I think the best thing to consider would be finding a better school.
I've also considered homeschooling, but I know there's a book in me I'd like to write and several other things that I need to do for me and dedicating myself to homeschooling my kids would pretty much zap that energy right out of me.
I am super confident that you'd be a great teacher for your kids --and other people's too -- but are you their best option? And is this the best thing for you? Your needs matter too.
Sometimes I think a not so great school is okay when the homelife is full of creativity and energy and intellectual stimulation...oh and poetry!
I've come to the conclusion that no school is perfect. But that doesn't mean that we still can't provide our kids with a great education.
My two cents. I'm sure whatever you decide will be the best for your family.
My oldest is about to turn 4, so I have a whole year to keep mulling over my school choices. Kindergarten out here in Nevada is only 1/2 day and somehow our schools managed to be 51st in the nation...With that said, I know that public school is not going to be my first (or second) choice.
I am looking at private schools, but they are very cost prohibitive here and I don't know if they will really be any better.
Homeschooling is an option, but I don't think that I am willing to give up my job as a librarian. . .That leaves me with no choices that I am happy with.
Hopefully you can come to a decision and share your wisdom.
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