If your young child is adamant about going to school, - Page 11

[SweetSilver]

The beauty of homeschooling is that you can tailor it to fit your children, your family and your community.  Like moominmama stated in a pp, you can teach your children based on their actual level, not on their grade.  School has some flexibility but is ever focused on the middle.  This can leave kids who are otherwise perfectly normal feeling like they are somehow deficient when quite often it is nothing more than lack of readiness.  And kids at the top can find that a ceiling exists for them, too, within the school system.  Homeschooling can address all these issues with a flexibility that schools are incapable of, and no two families will look alike in their approach.  Some will be more secluded, either by choice or situation, others are hardly ever at home and use the community resources liberally.  So to say that kids being with parents and siblings most might be true, but is usually the preconception that schoolers have about homeschooling in general: the "school-at-home" model.

It is regretful that parents choices are limited regarding their kids.  Most of us only have two options, if that: homeschooling or public school.  I know I could not get a job that would make private school, or even preschool, a good financial option.  I wish there were more cooperative learning schools that could follow child-led learning but without specific demands on kids.  Or, just like the variety of homeschooling styles, have schools with varying amounts of demands, from rigorous to completely open (and public!).  If only!  Then parents would have a true choice to fits their needs and their child's.  

     The fact is that most parents would still choose school over homeschool, and it's nice that "free" education is available.  Unfortunately, my experience has been that most parents choosing this option just can't wait to be rid of their kids for the day, and are not choosing it for any notion of superiority over the homeschooling models.  Fewer are the parents I meet that regret not being able to homeschool due to financial constraints.  PPs addressed the rest of this issue, so I won't "retread the thread"!

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

School has some flexibility but is ever focused on the middle.  This can leave kids who are otherwise perfectly normal feeling like they are somehow deficient when quite often it is nothing more than lack of readiness.  And kids at the top can find that a ceiling exists for them, too, within the school system.  

We've actually been very impressed with the flexibility we've found in our public school.  

.... I know that we are fortunate to have such an open-minded flexible school. Not all schools are as willing to accommodate. But my limited experience suggests that it is at least possible to get a lot of flexibility. I thought our example might be reassuring to parents whose children are expressing an interest in attending school.

Miranda

Edited by moominmamma - 7/21/11 at 4:19pm

[midnightwriter]

Miranda,

your local school is truly incredibly exceptional. I think most of us here would love to move to your town, to have this option available to us . You also seem to have exceptionally self motivated, gifted children. This is all very inspiring to those who just start unschooling, because we all imagine we'll have self motivated learners and supportive schools. I'm honestly not sure this is very helpful to those who are struggling with the typical school systems and typical children. I'm not even sure what's your point anymore.

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by midnightwriter 

Miranda,

 I'm honestly not sure this is very helpful to those who are struggling with the typical school systems and typical children. I'm not even sure what's your point anymore.

I'm sorry if it's demoralizing to those of you dealing with other types of schools. I've edited that post to remove most of it. I guess my point is not to assume that because schools are generally inflexible that all of them will be. I know a family in your area who had a very position reception and transition into school with their ds into Grade 8 in 2010. Fifteen years ago my local school's leadership was adamantly anti-homeschooling and put a lot of obtacles in the way of families hoping to transition in one direction or another. A few good people and a few good experiences have made for a totally different climate. 

Miranda

[onatightrope]

Miranda,

I like hearing about exceptions, because it means that, despite the bad experiences so many people have with schools, that isn't the rule.  Thanks for sharing!  

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by moominmamma 

I'm sorry if it's demoralizing to those of you dealing with other types of schools. I've edited that post to remove most of it. I guess my point is not to assume that because schools are generally inflexible that all of them will be. I know a family in your area who had a very position reception and transition into school with their ds into Grade 8 in 2010. Fifteen years ago my local school's leadership was adamantly anti-homeschooling and put a lot of obtacles in the way of families hoping to transition in one direction or another. A few good people and a few good experiences have made for a totally different climate. 

Miranda

You are right, and it is inspiring to hear positive stories. I wasn't in the best state of mind when I read your original post. Living not far from a drug-infested school doesn't help. I guess I'm still cranky . I just want to make sure I clarify that I'm not cranky because of your post, but cranky because of the lack of options here, and it wasn't even about schools specifically. And I know I shouldn't be even complaining because I live in a relatively big city that has more resources that your community. I'm having a cranky week. Please ignore my sour crankiness.