Posted on 02/01/2012 7:14:56 AM PST by Sopater
What did you think when you read this teaser on the cover of the February 6 issue of Newsweek magazine?
If you are like me, your blood pressure began to rise, you began marshaling all of your “liberal media” talking points, and then you remembered that Proverbs probably says you should read the darn thing before you go nuts on your Facebook page. So then—yes only then—you read the article.
Then you repented. Because the title was intentionally provocative, but the article is a positive, even pleasant story about “why urban, educated parents are turning to DIY education.”
You may read the article here >>
True, the author suggests that “We”—meaning the typical Newsweek reader—“think of homeschoolers as evangelicals or off-the-gridders who spend a lot of time at kitchen tables in the countryside. And it’s true that most homeschooling parents do so for moral or religious reasons.”
But the rest of the article goes on to explain how more and more highly educated, urban-dwelling parents are catching on to what “we” evangelical, off-the-gridders have known for decades—Homeschooling works!
After getting to know several homeschooling families, the author wistfully considers homeschooling herself. “So the more I hung out with homeschoolers, the more I found myself picking him [her preschool-aged son] up from school early, to squeeze in some of the fun these families were having. I began to think, why not homeschool?”
Yes indeed. Why not homeschool?
Sure, there are people in situations where very hard choices would have to be made in order to homeschool. I guess it’s a matter of priorities.
There are some, though, that use “circumstances” as an excuse because they are afraid to try or simply don’t want to make the sacrifices necessary to do so,
and you know that’s the truth.
They also push much of the teaching on to parents..With excessive homework.
Most of the education should occur during school hours, homework should only be for reinforcement.
The veil of deception is slowly lifting.
Or, as Julia Ward Howe wrote, "God's Truth is marching on."
Just finished reading the article. It’s surprisingly good.
I was a professor and eventual departmnet chair at the Savannah College of Art and Design in the 90’s. Even then you could pick out the home schooled students without asking. They ere universally focused, prepared and mature in their approach to learning at a time when we had to reorganize our curriculum to make remedial courses in writing and communication to fill the gaps left in the shortcomings of those publicly educated students. From this perspective alone I am a huge fan of home schooling.
Sadly, despite the objective article, most people will see and remember only the derogatory headline, and the home school myth will continue for many.
Too bad our “news” sources won’t use a headline like: “The Truth about Home Schooling”, or “Home School Benefits”. But that wouldn’t fit their agenda.
At least the few people who read Newsweek will have their eyes opened.
LMAO! The mental image of that analogy is PRICELESS! Thank you for making me smile in the morning. Always makes the day just a bit more pleasant. :-)
FYI, Homeschoolers tend to have incomes at or below the national median. The financial issue is priorities.
The author of the article tipped her hand toward the end: she and her husband considered homeschooling, but when they saw what they would have to “give up” they chose “detachment parenting”. In other words, they chose stuff over their children.
Someone has to earn a living for the family, and some parents just aren’t cut out for full time teaching.
I was not in a high paying job and I lived in a moderatly large city, yet we made the decision to have my wife quit work and teach our boys. Right now we are home schooling 3 boys, and when I work swing shift I consistently see them done by noon and we get to spend the afternoon outside playing.
I do not think everybody is disciplined enough to follow through on this type of schooling, but for my family I am exstatic.
We had a two income household before we had kids,
and frankly, before my wife and I were “new creations”.
The choice to homeschool was tough for such worldly minded people as we were,
but the idea of turning my kids over to be indoctrinated by liberals was so abhorrent to me, that I considered it.
After attending a homeschooling conference, I was amazed at the caliber of the kids and the “scent of Christ” present everywhere. Shortly thereafter we were both fully on board with homeschooling, and with Christ.
Anybody else see a connection here?
***Homeschooling works!***
Not necessarily! For some it is great! I’ve known several that have done well.
But not all. My wife’s cousin home schooled her kids. When they left home they immediately went wild and into drug addiction, crime, in trouble all the time. Now they are older adults and have not done well in life.
My family and my church congregation homeschool K-12 and the kids who want to go to college tend to have competing scholarship offers. I wish it had been an option opened to me. I came to this at 18 and the adult literacy courses have way improved my interest in reading and writing. Being on FR is part of what I do to improve my writing skills, too.
But, yeah, we homeschool and we love it.
We explained that by the time they were in High School they would be making nearly all their own decisions.
Because they had choices, and were responsible for the results, they never became rebellious.
They are all adults now and a delight to be around.
They are teaching their own kids the same and the grandchildren are a delight.
It took some work, but it was worth it.
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