Our family is embarking on a new adventure... homeschooling.

We (as a family) have determined that the public and private school options we've experienced so far have not been up to par. The latest year spent in a private, Lutheran school has nearly been the worst yet. It is time to try something else.

Some people wonder about this decision and question our capability to manage and educate a 13 year old. Others deplore the idea and lament that our child will transform into a hermit with no social skills or friends.

I've recently read a few books on the subject...and I've found a few quotes I want to share.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that public schooling, a brilliant alternative to ignorance, was no match for a loving private education on any level - intellectual, emotional, or sociological - not when that education is overseen by earnest, excited parents who love life and children and who are still capable of wonder. (from Homeschool Your Children for Free by Gold and Zielinski)

That quote really rang a chord with me. I believe we've done a great job of afterschooling (in accordance with any public/private schooling our son has been in), so much so that at this point I feel that with one-on-one attention we can far surpass whatever curriculum he'd be learning next year at any school we could enroll him in.

I've never before had the opportunity to stay at home and tutor my son (I was back at work 1 month after his birth). Now that we have our own home-based business, this is no longer an issue.

As for the socialization question...I guess this is a major concern for any parent that considers home schooling. You have to go out and look for social opportunities - youth groups, homeschooling groups, intramural sports, etc. I have been told strongly that my son should be in school with other kids so that he can learn how to deal with idiots because some day he'll need to work with these type of people. Excuse me? My retort to that was that I'd be schooling him not to work with idiots, but to hire them - or have the opportunity NOT to hire them ;)

I have found another great that really gets the point across...

"Refrain from institutionalizing your child and choose instead to homeschool, unschool, or nonschool. Let your child learn genuine socialization instead of false and negative socialization and negative coping behaviors."

If you're in the Fort Lauderdale area and are looking for a homeschooling group, I found a good one. H.E.L.P.S. - Home Educators Lending Parents Support. Their website is not up to date (which I may soon help to fix), but they are a great group of people.

Posted by Wendy at May 14, 2005 04:23 PM