When people think I am homeschooling because I want to shelter my kids...in a way they are right. School isn't what it used to be when I went and definitely not like when my parents went. I agree there are all terrible things that have happened at any given time in history and yes for the most part "we all turned out ok." But is "ok" really what I dream for my children? No I want them to turn out the best they can especially without being tainted by society at such a young age. I just read on facebook about multiple suicides taking place in 6 week period by children in middle schools. When I went to school the biggest thing was if our moms were going to take us to the mall to walk around that Friday. Now I'd be scared out of my mind to drop my kids off at the mall in my hometown to walk around. It is a lot worse now. I know there were bullies back then to but apparently it is getting more aggressive in these days. I am trying to protect my kids from that. As well as many other things...if you sat down and took the time to find out why I really homeschool you wouldn't think that I am just trying to keep them in a bubble and not let anything harm them.
As a parent, we all want to keep our children from harm but that is virtually impossible. I do, however, believe that I can keep them from unnecessary harm and "pollution". I am not a psycho mom that keeps her kids in a bubble...they are with other children for activities constantly but I am present at all these activities. They have other friends that don't homeschool and some that do. To them it doesn't matter, they will make friends with anyone. I don't participate in a co-op because I don't want to relinquish any of my teaching time and partially because I would have to find someone with the same beliefs I have in order to trust them not to teach my children thing I don't believe in. This isn't entirely religious stuff either. I don't believe that some of the things taught at such a young age are appropriate. I believe some things need to be taught by a parent and not a teacher. It is my belief that God destined me to be their mother and because of that He placed the responsibility of raising them up on me...not a teacher in a school. (I do believe I am a teacher but I am first and foremost their mother, who desires the best for them). I love that through homeschooling my daughter can excel at a natural speed for her. There is no reason to hold her back, thereby boring her and stunting her educational growth, because of her age or because the other children aren't grasping something as fast as she is. I am a firm believer in self-fulfilling prophecy...if you tell them they can't, they won't! (not the reverse psychology stuff...but at a young age repeatedly saying you can't succeed...they won't try, whats they point really) I also like the option of spending more time on something that she finds challenging or better yet interesting. This will further her knowledge and growth and possibly help her retain more than I did in school. There are so many benefits to homeschooling that don't make me a freak or make my children bubble people.
I would also like to point on that public school has become so legalistic that they count the minutes that children are in school. let me explain... In order to "pad" the schedule for unanticipated snow days, the school system has devised a plan to make up enough MINUTES to equate to one day in case we have our yearly snow storm. Ok that doesn't sound bad, right. Well let me explain how they get these extra minutes...they go 12 extra minutes a day (certain days of the week). TWELVE!!! ok but here is the real kicker...they are not consecutive (not that 12 consecutive minutes would really add much to their learning but still.) No they are 5 minutes in the morning (starting at 8:55 rather than 9) and 7 more minutes at another point in the day. REALLY?!?!? Oh and if I remember correctly we went to school from 8 (maybe 8:15) until 3:15...these kids go from 9-2:30!!! How is it that I went to school for a longer time each day *insert teenage outrage** lol.
So these are just a FEW reasons that I choose to homeschool...I haven't even mentioned the benefits since we are military...maybe another post later on.
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