Why We Homeschool

Back

Why We Homeschool

from Amy Bell's Natural Learning Page

A few reasons, in no particular order, certainly not all-inclusive:

Because I think I am more intelligent and more capable than any teacher my child might have in a school. (How's that for elitist? <g>)
Because I think my children are more intelligent and more capable than any teacher they might have in a school.
Because I don't trust people who don't love my children to have their best interests at heart.
Because I think schools short-change girls in science and math education and encourage violence in boys.
Because I do not value traditional measures of success.
Because I think schools damage a child's self-image, ability to make unassisted decisions, motivation, and trust in him or herself.
Because my own school experiences were miserably boring and useless.
Because I don't want my children's socialization to be hampered by being stuck with a random group of 25 or 30 age mates for 7 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Because I want my children to have the freedom and flexibility to learn what, when, and how they choose.
Because I think schools are ineffective places for learning.
Because I think schools are fundamentally anti-intellectual, emphasize peer acceptance over moral values, and promote all the most trivial aspects of socialization.
Because we believe a strong family life is important. This is impossible when families are separated for most of their waking hours. We like being together.
Because I think spending most of the day indoors with two dozen kids the same age is unnatural, unhealthy, and very limiting. Children need to see much more of the world than that.
Because I think schools promote the status quo, conformity, obedience to authority, passivity, intellectual dependence, emotional dependence group identity, inter-group conflict, hostility towards achievement, and antipathy towards thought. And, they are a colossal waste of time.
Because we do so many interesting things, I don't know how we'd fit in time for school.
Because I think homeschooling helps my children be more secure, happier, and more accepting of others.
Because I don't believe in traditional measures of "appropriate" child behavior. (aka, I've seen 'normal', and I don't like it).
Because I don't like the idea of a school trying to teach values.
Because I don't trust the government with my money. Why would I trust them with my children?
Because I think learning is more meaningful when it is intrinsically motivated.
Because our children can be exposed to more of the world by being with me than by being in a school.
Because I adore my children. I intend that they have the widest, most broadening experiences I can provide.
Because homeschooling allows long, uninterrupted blocks of time to work on an activity ( which might involve daydreaming or planning or brainstorming).
Because homeschooled children can spend more time outdoors.
Because homeschooled children become more responsible for their own education. They will not be passive recipients of subject matter selected by their teachers (actually administrators or government committees), but will at least have input into designing their own education and will eventually take over full responsibility for it.
Because homeschooled children learn how to learn, not just how to be taught.
Because our children will learn to relate to people regardless of gender.
Because our boys will not learn to hate kissing and hugging and girls.
Because our girls will not learn to lose themselves during adolescence.