We want our children to grow up to be adults that have a sound understanding of the world. They must learn how to sift information. As a whole, public education is not decided to teach children how to reason. It is designed to teach children what to think. Information is manipulated. Historical facts are distorted or left out altogether. Certain agendas are promoted while others are discouraged. In that type of environment, learning is passive. Teachers present information (whether true or untrue) and the students regurgitate it back.
In our home, we spend time talking about things. We talk about the news. We talk about sex. We talk about politics. We talk about God, the universe and our place in it. We talk about money. These conversations aren't scheduled. They happen spontaneously.
Yesterday, I and my oldest daughter talked about some of the recent tragedies which have been in the news, involving homeschoolers. We were sitting on the couch, tying the fringe of a quilt. We talked about motives and consequences. My daughter was especially interested in talking about what she thought the parents should have done differently.
It wasn’t part of a class on situational ethics. It wasn’t scheduled. It was what home education is all about.
4 comments:
How wonderful, and how true! The only problem my kids have ever had in mainstream classes (art or music) is that some teachers can get infuritated that they ask questions! After 7 years of homeschool, they want to know "why". I agree 100% with life bringing value discussions, and how lucky we are to have so many opportunities. It seems to me that this type of shared ethics, where opinions of the children are heard and valued, have limitless benefit.
[some teachers can get infuritated that they ask questions!]
I remind my children when they are in a group setting that they have to let other people have a turn to ask questions. It is very hard for them to hold a question back. I give them a "question limit" per class.
Another side effect of homeschooling: so many questions, so little time. ;)
This is why we never sent our youngest to school; she's always been very opinionated (& always thinks she's right)& while we encourage her thinking so long as she expresses herself politly it is a rare adult who can cope with her - especially as many of her views are rather unorthodox thanks to mum.
I find that so often, children in the public school programs tend to get missed, or can fall through the cracks of the system. I think this is because the programs are designed in a general way, for few learning styles, with-as you mentioned- "teach-and-regurgitate" learning. Now, I went through the public school system, and I think there are many beneficial aspects of the social education students obtain, but overall, I think homeschooling is a great idea, because children have more of an opportunity to learn through hands-on, and fun activities, and to learn through living life, instead of reading about it in a text book.
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