Reactionary Homeschooler, Inquiring About Options

Posted February 11th, 2008 by Jen in education

Frankly, I homeschool more for reactionary reasons than for proactive reasons. I much agree with many of the “why homeschool” reasons I hear about, like the ability to fine tune your educational approach to meet the specific needs of your child, the wonderful freedom of learning through living, the pleasure of having your own child at your side and imparting the best of what you know as well as learning new things together. However, I also have no problem with sending my child off to school, either, provided it’s a safe, quality, moral environment. And that’s where I become reactionary.

I am anti-school violence, anti-indoctrination in secularism and humanism, anti-standardized, one-sized education, anti-teacher-knows-best, anti-parent-serves-the-state. And so I homeschool. I enjoy all the positive aspects of homeschooling, don’t get me wrong. It’s just interesting to explore the roots of my motivation.

Parents are joining the homeschool movement in droves for reactionary reasons. When will we get a New Deal? If there were some better choices out there, this wouldn’t be happening. I think a lot about the plight of many parents who are unable to homeschool for a variety of reasons, yet can’t afford a school of their choice, and I’d really like to see something done about this.

I think many homeschool families would be wise to think beyond their own four walls for a moment. For true, global change to happen, is it possible that you need to think outside the care and education of your own children? For the majority of children who have no choice but to attend the local propaganda center (pick up your straight jackets and bullet proof vests at the door), otherwise known as public school, can you do something?

What are some options we can pursue and promote? School choice. Charter schools. Private, church-run schools, hosted by nearly every church, with a very minimal cost. Large homeschool co-ops. Let government money follow the child, no matter what the educational choice. I like all of these options. Can reactionary homeschoolers do something proactive about the state of education?

9 Responses

  1. e-Mom February 11th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    A very hot topic. For the reactionary reasons you’ve listed, we made the choice to send our kids to private Christian school from grades 6-12. It was enormous financial sacrifice, but we have NEVER ever regretted our decision. And the Lord provided in miraculous ways. Our kids got a superior college prep education with a Christian worldview to boot. I could go on and on. I commend you for making the choice to homeschool. It matters A LOT. :~D

  2. Jane February 12th, 2008 at 8:01 am

    I love your challenge to homeschoolers! Too often we get comfortable with our own blessings and aren’t motivated to help others have the same opportunities!

  3. Jane February 12th, 2008 at 8:02 am

    I love your challenge to homeschoolers! Too often we get comfortable with our own blessings and aren’t motivated to help others have the same opportunities! Good thought here.

  4. Jane February 12th, 2008 at 8:04 am

    Ok, that is bit embarassing. It kept telling me that i had already left my comment but it wasn’t showing up as it said it was a duplicate comment. I finally decided to add the last three words to see if Wordpress would then post a comment from me. It worked- both comments showed up! This gives me a chance to ask how your visit with your sis is going (went?).

  5. Jen February 12th, 2008 at 9:21 am

    e-Mom, it’s great to hear how God provides and honors our sacrificial giving! Thanks for the reminder…

    Jane, you put it well; we get comfortable with our own blessings and aren’t motivated to help others. This is a problem in nearly every area of our lives! I don’t mean to be pointing the finger at anyone else; I’m examining myself to see what I can do.

    My visit with my sister was fun - it was just over so fast - she’s already back in Michigan. I’m hoping to get over there this summer, though, because I have a reunion I’d like to attend.

  6. Katherine February 13th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    I too am a reactionary homeschooler. If the ps were like they were 40 years ago, I would send my 5 kids there and my life would likely be much easier. At the very least my home would be cleaner.

    When I watch the original Cheaper By the Dozen I wonder if they would have had that many children if the mother didn’t have 2 servants and good public schools. However, as a former public school teacher I resolved many years ago not to put my children into that cesspool of ignorance and vice. So, here we are doing what we can.

    One day my house will be clean, the rooms quiet, and the yard bike-free and likely I will miss the noise and mess much more than I thought I would.

  7. Jen February 15th, 2008 at 10:59 am

    Katherine, oh for a servant! I’m also a former public school teacher. And for those who mistakenly think I don’t like public school teachers, how wrong they are. I love them, I worked alongside them, I know their struggles and also their triumphs. However, it’s the bureaucracy they are required to serve that makes me want to get my little stones and slay Goliath.

  8. Sunniemom March 19th, 2008 at 6:03 am

    I agree that HSers shouldn’t just relax in contentment, but try to make things better by voting for those who will listen to the citizens and make sensible moves toward improving educational for all.

    I think being active in the community as a good start. Just going to city council and school board meetings makes a big difference, and you can make some interesting friendships, as well as gain some face/name recognition with those who have influence in your own.

    If you can’t fit those things in, letter writing and emailing your local officials and reps in Congress does make a difference as well. They respond to those who make some noise, and every voice they hear for improving education has an effect.

  9. Jen March 21st, 2008 at 9:47 pm

    Sunniemom, thanks so much for you thoughtful comments. These are great suggestions, and I hope all of us homeschoolers (and regular schoolers) will do our part to improve education.

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