that’s what the librarian wanted to know. and i don’t know why the question would bother me…but it did. i mean my girl is just three. is it such a rare occurrence that a mama comes in looking for books her little one has requested? but you know what? we are homeschoolers! and yes, my girl is but three. we don’t do any formal work. we do live our lives with open eyes, good books, and walks outside.
a few months ago AP and i wrote down our separate reasons for wanting to homeschool our children. here’s mine:
- why? because i want to; it interests me; i can; it’s a challenging DIY project
- it’s cost-effective, much cheaper than private school
- i feel a responsibility to the littles. i want them to spend their days with someone who values them and their unique strengths
- i don’t want someone else’s schedule–hurrying to pick up or drop off or some silly assignment (or teacher)–taking up our time
- i am a late-blooming autodidact. i want my children to create and not be afraid
- “study to be quiet and work with your own hands.”
- someone has to feed + clean + clothe these children. we might as well learn too.
- school is not about learning
- i don’t want the influence of secular values (or crazy christian ones!)
- every step toward wholeness, integration, consciousness, simplicity, understanding, reverence is a step in the right direction
i’m a late blooming autodidact too, and it’s a really important reason to homeschool. i often think what a different person i would have been had i been given the kind of spacious, slow, affirming environment i am striving for with my children. but the school-machine (along with other things) just flattened the life and spark out of me. i was well into my twenties before the life came back.
i love your other reasons! it’s a wonderful way to live.
My kids are older so the question doesn’t bother me! Actually I’m at times glad they ask because that means they will wave the fees for taking out DVD, etc. Of course it’s the library and the fees are minimal, but it is still nice to have those fees waved because I’m an educator.
What were Andy’s reasons?
tonia–do you know what it was that brought the spark back? i’d love to hear about that process!
SAHMinIL–yes, the librarian was trying to help. i’m just sort of a grump ; )
Jess–i’ll ask him if i can post his list too…really they’re just sort of random notes on the back of (guess what?!) a library slip!
We’ve been asked the same question!!! And my little one is only two. 🙂 I always take it as a complement though….
Sarah
Amen.
I love your list!
Learn in freedom. Learn in love. Learn in nature. Learn on!
My five children have never been to school. Well, until this year. Now, my oldest is taking Biology at the community college. His impressions of the experience are: “It’s a lot of money; I don’t think I will probably remember much when the class is over; it’s a lot of work and answering questions…but my own questions are never answered.”
We’ve been talking alot at our house about college, and whether it’s something that fits into our learning philosophy and my kids’ life paths. My oldest wants to be a film maker (he has been making and writing films for years), and my second oldest wants to be a scuba diver and hand-catch tropical salt water fish (saltwater and freshwater fishkeeping are his passions).
Sorry for the long comment…you always get me thinking.