This discussion came to my attention through others who appear to be upset on both sides of the debate. To me, the frustration and anger does not need to be addressed to people who hold differing views, but to the host of the show for choosing sides.
Education in our country used to be directly guided by the parents of the child. While big government thought it necessary to step in and show us all a 'better way' - and likely due to some of the children who were not getting what bureaucrats thought was a proper education, we are saddled with a very limited choice of education now in our country.
While we are a homeschooling family and the choice is made YEARLY by the children, we are not so naive to think that all should or must be homeschooled. For our family it has afforded flexibility, travel, learning time, entrepreneurial endeavors, time to bond and grow in our Faith, it may not be what is right for every student nor every family. It would be arrogant of me to think all who place their child in public school, private school or any traditional setting are neglecting their child. For us, it would be wrong, for others it is not.
Homeschooling in our family has produced three young adults (two graduates and one remaining high school student) who have three qualified for early college admission, one who is Entrepreneurial, one who has a heart for Mission work and one who is deeply interested in Classical Music and Art. All have bloomed in their own area of focus. They all three “think outside the box” and enjoy having the time to pursue their passions.
Much like their public schooled peers, they struggle with shortcomings. All young adults will have graduated high school having ‘missed SOMETHING” so to label a home educated student with that stigma is a grave over generalization. Have we taken a look at ALL homeschoolers in comparison to ALL non-homeschoolers? It is impossible! It would be like making a generality based on RACE! THAT is certainly inappropriate - just as any general statement about homeschooling.
In our family, we homeschool with accountability, not to a State alone, but we answer to a Higher Authority (to quote Hebrew National Hot Dogs). We feel that we were granted the Blessing of these children so we should test them, tweak their curriculum to suite each child’s learning style, give progress reports, report cards, social activities, challenges, make them get jobs, put them in athletics and so on. Would I judge any homeschooling family that did differently. I would hope not to be so arrogant. I am not the Judge. I am a parent of only my own children.
So in short, fine, choose a side. Then stay on that side and do the best you can with your choice. But shame on you if you choose a side and then think you are the only one who is right and put down others for how they choose to educate their children. Shame on anyone who would call themselves unbiased, yet would make a sweeping generalization about a sub-sect of society.
Parents want the best for their children, but what’s the best way to educate them? Dr. Phil’s guests face off in a debate about whether to school, homeschool or unschool. Dana and her husband, Joe, call themselves radical unschoolers. They say education happens as a side effect of life, and they don’t believe in tests, curriculums or grades. Are their three kids learning what they need to know? Then, RaeAnn says public schools are death traps and wants to homeschool her children. Her husband, Steve, says their kids are safer at school than they are at home. Can this couple reach a compromise? Plus, Nicole feels like an outcast at 26. She says she hated being homeschooled, and couldn’t relate to other kids. Share your thoughts here.
