Homeschooling

As most of you know, we home school Rocky & Rambo, and eventually Baby Girl will be as well.  Our intention is to home school them through high school, but realistically, we take it year by year.  The boys are both thriving in our home school environment and since neither have expressed any desire to go to "regular" school, we continue on in our journey. 

It has always been my desire to cultivate a love of learning in my children.  I want them to WANT to know things.  To be naturally curious, enjoy reading, have the freedom to explore the many wonderful things about our world or anything that interests them - these have been the desire of my heart in regards to their education.  I don't want them pigeon-holed into a one-size-fits-all educational system.  Let's face it, when it comes to learning styles and abilities, one size most certainly does NOT fit all.   I am blessed that my husband has the same desire when it comes to educating our little mini-me's.  I am blessed that I live in a country where I have that freedom and in a state that have very little government involvement or requirement.  I am especially blessed to be surrounded by so many like-minded friends and families.

So, do you want to know what really makes me mad?  These so-called "progressives" who think they know what's right for MY children.

There was a man on the radio last week from The Center for Progress in Alabama, named Jason Childs.  This... man (for lack of any other *nice* words) had the audacity to say, and I am directly quoting here, "we shouldn't allow people to educate their own children."

Um.  Excuse me?  Because the government run schools are doing such a fine job, are they?

I know several public and private school educators and administrators.  There ARE great teachers out there.  It is the system that really stinks.  Regardless of how you feel about homeschooling, you cannot, however, deny that American school children are WAY behind the curve compared to the rest of the educated world.  It used to be solely Math and Science where our children lagged behind.  However, in recent decades they have fallen behind in History, Language Arts, Foreign Languages, etc.

Have you been inside an American middle or high school lately?  Have you seen the metal detectors, security guards, even police officers?  Have you seen the way these children interact with each other, or even worse, with adults?  Have you seen the recent viral video that depicts some public school "monsters" and their treatment of the 60'something bus monitor?  When did kids in this country stop respecting adults?  Oh, probably about the same time we took God and corporal punishment out of the schools (that's a debate for another blog).

Yes, I agree that there are some parents who should not, could not or would not educate their children.  But to say that we shouldn't allow people to educate their own children if they choose to do so... well, that's NOT your decision, Mr. Childs.  It's MINE and thank GOD I live in a country where I DO have that choice.  And why does it matter to you anyway?  Honestly, you and people who think like you should be thanking me for homeschooling my children.  My children aren't an increased burden on an already overtaxed, underfunded, defunct system.  If my children turn out to psychotic serial killers, you won't have to hear the public school system take the blame.  Of course, when my children grow up to be the doctor who finally cures cancer or the business man who solves the world's economic woes once and for all or whatever it is they find success in, that praise will fall on their Dad and I and ultimately on God for giving us the courage to stand up for what we believe is our right.

Yes, you can bet your baby booties that we WILL fight to retain our right to educate our own children.