Safe and Smart, Reason 1 of Why I Homeschool
I was usually bored in school. I finished my lessons quickly then talked to my friends. The teacher would move my desk to the front of the classroom or send me to the hall. Isolation shut me up but it didn’t cure the problem. I kept busy making glue fingernails and bookmarks but felt like school wasted a lot of time.
In fourth grade I figured out it was not “cool” to be smart when kids teased me for being teacher’s pet. I stopped raising my hand to answer questions in class and tried to hide so Mr. V. wouldn’t call on me. There was so much pressure to fit in and that was only elementary school. High school was almost unbearable.
The same problems exist in schools today. Students do not learn at the same pace. The No Child Left Behind act cannot change that fact. Social pressures continue to be obstacles for most children. Many schools have implemented dress codes and uniforms to curb the strain. Teachers and administrators are also faced with growing threats against their safety and the safety of their students. Educators now need training on cyber safety and possibly the correct use of bullet proof backpacks.
Am I sane for wanting to exclude my children from this? I want something different, better, safer, for the precious ones entrusted to my care. Hopefully this goal is being fulfilled. In our school sitting by the teacher is not punishment, my children do not think being smart is stupid, and we have no need of armor unless you count bicycle helmets and shin guards.
Complete series:
1. Safe and Smart
2. Who is Responsible for Education
3. No Degree Required
4. Fulfilling the Purpose of Education
5. Freedom’s Future
Amen! Can’t wait to read your oher 4 reasons.
May I say … AMEN!
Renae – this is excellent! Anxious to read the rest of your reasons! ( : I did a similar series of posts a few months back under the title “Speaking of…” but the real title to what I wrote is really “Questions every Christian should ask themselves before placing their children in the public school” – I based most of what I wrote on the many excuses that come my way (unsolicited) as to why other Christians don’t homeschool whenever they hear that I do. I mainly wrote it to give out whenever anyone asks why I homeschool – I think your answers will be very useful for this also! ( :
Warmly,
Mandi
Thank you all for your encouraging words. I hope that I can write up to your expectations. :) My other reasons are not articulated very well but I enjoy the challenge. It is good for me to think and write.
Mandi, I’ll stop by to read your posts later for inspiration.
VERY well said! I, too, can’t wait to read the other 4 reasons!
But Renae, you are denying them experience with the real world. How else will they learn to deal with these kinds of pressures? (I know you know I’m joking, but just in case someone else reads this, I’m joking.)
I actually was corrected in high school for having consistently high scores in class. It made the other kids feel bad. I was specifically disciplined for letting the other kids know I had scored highly, but it wasn’t like I actually showed anyone. It wasn’t my fault the guy in front of me decided to announce my scores on a regularly basis.
If only it had been my history teacher. That would have been an eventful conversation. But it was my German teacher and she was my favorite. So I went in the restroom and cried. : (
Dana,
That is terrible. I felt similar pressure in high school especially if I threw the curve grading system off but never had a teacher correct me for it. Sometimes they just removed my grade from the graph.
I don’t understand why an individual should perform poorly to make others feel better? I suppose that is a “real world” pressure my children need to face. If they don’t feel guilty for succeeding they might actually become rich and that would be horrible. Don’t you know the wealthy hold everyone else down? (Maybe I shouldn’t resort to sarcasm. Sorry. I’ll calm down now.)
I could not agree more! I want to be the one who “trains up my child”, not the world.
I’ve really enjoyed reading what you have to “say”. I think I’ll be coming by again ;)
Blessings,
Jacci
You said a mouthful there sister! Thanks for saying exactly how the rest of us feel when making the decision to homeschool our children. I so love your site and your way of speaking. Many blessings to you!