Okay so this article I saw, The Defeat Of The Schools, posted on a homeschooling email list was not specifically written in support of homeschooling, but it certainly could have been. It was published in 1939 and provides quite an interesting analysis of the state of education.
I was particularly interested in parts IV and V and here are a few excerpts I could relate to having homeschooled two children through high school.
In this day of encyclopaedias, World Almanacs, and public libraries, a large stock of miscellaneous information for ready reference does not seem particularly vital. Even professional scholars can and do look up specific data when and as needed. It is far more important to know where to look for facts, and what to do with them when found, than to be able to produce them from under one's hat at a moment's notice. So the very strong and consistent evidence that twelve to sixteen years of schooling leave most people very inadequately equipped with ready-to-use memory knowledge, though highly suggestive, seems of secondary significance.
As you can see, part of the point he's making is that even if ready access to memory knowledge was useful, the schools aren't making it happen. The bigger point for me, however, is that we do indeed have easy access to information so it's really a waste of time to try and memorize much of it. This played a huge part in our family's educational philosophy. I was much more concerned about giving my kids the tools to find information when the needed it.
People young and old learn what matters to them, what seems of genuine moment to them.
If everyone involved in education would respect this basic truth, how would education change?
Hence the great necessity is for far more flexibility in our whole treatment of children in the schools, and above all for flexibility in what we ask them to master.
I don't know if the schools ever were capable of much flexibility, but with 70 more years of laws, regulations and rules, they are certainly not flexible now.
Homeschooling is the essence of flexibility.
Time With Dad Is Priceless: Jane J.'s Interview
Today's interview explains the value of homeschooling in a way that needs no introduction from me so please read on for a very enlightening and heartfelt talk with Jane J. from Indiana...1. How long have you been homeschooling (or if finished, how long did you homeschool)?
Since 1985. Four have graduated. I’m still homeschooling a high schooler.
2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?
Answering this question has been the hardest part of responding to this interview. I want to fit into the “fun side of homeschooling” spirit of the interview. But my answer to this part is life-and-death serious.
To my mind, the greatest benefit of the freedom and flexibility of homeschooling is evidenced by the amount of time my older kids spent with their dad when they were little.
For some of the early years, my husband was self-employed and the kids were able to hang around in the shop a lot. They worked for him and with him and just generally soaked up hours of time and conversation. When he went to work for a vending company, he maintained a rented storage unit for supplies, and the kids worked with him every week at "the warehouse."
Because he died suddenly in 1996, it’s beyond priceless to me to know that the kids got so much more of his presence and influence than could ever possibly have been imparted in a few left-over, after-school-only hours each day.
Obviously, nobody starts homeschooling thinking that it might a good idea in case something like this happens to the family. But when it does, I can tell you that it feels very good to know that not one minute of the time that the kids had to spend with Mart was given to complying with government regulations about mandatory school attendance, instead.
3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?
Oh, gosh. There’s a lot of stuff that qualifies . . .
For instance, since the kids started working younger than today’s average, that facilitated things they could never have had otherwise, like going to Europe and owning a horse.
They all have fairly well cultivated discernment in the arts because of the time we could put into the things that interested us.
This includes classic movies. For most of our lives, we’ve had a TV-free home, but for a couple of months right after the first Gulf War, we had TV. We saw a LOT of 40’s and 50’s movies in the afternoons during that time.
Another thing would be elaborate birthday themes, with whole-room, floor-to-ceiling decorations and sculptured cakes. (A five-foot tall Mighty Joe Young face looked into our kitchen window for weeks one year. We’ve had hobbits, Guybrush Threepwood, Lady and Tramp . . . the list goes on.)
We’d never have had time for the kids to do those sorts of things, had they been in school.
4. We all have funny experiences while homeschooling. Can you share one of yours with us?
To this day, my kids practically speak a private language of punchlines and quotes from stuff they’ve enjoyed together in the past. The two new sons-in-law agree that it takes a while to learn how to communicate when all the sisters get together. In general, life’s been pretty hilarious with this bunch, and homeschooling has allowed it to flower.
The Brave One: Dwayla's Interview
Homeschooling parents are known to do some crazy and scary things to help their kids learn and Dwayla is no exception. Dwayla is a country girl from Indiana but she's willing to be plopped down in the middle of a big city. Sometimes the best way to learn is to get out of your comfort zone...
1. How long have you been homeschooling (or if finished, how long did you homeschool)?
Forever. :) I have two daughters, ages 22 and 16, and neither have been in a brick and mortar school setting, unless you include co-op meetings once a week. So 17 years, starting at kindergarten and not including what they were taught up to that point.
2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?
