Homeschooling – Education vs Indoctrination

by Zoey @ Good Googs on May 27, 2010

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I toy with the idea of homeschooling from time to time. I’m ambivalent about it at best. I have mixed feelings because of my own homeschooling experiences – and I wonder how much of it is to do with my desire to protect Riley from EVERYTHING. Oh don’t mind my neurotic self, she doesn’t get that absolute protection isn’t desirable or even possible.

I can definitely understand some of the benefits of homeschooling, particularly in terms of all the wasted time that traditional schooling entails. And even beyond that, the traditional school environment is not suited to everyone, is inside and more dogmatic than experiential. But I also see it’s limitations. And mine.

The idea of giving up hours of potential free time while the munchkin is at school? Not so hot. And I can’t help but think I’d be doing her a disservice on a social level. Not necessarily in terms of social skills, but in terms of ability to deal with social norms. Like it or not, bullying is a part of everyday life, not just in school. But what’s worse – a nurturing and challenging environment that leaves her ill prepared for the real world? Or a slow, steady desensitisation to human cruelty? I do worry about her sensitivity being annihilated over time. Or, just as bad see her become one of the bullies so akin to the ones who tortured me years ago.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, none of those things happen overnight or without our input or influence. But still my fears hang out there anyway. Nonetheless, I seriously doubt my ability to fulfill the role of educator as well as parent. It blends boundaries that I don’t really want blended. There’s a reason teachers go to university. I’d be pretty arrogant if I thought I could do as good a job by just winging it.

Every now and then it’s a romantic notion. The idea that the majority of education could happen outside four walls. In the kitchen, in the great outdoors, completely tailored to what her needs are – not just the majority. A just as romantic notion is that in her education journey she might come across some teachers that truly inspire her. Not everything in my school experience was tainted with negativity. Along the way I did come across a couple of teachers who changed the course of my life through their passion and dedication. And that’s nothing to be sneezed at.

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Tagged as: education, homeschooling

http://www.happychild.com.au Yvette Vignando

This is not ‘pro’ or ‘against’ home schooling comment – I think each family and school and child is so different that it’s dangerous to be too dogmatic about this issue. …but I do think that a (good)comprehensive school environment has potentially massive benefits for kids to learn: social skills, social problem solving skills, tolerance, resilience, teamwork, understanding etc. There are also huge benefits for diversity in friendships, and learning to learn with different teaching styles (…and I should add that kids have different learning styles too). And finally a parent that is not their child’s sole educator gets the benefit of time to be reflective about their child’s whole education and focus on what they will always do best – unconditional loving and being a safe place for them to grow. And I know there are some amazing homeschooling parents out there who make sure their child gets all of this and more – they really are amazing – but many of us are slightly less amazing – and a good school and a few good teachers can be a brilliant thing in your child’s precious life. …

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

I love the idea of time alone, and of all of the diversity of experiences in formal schools. Unfortunately our local school is well below average and I wouldn’t even consider sending Riley there. So either we go out of area, we move or we homeschool.

http://lifeinapinkfibro.blogspot.com lifeinapinkfibro

I did a story about homeschooling last year. It was an eye-opener. I see the advantages but finished the research knowing it wasn’t for me – it takes over your life, everybody’s lives.

I do believe, however, that so much of schooling still happens in the home anyway. Introducing your child to experiences, opening their eyes about the world, explaining things to the fullest of your ability – all of these things are an important adjunct to a ‘formal’ education. You can’t send a child to school and expect them to turn out a well-rounded individual. That’s still up to parents, if you ask me. But the socialisation of school is also part of the process.

We could talk about this for a lo-o-ong time.
.-= lifeinapinkfibro´s last blog ..Sam’s the man to take Julie’s crown =-.

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

I don’t think for a minute that my school experience isn’t colouring my perception ;o) But I like what you say about going to school as the tip of the iceberg in terms of education. Food for thought.

http://www.science-at-home.org Deb

As a very general rule for me, it comes down to the expertise of teachers. I think a lot of the rest of it can be got in different ways, but personally as a science and maths teacher, I see how appallingly they’re often taught. With the absolute best of intentions, but unless you’re a specialist you really don’t know what you don’t know. So I assume that there’s so much I don’t know about other specialty areas.

Plus I love the idea of different points of view. I know as a teacher the most fun came from getting kids to think in a different way or look at different opinions, that would be much harder, although not impossible, with homeschooling. I know homeschooling doesn’t mean sitting home with your parents all day, but given my circumstances there are limited other people to work with.

And that’s why it’s only a very general basis, I can see how individual circumstances would make the decision completely different. I could still end up homeschooling for at least part of the time as our circumstances change. The big girl is in pre-school part-time now. It’s not perfect, there are many things about it I would change for my ideal pre-school. But she’s loving it and I think the pros are outweighing the cons. And I can also see what a huge influence we still have, and am reassured that we will continue to play a major role in her education.
.-= Deb´s last blog ..A Tour of the Solar System =-.

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

Such a good point. I think there are so many benefits to be gained from children experiencing different personalities, teaching styles and approaches. Although in some families that might be possible – it’s definitely not our situation.

http://ceaselesspraises.blogspot.com Carrie

I hope to homeschool my kids – I’m already doing pre-preschool activities with my little guy. But, yeah, the thought is sometimes overwhelming, and it would be nice to have more free time while my kids are at school. And I do have an elementary education degree, and I’m just a teacher at heart so I agree that it’s definitely a very individual situation. I really liked what lifeinapinkfibro said above about you always being your child’s teacher – even when we send them to school, we are ultimately responsible for their education, and each day is FULL of learning experiences, whether we recognize that or not.
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..God Is Never Late =-.

