Helping families become green, balanced, and value centered
It may come as a surprise to some that parents have a choice in their child’s education. In many parts of the world parents can choose and do choose not to send their children to school.
Parents choose to educate their children at home for many different reasons. Some of the most common are the child is not academically challenged in school, the child learns differently than teaching available in school, the child has already had bad school experiences (including the international and on-the-rise bullying and violence), the choice is made for religious reasons, and the family has antipathy to national curriculum or state teaching styles.
Increasingly parents are making a philosophical decision to home educate long before their children are of school age. Certainly, families naturally, attachment parenting, and trustful parenting styles agree that parents should have the right to choose and that the idea of emotional release, attachment and trust can be best served by keeping the children home. There is scarcely room for trusting children to choose what they need, holding children close, or listening to children cry and rage in most schools. The lack of child-centered programs in schools exists, of course, despite the hard work, good intentions and dedication of teachers. In any case whatever you decide there should never be any guilt attached to a decision to choose home learning, just as there should not be any guilt ensuing from not going the extra mile to home educate your children. Simply put, parents have enough guilt and certainly don’t need anymore!
What to do if you think you might want to home educate your children?
DECIDE WHY YOUR FAMILY IS MAKING THIS CHOICE Undoubtedly, your home atmosphere and home education style will be dependent upon the answer to this question. It is best if the whole family is on board, so that children don’t think home education equals a permanent vacation, dad is constantly worried the kids need more competition, and mom’s planning a classic, school-model home pedagogy. Working together as a family, make a covenant, pact or family lifestyle description that the children participate in so that everyone is on the same page. Remember children are more likely to comply with the rules if they have had a hand in drafting them.
FIND OUT WHAT THE LAWS ARE First, do find out what the laws are in your area. Home education is illegal in some countries (Japan, Germany). Parents who want to home educate have to have teaching diplomas in some U.S. states. And, in some cases, parents must register their children with the state and children must pass exams and so forth, in other countries. Most boards of education now have web sites with laws pertaining to education.
READ UP ON HOME LEARNING, THEN READ SOME MORE Home learning can be as diverse as strict adherence to school curriculum with fixed hours and rigid discipline or unschooling which leaves children to learn what, how and when they want, with parents reining in their desire for ‘teachable moments’. What style is right for you? You’ll want to study a lot about the subject, for there are as many approaches to home learning as there are families practicing it.
JOIN A HOME LEARNING GROUP AND/OR BLOG Having the support of other parents is always a good idea. This will not only make you feel your not the only one in the universe, but also keep you from re-inventing the wheel. Home learning groups websites and blogs will give you ammunition to defend your position—not that you should have to, but you unavoidably will find yourself coming up against the ‘education beliefs’ of your social set or co-workers or great aunt Gilda at some point. Don’t worry; at families naturally we have noted that there is always someone to criticize your parenting skills. Chalk it up to others ‘kind interest’ in your family and rest assured you are doing your best and have chosen the parenting-, family- and life style which suits you best. Praising your parenting skills is up to you and your family: Post notes around the house on how excellent you are as a parenting, offer a chance to your spouse and children to give you compliments at meal times, and remember to model believing in yourself (an excellent example for your children).
ENJOY Remember that home education, like raising children and life itself, is messy work. So keep things in perspective and remember to enjoy the messiness.