Go to Editormum's Oddments
- Add a comment
- Go to Isolated? Us?
I wish I could shelter my little five-yr-old forever. Sigh.
posted by
keri5707
on February 12, 2005 at 10:13 AM
| link to this | reply
Again, I disagree on the importance of socialization
Mainstream public schools are one of the few places you will get to meet, interact, fear, stand up to and run away from certain kinds of people that inhabit this planet. A person with a great education will still suffer untold harm if he or she cannot relate to people, especially those that are different than they are. That's where I think public and private schools shine. I must say, however, that it sounds like you're giving your kids a first class education and that you are not one of the typical homeschool isolationists. I apologize for jumping to that assumption on your first post.
posted by
fwmystic
on February 11, 2005 at 10:01 PM
| link to this | reply
I'm sorry that I gave that impression...
While I feel very passionately that homeschooling is the right option for me and my family, I certainly realise that there are some parents who cannot educate their children solely at home. For those parents, public and private educational institutions are a very important tool. I definitely agree that ALL parents should be intimately involved in their children's educations. The students with the least success in ANY learning environment are those whose families are disengaged from their educational efforts. And certainly for every exemplary home-schooling family, there is a terrible home-schooling family that does not meet even the basic educational needs of the children.
I truly do not feel disdain or contempt for those who pursue a traditional education. I will have to look at what I have written to see how I can moderate my message to keep from giving that impression.
The socialization question does light a fuse for me, as socialization is not supposed to be the purpose of public education, but it seems to be the first concern of people who question the wisdom and validity of home education. The whole purpose of public education is to impart knowledge, not to facilitate social engineering. While some amount of social education will take place in any group activity, it's not the most important thing that schools are supposed to teach.
As for what is being taught, there is NO subject off-limits to my kids, although I have been known to tell them that I am not ready to give them details of ceratin topics at this time. (I don't think a six-year-old needs the mechanics of how a daddy's seed gets together with a mommy's egg to make a baby.)
It may surprise you to learn that I have discussed evolution with my boys as we pursued studies of dinosaurs. They understand that there are many ideas about how the world got here, that we choose to believe in a Creator, but that some people believe otherwise. We have discussed the basic tenets of both theories. I have told them why I believe in a Creator, and why other people do not. We've had some frighteningly mature conversations on these topics. (Remember that my boys are 6 and 7.)
I have also exposed my children to other religions. There are many Muslims in my area, so we have talked about how Muslim beliefs differ from, and how they are similar to, Christian beliefs. Ditto for Judaism, as we live in a Jewish neighbourhood and I used to work for a synagogue. They know that some people don't believe in God at all, and that others are just not sure.
Music, it's funny you should bring that up. My parents greatly dislike rock music, and my dad did ask me not to bring it into his home when I was a young adult. But I have extremely eclectic musical tastes, and my kids listen to everything I do, from classical instrumental and opera to bluegrass to gospel to rock. I don't much care for heavy-metal or rap, but if they wanted to hear some, I would listen with them.
I realise that I am an unusual parent --- possibly I am more unusual than I realise. I do not think that it serves a child well to be kept from knowledge. I think a child can only learn to think and reason as he is presented with differing points of view and differing ideas.
posted by
editormum
on February 11, 2005 at 12:23 PM
| link to this | reply
I also must question what is being taught ...
As a parent, I applaud your efforts to shelter your kids from fighting, drugs, sex, alcohol. Who knows, there's probably music you don't want them to hear and religions and philosophies you don't want them to learn. I just disagree on your tactic. I happen to believe awareness and education work far better at combatting the evils of society rather than pretending they don't exist.
I think it's great you attend a diverse church. Who knows, you probably have coloreds and Mexicans on your street as well. But you must admit most God-fearing Christians who home-school their kids attend very segregated places of worship.
My only real beef, then, is not that it's working for you. I think that's great. I just think it's a shame that you feel the traditional school environment is the enemy. At least that's what I get from reading your post.
posted by
fwmystic
on February 11, 2005 at 11:14 AM
| link to this | reply
Editormum--While I applaud your efforts to raise your children in such
an enlightened manner, I cannot help but be distressed by the disdain you show towards other means of education. You seem to be upset when others question the "socialization" of your children--which by the way, is a logical question one might have--however you seem very judgemental of those who do NOT choose to homeschool their children. Yes, it is working for you. That is wonderful. Obviously your children are blessed with a parent who is taking an active role in their developement. However, for every child you can point out as a beacon of home-schooling success, there is a child in public or private school experiencing the same amount of success. The key here is PARENTAL involvement, not geography.
posted by
Renigade
on February 11, 2005 at 10:50 AM
| link to this | reply