The pessimist doesn't want her child exposed to ideas that contradict her belief system.
She doesn't want to have to confront or convince a teacher because her arguments don't seem to make any impact.
She's afraid her children will be indoctrinated by the government in some way if they go to public schools.
She doesn't want to hear that her child may have a learning disability that means they need special instruction or that could be treated with medication.
She thinks a school psychologist is just someone that messes with kids brains and blames any perceived problems on the parents.
She's afraid her children could be taken away if someone finds out she's made some extremely different life choices for her family, like refusing vaccinations, eating a severely restricted diet, or being nudists at home and on vacations.
She believes the public schools will not adequately prepare her child for college.
She's afraid, and all her motivation is about what she doesn't want for her child.
The optimist sees that her child is not doing well in school and thinks, if I homeschool I can meet the needs of my child that the school isn't able to.
She learns about how she can intervene in dietary and environmental ways to improve behavioral problems, but sometimes even tries medication as an intervention.
She values the evaluation of her child's learning abilities by professionals because it allows her to better target her instruction and interventions.
She goes out of her way to expose her children to a wide variety of ideas and beliefs, trusting that the same evidence that she built her belief system on will provide a firm foundation for her children when they reach the age to decide for themselves.
She appreciates the oversight of the government as it legitimizes her child's educational achievements and keeps her accountable for teaching the basics.
She sometimes makes what seems like extreme life choices because she follows current research and doesn't have to wait for societies approval to adapt to new revelations.
She sees the unique strengths, weaknesses, and interests of each child and plots a course of instruction to prepare them to excel in a life they love, whether or not that means going to college.
She knows that she can do more and better than a teacher with twenty kids in a classroom, and her motivations are all about what she can do for her child.
If you haven't figure it out yet, this isn't a joke. I shudder when I hear another pessimist has decided to homeschool, because they often think that even if they fail at teaching their child anything good, at least their child isn't being exposed to all that bad stuff in a public school. Those are the ones whose children fall behind and can't even pass the GED test when they realize their parents haven't kept up with the government paperwork needed to get them a real diploma. They end up ignorant and sheltered, a certain recipe for an unhappy life.
Homeschooling is far too important a choice to be made from a position of fear. That's not to say that there aren't legitimate concerns parents have about public, and private, schools. Especially when they have children who don't fit into the typical mold. Many children could benefit from the kind of educational freedom and customization that homeschooling allows. But, I would highly recommend changing your viewpoint before you change your school. If you can shift your attitude and motivational directives, you will be far more successful.
Homeschooling is a difficult endeavor. You will need a lot of motivation to keep going. Positive motivators always outlast negative ones. Whatever the concerns you first enumerated, whatever thing made you look into homeschooling in the first place, try flipping it around to a positive statement of what you can do if you make this change. Don't homeschool because you're afraid; do it because of all the possibilities!
She doesn't want to have to confront or convince a teacher because her arguments don't seem to make any impact.
She's afraid her children will be indoctrinated by the government in some way if they go to public schools.
She doesn't want to hear that her child may have a learning disability that means they need special instruction or that could be treated with medication.
She thinks a school psychologist is just someone that messes with kids brains and blames any perceived problems on the parents.
She's afraid her children could be taken away if someone finds out she's made some extremely different life choices for her family, like refusing vaccinations, eating a severely restricted diet, or being nudists at home and on vacations.
She believes the public schools will not adequately prepare her child for college.
She's afraid, and all her motivation is about what she doesn't want for her child.
The optimist sees that her child is not doing well in school and thinks, if I homeschool I can meet the needs of my child that the school isn't able to.
She learns about how she can intervene in dietary and environmental ways to improve behavioral problems, but sometimes even tries medication as an intervention.
She values the evaluation of her child's learning abilities by professionals because it allows her to better target her instruction and interventions.
She goes out of her way to expose her children to a wide variety of ideas and beliefs, trusting that the same evidence that she built her belief system on will provide a firm foundation for her children when they reach the age to decide for themselves.
She appreciates the oversight of the government as it legitimizes her child's educational achievements and keeps her accountable for teaching the basics.
She sometimes makes what seems like extreme life choices because she follows current research and doesn't have to wait for societies approval to adapt to new revelations.
She sees the unique strengths, weaknesses, and interests of each child and plots a course of instruction to prepare them to excel in a life they love, whether or not that means going to college.
She knows that she can do more and better than a teacher with twenty kids in a classroom, and her motivations are all about what she can do for her child.
If you haven't figure it out yet, this isn't a joke. I shudder when I hear another pessimist has decided to homeschool, because they often think that even if they fail at teaching their child anything good, at least their child isn't being exposed to all that bad stuff in a public school. Those are the ones whose children fall behind and can't even pass the GED test when they realize their parents haven't kept up with the government paperwork needed to get them a real diploma. They end up ignorant and sheltered, a certain recipe for an unhappy life.
Homeschooling is far too important a choice to be made from a position of fear. That's not to say that there aren't legitimate concerns parents have about public, and private, schools. Especially when they have children who don't fit into the typical mold. Many children could benefit from the kind of educational freedom and customization that homeschooling allows. But, I would highly recommend changing your viewpoint before you change your school. If you can shift your attitude and motivational directives, you will be far more successful.
Homeschooling is a difficult endeavor. You will need a lot of motivation to keep going. Positive motivators always outlast negative ones. Whatever the concerns you first enumerated, whatever thing made you look into homeschooling in the first place, try flipping it around to a positive statement of what you can do if you make this change. Don't homeschool because you're afraid; do it because of all the possibilities!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Talk back. I'm a mom. I can handle it.