I write this blog because I am weary of answering the same questions to those who don't support or better yet, understand our choice to home school our children. My biggest concerns when first looking into home school was my ability to properly educate my children, I honestly had no idea it would become such a controversial subject with friends and family. I went into it blindly just assuming that they would support us in our decision, because knowing Jason and I, they would know that we would do nothing with out great prayer and petition to the Lord and loads of research to accompany our decision, but I was wrong on this assumption.
The most common complaint I receive is the topic of socialization....that I am going to ruin my children personalities...or turn them into social weirdo's. But is that a fair point? Yes, socialization is an argument for public school, but all to often our children receive negative socialization at school. It is not ideal and completely out of the parents control. My child who is only 5 and currently attending public school, has been exposed to so many things in school that I don't approve of. I know, I know....I can hear you saying...your children are going to be exposed to these things at some point in life. Yes, I agree, but I want to be in control of those situations...so that I can properly explain to my children how to handle them and deal with it. I am sparing my children from being faced with growing up way to fast and facing negative peer pressure on a daily basis by educating them at home. There are so many opportunities today for home school children to receive socialization in a healthy and safe environment. My children are active in our church, they participate on sports teams through out the year and currently my daughter attends gymnastics once a week. There are multiple other organizations to be involved in where our children have the opportunity to interact with other children and adults. To me the argument of socialization is void.
The second biggest argument I get is....your children won't be able to compete on a educational level with those children in public schools. All the research I have done and all the other families I have encourtered with home school children prove this argument untrue. In a home education environment there is a unique one-on-one type of tutoring, which produce better results than mass-produced education where there is one teacher to every 17 kids (in some cases more). The statistics favoring homeschoolers are overwhelming. Kids who have been taught at home don't just out perform their public school counter parts by small margins. They outdo the average public school kid by 30 to 37 percentile points in all subjects.
I am fully aware that home schooling will undoubtedly come with it's own set of challenges, but I am 100% confident in our decision that this is the right choice for our children. We will have the wonderful opportunity to incorporate our religious values into ever aspect of our childrens lives...this includes their education. Instead of this two areas being completely separate from one another. We will be able to enjoy a strong family bond of unity and strength. I will have the freedom to teach my children the truth on certain issues, that public schools teach falsely. Such as the topic of creationism vs. evolution. Instead of having to combat our families stance on this subject we will be able to teach our children the beautiful literal 6 day creation that is found in the Bible...our source of truth. Our family will have freedom to go on vacation, visit family, take a field trip, etc when we want and not have to conform to a strict 5 day week of school where our children spend more time at school than at home.
Homeschooling is a personal conviction for my husband and I. I do not look down upon those who do not find it the best way to educate their children. I can not be the judge of what is best for another family...I can only do what I feel God has laid out as best for my family. I ultimately am the only one responsible for how I raise my children. I want to be able to say, "It is well with my soul." And finally after many many months of prayer, deliberation, and research on the subject of home school I have come to a place where I am able to truly say "it is well with my soul."
Meg, I applaud your choice. It is a very personal choice and it sounds like you have researched and most importantly prayed deeply about this. Don't let others pressure you. I would say that it is very important to socialize but it sounds like you have that under control. The only thing my children have learned from day care is how to bite and hit other kids because they are being done that way. I hate that my kids have to go but it is necessary. The thing is that if you want later your kids can attend public school if you choose. I have a friend who home school her children for several years and she loved it. It is something I feel I would consider greatly for my own children if I was able to be home and not have to work outside the home. I again applaud you for making the best choice for your children.
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