We were able to go with hubby when the company he works for sent him to conventions or more training; therefore, my girls have been to some fun places we would never have gone to otherwise. I'd research beforehand and plan our time.
Plopping a country girl in the middle of Boston with a 4 year old and 11 year old was a panic moment when the shuttle dropped us off, but of course I couldn't show my "fear" to the girls, so off we went. That was one of our first and best trips. Fun AND of course educational. We've seen zoos and aquariums all over, as we've always liked animals.
3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?
This is my "freeze" question, but guess I'd say the trips from #2. We would drive to Boston, Columbus, OH, Fort Worth, TX, New Orleans, Minneapolis. Our last big family trip lasted two weeks, driving to the Grand Canyon five years ago.
We walked down Bourbon Street in New Orleans on a Sunday night trying to find supper. The lady at the hotel couldn't understand WHY we didn't want to take our young daughters there, so we told the girls to not look around and walk fast and follow Dad.
We went on a whale watch in October near Boston and while we weren't guaranteed seeing whales, we did. :)
4. We all have funny experiences while homeschooling. Can you share one of yours with us?
The one we tell most is when my 22 year old was about 5, my husband was telling her that the Indians used to live in the area where we were living at the time. (We were in a town/city.) How they may have set up their camp in our neighborhood. She got really big eyes and asked if they had lived right in our kitchen?
The Perfect Homeschooling Curriculum
How do you find the perfect homeschooling curriculum for your family? Perhaps this little experience I had back when my kids were young will help you answer this question...
I was deep into one of the many books I’ve read about learning and education when Keith tugged on my shirt and asked, “Mom, are nuts also seeds?”
“Yes,” I answered quickly, trying to get back to my book.
“Well, where do walnuts come from?”
“From a walnut tree of course,” I replied, not lifting my head from the page.
“Oh, so my friend Aaron could grow another tree if he planted them.”
I looked up. “What?” He was still there. “Oh, well, yeah. Did you finish your workbook pages yet?” I wanted to get back to my reading. What the heck was he asking these questions for anyway? We already did a unit study on plants last year. Did he forget everything?
He finally went off to do something else and I dove back to my reading about what the experts say my kids need to know and when they need to know it.
But then Melissa tapped me on the shoulder, “Mom what’s convex mean?” I quickly explained it to her and she stuck her belly out and said, “Oh, so now my belly is convex!”
We all laughed. Then Keith stomped around with his gut out and his arms out to his side saying, “Sumo wrestlers are really convex, aren’t they?” More laughter and the next thing I know we are in a fun discussion full of interesting twists and turns.
When I had a chance to go back to my books, an idea hit me quicker than a Sumo wrestler can clear out a buffet: I was looking for my answers in the wrong place!
I finally realized no matter how much I read about what a child needs to know or research the best age to study a particular subject, these authors didn’t know my kids and what questions and thoughts could come up on any given day. The books were good resources but I tended to get too bogged down when reading them.
What my kids need to know are the answers to their questions. All I need to do is treat my kids as unique individuals and follow their lead, answer their questions and help them learn what they are curious about.
After all my searching, I finally found the experts.
No Pressure Here: Esther's Interview
Esther lives in Indiana and enjoys following a more unstructured style of learning for her family. She knows it's best not to try and force learning, but to just relax and let it happen.
It's like playing badminton. If you try too hard to force the shot, you only end up slamming the shuttlecock into the net where it gets stuck. Then if you try to force the shuttlecock out of the net instead of gently guiding it, you knock down the entire setup. And the next thing you know, you're all tangled up and stressed out and ready to strangle someone.
No one needs that kind of pressure so let's see how Esther does it...
1. How long have you been homeschooling (or if finished, how long did you homeschool)?
We have been homeschooling for five years now.
2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?
We had lots of fun campaigning before the Presidential primary and election. It felt good to be involved in the political process and led to lots of interesting discussion. Learning about our government and past presidents was sparked by our participation.
Since we don’t do “homework” in the evenings, we have plenty of time for extracurricular activities (without pressure to hurry home) and we don’t end the evening wanting to strangle each other. ;-)
We seek out all kinds of opportunities for learning together.
3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?
Tromping through the woods and making dams in the creek was lots of messy fun. Learning to play badminton in the backyard and counting the number of volleys was lots of fun. Curling up to read the Inheritance Series together in the evenings made for a satisfying end to many days.
4. We all have funny experiences while homeschooling. Can you share one of yours with us?
Our driveway can be a nightmare in the winter. One day my oldest son (age 13) and I had been out there with the snowblower and salt on the steep blacktop for ages. The snowblower blades quit. Of course, the store from which we purchased said snowblower is out of business. Discouraged, I kept up with salting while my oldest took the snowblower back to the barn. When I came up 20 minutes later, he came out of the barn with a beaming smile and a working snowblower! He had discovered the problem and fixed it on his own initiative. If that’s not a testament to homeschool children, I’m not sure what is!
