New stuff
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. That’s not actually that new. I always do a lot of thinking. Somehow that doesn’t always mean I come up with the best answers for my dilemas though. Weird!
My latest thinking is about home schooling. I am really considering doing this next year. I have always wanted to home school. I wanted to start with Kas in kindergarten, but with 1 and 3 yr old daughters, I didn’t think I had the time or energy. Now, when I am on the brink of having all my kids in all day school (again), I am thinking about bringing them home all day. Am I crazy? This is not a rhetorical question. Please answer me. Am I crazy to worry about my kids education when the state I live in is bankrupt and our district is losing millions of dollars of funding next year (again)? We just got a call last week from the district saying that every Monday in June may be a furlough day. Am I crazy to want my children to have a well rounded life? My son is in the 5th grade and in the advanced classes in school. He is incredibly intelligent and I want him to have the best education, but I also want him to be a happy and healthy, well rounded child. He spends 6 hrs a day at school and then another 3 hrs doing homework, sometimes less, but just as often more. That leaves time for dinner and almost nothing else. Monday night is FHE, Tuesday night is scouts, don’t forget practicing the cello in there. Where’s the time for football, skating, playing?
I have other reasons as well, but it is late. Don’t tell me that kids don’t get socialization without public school. That is proven to be wrong already. The only things stopping me are completely selfish. One, will I have time to do my own photography business? No, probably not. Two, will I be spending most of my time preparing for school things. Yes, probably so. Three, and this is just stupid. I’m scared. What if the school gives me a hard time when I pull them out? I know that is a stupid concern, but I am very non-confrontational. Real fear, what if I’m not up to the task? On the other hand, there is so much info out there, and I am actually looking at charter schools that are funded by the state, but run online and at home. Does that completely make my point about a bankrupt state null and void?
I have had several teachers in the last few months tell me that I missed my calling. I should have been a teacher. Maybe I should just be a teacher for my own kids….
On that note, I am going to bed.
You are gonna think I’m crazy with this answer, BUT, I have always said if we lived in California I would home school. The only suggestion I would have would be that you get them involved in lot’s of home school groups and activities. Yeah, I’m saying yes to home school.
My two cents… As long as you go about it prayerfully, you will make the right choice. There are pros and cons to both sides and you just have to make a choice that you feel is best for your family. You are awesome! And aren’t we all a little weird?
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will definitely have my kids involved in activities with other kids. One of the problems with the schools here is that they are getting ready to eliminate all those great extras, like music and art, that my kids would participate in.
I know, I am a little odd, but most of the kids I know who home school are awesome. Again, maybe I think that because I am odd too. There are a few that are a little backward socially, but I’m not so sure that they wouldn’t be that way either way.
So the schools I’m looking at actually encourage outside extras as well and have vendor lists for activities and lessons that they will pay for as part of the curriculum. This is, after all, still part of the Cal. public school system.
First I guess I just need to finish out this school year.
I really don’t think you need to be worried about the school giving you a hard time about home schooling. Maybe 10, 15 years ago that was the case but more and more parents are home schooling their kids all the time. I’m sure the public schools are used to it and do not have a problem with it. I think you will find that most are very accommodating. I agree that many children who are home schooled are a little odd. But I also know of a couple families that home school their kids and they are amazing kids. seriously. One thing they do that I believe makes a difference is that they have their kids participate in some classes at the public school like music, art, drama, specialized things that that particular child is interested in. The schools have been very welcoming to this. Good luck, i’m sure you’ll make the right decision.
I know there are a lot of resources out there. Stacy homeschooled Dallin for 1/2 a year and signed up with a program that sent a free computer. The biggest problem she had was keeping Dallin on task. You could also go to thepioneerwoman.com – she homeschools and posts information about homeschooling on her site. Good luck!
Well my reasons are selfish as well. I would love for Elise to get a job while the kids are in school all day. It would help me out. But that is purely selfish on my part. I really think we ought to do it. All of the kids have been asking to be home schooled. I do not think they realize that Elise and I would be a lot tougher on them then their teachers are.
Elise – you’re not crazy, that’s for sure. I know several people who home school. I’ve thought about it, too. I just don’t know that I could handle it. However, I’ve told my children that if things got bad (meaning dangerous or morally or socially) that I would pull them out and either e-school or home school. They understand this. Still, I am scared of what they’re learning out there. There are very few (literally only a handful) of kids of our faith out here in their schools. They have had to learn to be strong and go against the tide, as it were.
I agree with Megan, though. You have to do what you feel is best for your family. So, it will probably require prayer.
As far as doing an at-home charter school… personally, I’d probably opt for that because it would save me time in having to come up with lesson plans, etc. Also, many states require you to keep track of what your kids are learning at home, etc. KY even requires you to keep attendance. Although, I think CA does have some sort of thing about not paying school taxes if you home school. In KY, you have to pay school tax whether you home school or not, whether you have kids or not, etc. Kind of silly, if you ask me. Additionally, it saves the state a little money, in that they don’t have to pay for a classroom & supplies for your kid, and you’d probably still have to pay school tax.
Anyway, I think it’s worth checking into, especially if you feel strongly about it. You might check out a Waldorf program. They’re supposed to be really good.
Keep us updated. (Sorry for the longest comment ever)
You have to do what is best for your family. How do your kids feel about home schooling? Do they understand that it will be real school or do they have dreams of sitting around all day?
As much as I have been thinking about home schooling my own kids I still worry my kids being socially awkward. I don’t know how it is been proven that kids are the same socially when home schooled or not. I have not met a home schooled person that wasn’t just a little off socially. (except for one person). I’m not saying that a person would definitely be weird, I think you (you as a general statement) would have to work a little harder.
That being said I think your selfish reasons are valid, and so are all the reasons you want to home school your kids.