"There Must Be A Better Way" (My reasons for homeschooling)

I was just telling my husband this morning how most of the moms I know don't get to spend much time with their kids besides driving them to and from school and other activities, and a small amount of time at night when they are usually helping them with their homework. They complain of being too busy, driving all day long, younger siblings stuck in the car instead of playing, etc, etc, etc.  Yet they can see no way around this lifestyle.

As a mom of small children, hearing friends share these kinds of experiences didn't exactly make me feel hopeful about my future. I would nod in agreement, sympathetically. "I guess there is no way around it," I would say. "You just do the best you can." I would leave conversations such as these with a "Life sure is hard for moms these days. Glad I don't have to deal with that...yet" mentality.

Fast forward a couple months. I have now read through many books on homeschooling, and visited countless blogs of families chronicling their homeschooling journeys. I have also spoken in person with families who homeschool their own children. I have visited their homes, and felt their love and dedication to giving their children the very best life possible. These families are well educated, faithful Christians, independent thinkers, who live consciously and happen to be some of the nicest, most thoughtful people I know.

So now, with this new perspective, when I look at how most people live a lifestyle of making sack lunches and chauffeuring their kids to school, instead of being the ones who get to spend time learning with them, I have a different response.

"I don't get it."

Why do most people just go with the flow, do what everyone else does, conform to the way things are done in our present society?  How can they not even think that there could be a better way to do things?  It's not against the law to homeschool. Why don't more parents do it?

Let's face it, school is not about learning. It's about doing the bare minimum to get good grades in order to get into college. I know, I was there.

For me school was anxiety producing. Being surrounded by my peers all day was completely distracting. How could I focus on the teacher's lecture when the boys in back of me were having a seriously inappropriate conversation? Or answer a question and risk being teased for being a "kiss up"?

School was anything but an exciting learning opportunity for me. We all couldn't wait for the bell to ring at the end of the day. "Free at last!" we would exclaim, as we raced home to watch TV, play video games, go shopping, sing and dance, whatever; anything to keep our minds off "learning" (something only done in a classroom, to my knowledge).

While listening to the other moms' schedules, it dawned on me that I was about to repeat this same lifestyle with my own children. That's when I knew, deep inside, there had to be a better way.

A way of being with my kids all day long, spending time with them, watching them learn because they are genuinely interested in something, not trying to pass a test by memorizing facts.

Witnessing their excitement of making a new discovery, learning something amazing.

Going places together--trips, museums, discovering nature, exploring the world.

Learning the skills needed to live on their own someday--shopping, budgeting, preparing meals, taking care of a home, even parenting skills (why isn't that part of a formal school curriculum anyway? Especially with more and more teens getting pregnant....).

Having the time and flexibility to volunteer and apprentice in special fields of interest.

Taking private and community classes such as art, dance, sports, nature/science, and music.

Reading together from the great classics.

Talking about God and our purpose on earth.

Giving service to others-- building a house, reading to an invalid, helping a new family move in-- because we actually have time to and it just happens to be one of the main purposes of learning (as Henry B. Eyring taught).

And don't forget the social opportunities they will have in all these areas (instead of the social experiences of trying to learn math with 30 kids all moving at different paces or being afraid to use the bathroom because of the bully hiding inside).

In short, living together, learning all the time.

Some may see this as a huge responsibility to take on- overseeing the education of my children- and wonder how anyone could ever do it (click here if you are one of those people). But I see this opportunity as a gift from God, and even feel it is one of my callings in life. As I seek His help, I know He will guide me every step of the way.

Of course even with God's help, I will still make mistakes. No matter how hard I try, my children probably won't get the "perfect" education that I desire for them. Why? Because I am an imperfect being.

But are the public (and private) school teachers really perfect? Do they have the perfect material, and know how to present it to my child in the perfect way, while simultaneously doing the same for ALL the children in their classrooms?

The point is, this type of education, led by a mother who tries to expose her kids to the best resources and experiences so they can learn as much as possible, is far greater, in my opinion, than trusting the public school system to "educate" children, with all of the weaknesses inherent in teaching large groups of children all at once.

I do not mean to imply that all formal education is worthless or that all teachers are bad. I know that for many, a formal school setting might be the best option, and in some cases, the only option (both parents work). Some kids actually do well sitting in a school building all day long, listening to lectures, taking tests, and everything else experienced in a public school.

And there are definitely some excellent teachers out there. Unfortunately, most are bound to the school they work for and end up teaching to standardized tests. Additionally, most of them are now forced to teach the new nationwide curriculum, Common Core.  Common Core is the government's way of making sure everyone learns the same things. Who decided what everyone needs to learn?  Did they seek inspiration from God or do they have political agendas that go against the very principles I believe in and want to teach my children?

While formal education does work for some people, it didn't for me, and I don't feel it is best for my children.

There is another way. I hope through this blog I can shed some light on the value of homeschooling.


“Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand." D&C 88:78