Too Smart To Homeschool: Amanda's Interview
Today's homeschooling family interview is with Amanda. She calls herself a Crunchy Christian Mom and lives in crunchy California with her crunchy family of one crunchy husband and three crunchy boys, ages 2.5, 6.5 and almost 8. Amanda has a blog she calls A Homegrown Life.
1. How long have you been homeschooling (or if finished, how long did you homeschool)?
My husband and I decided we'd homeschool when I was pregnant with our first son 8 years ago. I'd always considered it, and he's a teacher -- he learned pretty quickly that school was not where he wanted our kids to be. Then we met some unschoolers, started reading John Holt and John Taylor Gatto, and eventually realized our kids were too smart for us to homeschool. They've taught us a lot. Sometimes we fail, but they're very gracious about it and always let us start over.
2. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the freedom and flexibility it allows. Can you give us a few examples of how this freedom and flexibility benefited you (your family)?
The name of our so-called homeschool is "Joy in the Morning Academy." That's because it's such a joy not to have to wake up in the morning before we're ready! We also appreciate having time for friends and family without giving up all our hobbies. And we've gotten pretty spoiled about having public spaces all to ourselves in the middle of the week, too. Honestly, I don't know how anyone has time to do school. There are too many other fun ways to learn!
3. Another benefit of homeschooling is the fun factor. Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?
One of our favorite things is our annual Not Back To School Party. In August, when all the other kids hop on the schoolbus and head to their classrooms, we pack up our swimsuits and hot fudge, and head to our friends' house for breakfast sundaes and a hop in the pool!! The sad thing about that day is that Daddy has to be at school.
4. We all have funny experiences while homeschooling. Can you share one of yours with us?
My kids are funny everyday. They don't always appreciate when I laugh at them, but they're funny nonetheless. They're pretty good about laughing at me, too.
Okay so Amanda did not regale us with a funny homeschooling story but let's not let that stop us from laughing at, I mean with, her. On her blog she has a labeled category called "funny" so I'm linking to those posts here. I guess I should get a knee length apron...
Homeschooler Involved In Lawsuit With Mr. Potato Head
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
I have sad news today readers. Apparently a homeschool family has been sued by Mr. Potato Head. Mr. Head claims misuse and downright assault for the manner in which he was treated by little Miss Susie Prescott. I was able to wrangle a copy of the complaint and am sharing it here in the hopes of saving other homeschooling families from a similar fate.
The problem apparently happened because little Susie decided to be creative and think outside the box, or rather, outside the potato. Creative and unusual thinking, which of course is normally a huge benefit to homeschooling, has unfortunately resulted in this frivolous lawsuit from the money-hungry Mr. Potato Head.
What did Susie do that was so horrible? She simply tried to use a variety of fruits and vegetables for bodies. She thought it was a lot of fun but apparently Mr. Potato Head did not. Below are some of the humorless tuber's complaints:
1. In one instance, Susie used an onion. Mr. Potato Head testified that he cried all week.
2. She used an orange and complainant was teased incessantly over his pimply face and was very uncomfortable with the sticky juice running down his legs.
3. The day she used a melon, complainant was forced to endure several bouts of sumo wrestling with muscle bound toys from her brother's room.
4. Complainant was incoherent during the period Susie used green pepper because, as in his words, "I was a complete airhead."
5. The peach days resulted in complainant scratching his nose the entire time whereupon he now has physical scars from the experience.
6. Using bananas and tomatoes resulted in complainant receiving a bad reputation from newer toys as they assumed client to be a slippery and seedy character.
7. When Suzie used eggplant, it provoked a racially charged incident in the toy box.
8. Finally, Suzie has allegedly expanded past fruits and vegetables and used rolls found in the breadbox which has resulted in complainant acquiring a powerful yeast infection that will not clear up.
According to his lawyer, Mr. Potato Head has been suffering immensely from mental anguish. He has been humiliated, embarrassed, and has continuing medical problems.
Nevertheless, he is apparently willing to settle and keep this out of the courts if the family complies with these demands:
All my client asks is that you, the parents of Susie Prescott, keep this child supplied with plenty of fresh potatoes. He wishes to remind you that, purchased in ten-pound bags, potatoes are very, very economical. If this cannot be done, Mr. Potato Head requests that you have a yard sale in which he is placed in a very prominent position.
(NOTE TO READERS: In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet, this is just for fun. Enjoy your April Fool's Day)
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