Replies to '11/24 Great School Debate'

Exactly.  We'd find mentors if necessary.  I have a network of people I can call on should my kids need things beyond my expertise.  But between their dad and I, they have more than the basics covered. :)

 

And, my daughter loves fish.  I don't know diddly about them.  But we foster that love by renting videos, visiting the aquarium, talking with people with salt water tanks, taking care of our Bettas and fresh water tanks, etc.  If I need to know about anything fish or marine mammal related, I ask my daughter!

 

A few months ago she was asking me how to spell narwhal, and I'm like what?  And she says, you know, the whale with the long tooth that looks like a swordfish, sort of.  Uh, no.  So we google it and found the spelling and some cool pics.  And now I know what a narwhal is.  Did you?

I agree with you.

Here's an example of my philosophy.  My ability to give my tools the things they need outside of a mainstream establishment really should NOT be seen as a slap in the face to a teacher.  On the contrary, ideally it should be seen as a compliment to the teacher that they did such a good job teaching me that I'd want to pass on what they taught me to my own kids.

I teach something I am talented at to many people.  I am *thrilled* when my students thank me by saying to their friends, Hey, look what my teacher taught me, and then showing them then and their what I just taught them. 

Isn't that the whole purpose of a teacher?  To teach things to them and give them knowledge that they can use and pass on? 

I consider it a compliment that I've done my job so well that other students are enthusiastic and want to teach others.  I don't go up to them and say, "You know, you're really not qualified.  Who do you think you are to presume to do MY job!!"

In my case, my child's teachers were my biggest advocates and supporters of my decision to free-school my children.  I'm one of the lucky ones who didn't get a lot of backlash from public school.  They were thrilled that I knew my place in my children's lives and was not shirking it.

Not many people want to give up their 2-income lifestyle (and have admitted it to me, personally) and their cars and their wide screen tvs and their fancy dinners in restaurants to have one parent at home with a child.  It takes real choices which many people would be VERY uncomfortable doing.  But I am doing it, and I am admired by my friends who have their kids in public school. "Wow, that is great, I admire what you're doing!" is often the compliment I receive, after they praise the unusually good and mature behaviour my kids exhibit.