Why We Homeschool by Lisa Russell
“Why do we homeschool?” My 15 year old daughter asked me this the other day. “Is it to keep us away from bad things in school?” I had to think about the answer to that.
When another mom asks me, I have ten thousand reasons. Reason number one, I love my kids. Not to minimize the love other women feel for their
children, but sheer, unbridled love makes me want to be with them every minute of the day, and watch their wonder and amazement as they explore this fantastical world, or eat cheetos.
Somehow, looking at my 15 year old daughter as she asks me this question, I didn’t feel like this answer was good enough. Had I really impressed upon her that the world is such a wonderful
place? Does she know how much I’ve enjoyed watching her learn and grow? More importantly, has she enjoyed her journey through this wonderful world so far?
Another reason I began to homeschool was because I was obsessed with her education. I’d been going to school to teach and working as a substitute teacher. I’d also been reading Joseph Chilton Pearce and about new discoveries in brain development. My kids were fascinating. I saw them as miracles, capable of so much more than I could comprehend. I didn’t see that this zoo of an institution called education was honoring the enormous potential that each child possessed. I knew I could do better and I knew my kids deserved a chance. They’re not herd animals, they’re humans.
I wanted my kids to be leaders, forging into the world to feed the masses, spread good cheer, make the world a better place and living by the Girl Scout Law. I didn’t want them sitting down in desks to get a cookie-cutter education, I wanted them baking cookies. I didn’t want them learning things on a list, I wanted them to make lists. Albert Einstein said that “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” I didn’t want to take the chance that my kids’ minds would be shaped by the same forces that were shaping problems. Love hasn’t caused nearly as much trouble in the world as public schools. I don’t have proof of this, it’s just a feeling.
One of the last compelling reasons I give when people ask why we homeschool is because our area has very low test scores. Secretly, I don’t even care about test scores. Schools care about test scores. I care about the happiness of the children and heir ability to perpetuate love and kindness in the world. But when a neighbor asks me why we homeschool, it just doesn’t feel legitimate to say that the fences look like prisons. Or that it makes me sad that they have to eat yucky food, or miss their mommies, or wake up before the sun. I might tell you it’s about the test scores, but only because I want you to know how low they are. In case it matters to you. But I know it won’t matter to my 15 year old daughter. Still, I offer it up.
She sees kids on TV going to school and having fun. She sees independence, freedom and promiscuity that look like so much fun. She sees parties and shopping and co-planning for college. She sees clothes; the opportunity to get dressed in a different outfit each day and show it off to friends. She sees a regular schedule, and a busy lifestyle. She sees football games and formal dances.
How can I answer her? “Don’t you trust me? She asks, and I realize that my work is done. I swallow hard and she says “Oh my gosh mom, do you like really think I’m going to like be one of those sleezy girls? I just want to get dressed in real clothes every day, Okay. And I want to see my friends every day. I nod my head. She’s old enough to make this decision. I have no logical reason to say no. “It’s not like I’m going to be all ‘schooley’ about it, I‘ll still learn real stuff, too. I’m about to admit it to her, there’s no reason not to.
“Are you afraid I’m not smart enough? Back to the test scores, I say “No way, you always score above your grade level. Anyhow, I didn’t say no exactly, I just asked her to let me think about it. It’s probably fine. I have to be cool about it. There’s no responsible reason for me to express that it freaks me out.
Her whole life flashes before my eyes. I remind myself that I’m not feeding her to the wolves. I’m sending her out into the world. Perhaps she will feed the wolves. I’ll bet she brings joy to her friends and teachers. I’ll bet she leaps into a busy active world and gobbles up everything life has to offer. Isn’t that why we homeschooled?
About the author:
Lisa Russell is a homeschooling mom of six daughters and lives in Washington State. She blogs at http://www.lisarussell.org and is the homeschooling featured writer for http://www.suite101.com
