The following is a guest post by my bloggy buddy, Heather of Birdcage Media. I'd love for ya'll to welcome her and take a looksie at some of the fun stuff she writes about! Click here to read all about Heather!
First, I must say that it is an honor to be a guest blogger on Candy’s blog. In fact, at the moment, I am almost in celebrity shock. *laugh*
Anyway, there has been a lot on my mind and a lot on my plate as of late and I think that many parents are going through what I am going through, even if they don’t admit it. Public schooling is not what it used to be; funding continues to be cut and teachers are becoming overwhelmed. More children are being diagnosed with behavior and mental disorders and it is unclear how much of it is just for the convenience of the school. I know that sounds SO bad, but ADD and ADHD are just simply not diagnosable in most children until they are 8 years old, and as far as I am concerned, typical child behavior. I get that there are definitely children that have the disorder and it is obvious, just not as many as the schools would like us to believe there are. So, the other thought is home schooling or educating at home. I have done both and I have been torn with the decision on whether or not to place my children back in school or keep them at home. So, bear with me as I go through what has been going through my mind in what the best course of action is for my children.
My daughter does best in a public setting; however, she has a tendency to be disruptive to everyone. She likes to sing, hum and is Miss Chatty Cathy. Much of her “ticks” are her way of coping and working through things. It is perfectly fine in a home school setting but not so much at public school. She repetitively gets in trouble with that at school. Also with the increased class sizes, there are more people to talk to her and keep her distracted. However, public school offers her the strict schedule and routine she desperately needs. They have lunch at the same time, recess at the same time and have exactly “x” amount of time for each class. We tried at home to set a timer for her subjects, but it didn’t seem as successful.
My son does best in a very small class setting, so obviously not in public schooling. He is overwhelmed quite easily and when placed in a packed classroom, he has the tendency to become an introvert. When he was in Kindergarten, he was in public school, formed one or two friends and stuck to himself. He is not challenged in public school either. However, at home, he has a tendency to rush through things and skip assignments that he feels he doesn’t need to know. The fact that school work is not turned in is a downfall for him. He will just take the assessments to show he knows the material and skip everything else.
Of course, then there is the adult. I have seven hours of time that I can get things that I need done, that I do not have if I am home schooling. However, I am also able to really keep up with my children and know what they are learning and studying. I can tailor their studies to lessons they need at the time, while keeping our core beliefs at the root of things.
Now you see why I am torn? So, I have decided to place my children back in school … I did have to go through the pros and cons of the decisions. I plan on still working one on one with them after school and during breaks. Keeping closer tabs at school because now I know what they really need to make their school life a success.
Home schooling is not something to be snuffed at. Parents are dedicated and hard-working. There are virtual schools that run with the public education for those who are worried about that and there are also sports and other specials available. There are groups that you can get involved with to keep your children socialized.
Public education, while it has its many downfalls, is not the end of the world either. Parents can get a job and provide for the home where they wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Children are offered a routine that will help with many children who simply need structure. Parents are offered the ability to stay involved with the PTA and with being able to communicate with the teachers. This is exactly what I plan on doing.
What works for one family, may not work for everyone. With my story shared, I am hoping that more mothers & fathers can make the decision that will best suit their family. Children are our future and their best interests should be taken in mind over any propaganda or personal feelings. I cringe over many decisions, as I know that how their life pans out, could be directly reflected on my parental skills and paths we take.
Leave a Reply