Due to some personal reasons, last fall, after having started homeschooling, my son Isaac had to enroll in our local public school.
I really love homeschooling. I believed in it, for it's purpose and in it's foundation. I was also homeschooled for the latter portion of my own education.
As a second generation homeschooler, I had a very strong convictions and opinions on homeschooling. I had staunch beliefs about the public school system and government education. I cringed as I sent Isaac his first few days, looking forward to the future to when I would be able to withdraw him. I had certain expectations for having to fight and negotiate for the things my special needs son would require. I didn't think the understanding he requires would be there.
I have to say all my stereotypes of public school education have thus far been rendered void. I've been amazed at the very personal instruction and dedication that is given to Isaac specifically. It's the end of the second quarter and I've had 3 meetings with his teacher and 1 with his special ed teacher. I was pleasantly surprised when they called our last meeting wanting my insight to draw me in to creating a plan that I thought would work best for Isaac.
His teacher sends home a weekly newsletter with not only the accomplishments of the past week, the schedule of the upcoming week, weekly spelling words, but also what exercises parents should be doing with their kids at home daily to continue to lay the foundation of their children's education. It's not at all "shipping your child off to be with someone else for 8 hours" but parents are fully expected to be committed and actively involved every step of the way with their child's education.
It wasn't my first choice. Or my second. It was never the plan. I was thoroughly opposed to the idea. But I stand corrected. It's been a great choice for Isaac.
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4 comments:
I'm so glad that it is working out for you and Isaac. There are a lot of great teachers out there that love what they do. They enjoy teaching children and rejoice with each success. I know I was one of them for awhile!
Thanks for sharing your new perspective! As a possible second generation homeschooler myself it's good for me to hear this as I consider my options. We all want the best for our kids and I hope I can hear God tell me what that is in each case!
Oh. That's me from http://superbeck.com
I homeschooled my girls for 4 years. For me the best decision I made for our family was to put my kids in school. I didn't take the decision lightly and I now drive 40 minutes there and back twice a day, but it's worth it. My children attend a country school now. The classes aren't overcrowded like the ones in my neighbourhood. My girls are doing well. My middle daughter has high functioning autism and I only homeschooled her for a year before I realised that she needed something more specialised. She is doing well and is a year ahead academically.
Schooling is a difficult thing to decide when you realise you have choices!
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