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

It’s such a huge commitment I think it’s the kind of thing you really want to be sure about. And I am definitely not sure.

http://www.digitalwoe.com/photos/ Lynda

I’m not of the mindset that kids NEED to be bullied. One of my friends wrote an excellent post about this a couple of months ago, About Exposure to Tough Situations
.-= Lynda´s last blog ..A Little Drink [145/365] =-.

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

I don’t think so either. But I was home schooled (off and on during primary school) and I do think that it left me without certain skills when I got to high school. Mainly, I was taught to handle conflict in a way that is very positive (as an adult) but was inappropriate and ineffective with my teen peers. Going from an environment where my opinions, thoughts and feelings were respected to one where no one gave a $#@! was a real culture shock.

That being said, I don’t know if that experience is an argument for homeschooling, or against it.

http://www.digitalwoe.com/photos/ Lynda

I don’t think it has much of anything to do with homeschooling. Homeschooled children can still participate in a number of social activities. I don’t think it’s an argument at all against homeschooling just because some parents choose to shut in their child with absolutely no exposure to society.
.-= Lynda´s last blog ..Pinwheel, Pinwheel, Spinning Around [146/365] =-.

http://www.sparklingadventures.com Lauren

Just before I gave birth to my third child, I realised that my new, brilliant career *was* now my children. So homeschooling became part of that. I’m not about to out-source their most formative years.

But others don’t have a choice, or the inclination.

For me, I knew I couldn’t do anything else, and it *has* become an all-consuming passion. It’s not a drudgery, it’s fun! And I’m learning so much in the process!

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

That’s wonderful! I think I’d be more inclined to it if I thought there was a community of other homeschooling families. Definitely something worth researching.

http://www.unlikelymama.net Amber

That’s a great point, about not being trained to really teach, at least as effectively as someone with a degree in education. I did go to grad school for a hot second to be a teacher, but alas, that didn’t pan out.

I too romanticize the idea of keeping Alexa with me, safe from all the horrible things (in middle school specially!). But really, I don’t think I could do it. I’m educated enough to know how to learn the subjects I’d have to teach, and there are support groups, classes, activities for homeschoolers…but I don’t know that I could handle doing it day in and day out.

We really want to put Alexa into a Montessori program, if at all possible, once she’s old enough. I think that’s the best of both worlds. A more organic way of learning, but with qualified teachers and other kids!

Even if we can’t get her into an alternative school, I still hope to implement those philosophies at home, so there’s a sort of modified homeschooling going on during our time together
On the same note, I’ve heard of kids who were part time home-schooled, and part time regular schooled.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Food Issues =-.

http://goodgoog.com Zoey @ Good Goog

I’d so love to send Riley to Montessori. Here that would mean private school and even pre-school would be about $12,000 a year I think – which is so far beyond our reach at the moment. Unless one of those e-mails about me being given millions of dollars from a Nigerian prince pan out.

http://www.unlikelymama.net Amber

Yeah, alternative schools can be super spendy! If we were to enroll Alexa in one of them, it would almost certainly be because I’ve went back to work full-time to pay for it. But, I guess by the time she’s old enough to be in school all day, I’ll be ready to be back to work?

OH, those 419 “deals” are totally legit silly!
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Guest Post – ReOrganizingMom =-.

http://www.mummyautobiography.blogspot.com Miss Pink

Ahh a post that touches my very core.
We toyed with the idea of homeschooling Bluey last year. He started Kindergarten this year, only turned 5 a month ago, so he’s one of the younger kids. But he is so brilliant! His little mind learns so quickly and retains so very much.
His first school the teacher was very much into the “this is the class level, this is the level I teach at no higher” and he was bored. Very bored. It was stuff he had been doing since he was 3 years old!
We changed schools when we moved and this teacher has been nothing short of wonderful. She picked up quickly that Bluey needed assessment again and did that. Upon doing that she then seeked out advice from other teachers at the school and gauged that he is probably learning at a grade 2 level.
Alas, I am getting off track.
So last year because of his age we had many people tell us that that we shouldn’t put him into school, that he was too young, that we were pushing too much on him too soon even though he exceeded the requirements to starting school (had been doing them all since he was 2). I flirted with then homeschooling him. I figured why not, at least for the first few years. I feel like homeschooling up to Grade 2 would do no harm. They would still have time to adjust before teenagehood and high school that way. And home schooled children are not socially stunted because they usually get their social aspects from other places be it homeschooling activities, the park, friends or other family members.
Mr Black wasn’t keen on the idea though, so we just went the school route knowing that if he really didn’t cope we could just repeat him.

Now having been a mum of a child in school, there is a lot you have to worry about that they are being taught. It’s different for each family, I wrote a post on this a couple of weeks ago on my own blog about a book that Bluey brought home that I found unsuitable. And for us, we also do a lot of “making up” at home. School holidays are the best for this where I focus on teaching Bluey about the world around us, the environment, cooking skills, life skills etc. But I do try to slide it in our day to day life a little. I do wish that schools would embrace this a little more. Veggie gardens as a part of the curriculum, teaching kids how to make breads or pastas, simple things from scratch, a bit more on cause and effect. This is stuff that is important too. More so than, dare I say it? Computer skills, or art and craft. Sure they’re important too, but for us I feel like kids need to learn the basics first. You wouldn’t give your kid their first bike without training wheels would you?